The task force explained

The growing integration of the European agri-food sector in global markets has created important trading opportunities, but it has also caused greater exposure to market imperfections and increased price volatility. To counteract these negative effects the European Commission creatwed an expert group called the agriculture markets task force.

The task force discussed a number of issues with a view to strengthen the position of farmers in the agricultural food chain. The final report of the task force, including specific policy recommendations, was presented on the 14 November 2016.

The task force consisted of 12 members and met regularly between January and November 2016. During its work, the task force also called on relevant external experts and accepted contributions from third parties.

Policy recommendations

The task force made a number of policy recommendations some of which were adopted by the Commission as part of its policy agenda. These included increased market transparency, a ban on unfair trading practices and further changes to competition rules which allowed farmers to work together in producer organisations.

Task force members

• Cees P. Veerman (Chairman) – Professor of sustainable European-oriented rural development at University of Tilburg and Wageningen University
• Andrzej Babuchowski – Titular professor, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn; President of the Dairy Industry Innovation Institute
• Jérôme Bedier – Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Secretary-General of the Carrefour Group
• Gianpiero Calzolari – Coordinator of the dairy sector of Alleanza Cooperative Italiane
• David Dobbin – Group Chief Executive of United Dairy Farmers
• Louise Fresco – President of Wageningen University and Research Centre
• Helfried Giesen – Retired Chief Executive of the Board of the meat cooperative Westfleisch SCE
• Torbjörn Iwarson – Independent commodity markets adviser
• Aniko Juhasz – General Director of the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics (AKI) in Budapest
• Anne Laure Paumier – Member of COPA-COGECA cereals expert group; Deputy Head of Coop de France (consultant on grain market and risk management)
• Igor Sarmir – Commercial relations expert at the Slovak Chamber of Agriculture and Food; Member of the European Economic and Social Committee
• Esther Valverde Cabrero – Deputy Director-General for Food Supply Chain Structure, Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment