The 5th edition of the Agrifood International Congress identified over-regulation, bottlenecks, and international tensions as the primary disruptive factors for the agri-food value chain. In volatile scenarios, speakers highlighted the sector's adaptability and agility in finding solutions. Key challenges discussed included loss of competitiveness due to excessive regulation, the need to explore new business opportunities in energy and rural development, and improving logistics for more efficient and sustainable models. With over 120 participants, the congress reinforces the Port of Tarragona's leadership as the Mediterranean's agri-food hub.
Xavier Sala-i-Martin, Professor of Economics at Columbia University, delivered the inaugural lecture 'A World in Tension,' pinpointing eight global disruption factors: policies driven by Donald Trump, de-globalization trends, recent conflicts and the fragility of key trade routes (Ormuz, Suez, Malacca), global food insecurity, a fragile and impatient youth demographic, political and social polarization, Europe's complacency, and the technological revolution led by artificial intelligence.
Sala-i-Martin offered five guidelines for managing these turbulent scenarios: understanding the current world, experimenting, diversifying, identifying "smoke" from reality, and avoiding complacency.
The second day featured the presentation 'European Regulation as a Game Changer for Agri-food Trade,' by Carme Soler, director of ASFAC. She explained the effects of the EUDR regulation, which mandates traceability from producer to final consumer, imposing an estimated annual additional cost of over 150 million euros (a 12% increase). Soler advocated for "regulating without losing competitiveness" to ensure supply security.
The 'Food, Feed, Fuel' panel discussed the role of agri-food commodities in the energy transition. Alberto Carmona (NixAl Commodities), Joan Bolet (Vertex Bioenergy), and Joaquín Gaitán (ADM Agro Ibérica) highlighted bioethanol production as an opportunity for decarbonization and rural economic dynamism. They explained that corn starch is used for bioethanol, leaving protein for animal feed, and that bioethanol reduces emissions by 70% compared to conventional ethanol. CO2 capture and the promotion of a circular economy were also discussed.
The panel 'Resilience, Costs, and Real Decisions in a Disruptive Environment' included Jaume Arimany (Bunge), J.R. Albareda (Vall Companys), and Josep Ribó (BonÀrea). The sector's adaptability, the availability of diverse raw materials, and the resilience of global companies were emphasized. Regarding costs, participants stressed minimizing them rather than reversing impacts, highlighting management over investment and the importance of well-prepared human teams.
The 'The New Agri-food Bottleneck' panel addressed storage capacity shortages, limited road transport availability, and the need for efficient logistics. Ramón García (Ership) presented new investments at Port Tarragona to increase storage capacity and improve environmental operations. Javier Dolader (Grupo Jorge) detailed the company's commitment to rail transport, connecting the port with production centers in Aragon through dedicated logistics facilities. Carles Segura (Port of Tarragona) highlighted infrastructure investments, such as deepening the Castilla Quay, to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. The importance of public-private collaboration was also underscored.
