Agriculture, trade and politics in direct dialogue: EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen visited the REWE Group’s headquarters in Cologne. Together with colleagues from the REWE Group, he discussed how to shape a sustainable and future-proof food supply.
The Commissioner spoke with our board members Hans-Jürgen Moog and Daniela Büchel, as well as other colleagues, about current challenges along the agricultural and food value chain. These included collaboration with farms, regional supply structures, more sustainable product ranges and the question of how consumers can be supported in their purchasing decisions. The ongoing review of the EU Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and other regulatory initiatives at EU level were also discussed.
Today’s visit by the EU Commissioner to Cologne was a special honour for us. As well as providing an in-depth insight into how the retail sector operates, the focus was above all on direct dialogue regarding numerous European legislative initiatives. I was impressed by how comprehensively he understood the entire supply chain – showing great interest not only in the businesses’ perspective but also in the practical implications of political decisions for the retail sector. “The fact that our views and experiences are being taken on board sends an important signal,” says Dr Sven Spork, Divisional Director for Corporate Affairs.
The REWE Group’s Centre of Excellence for Agriculture demonstrated what a constructive dialogue between the agricultural and retail sectors can look like in practice. It has been in operation since January 2023 and facilitates direct dialogue between the retail and agricultural sectors. Together with two farmers from the expert panel, the participants presented projects that are already being put into practice, such as tripartite agreements, the use of artificial intelligence to improve animal health, and the Agricultural Academy.
For the REWE Group, direct dialogue along the value chain is a key part of its work. This also involves collaboration with a range of partners – from regional farms to international suppliers. As a co-operative, we also have close ties to the regions and work together with regional producers and small and medium-sized enterprises.
To round off the visit, the delegation went to a REWE supermarket: during their visit to the supermarket owned by Lutz Richrath, the guests gained an insight into the day-to-day workings of the food retail sector and the expectations of local customers.
Christophe Hansen’s visit thus provided an opportunity to bring together different perspectives – from agriculture through to retail and shopping in the supermarket. After all, many of the issues discussed along the food value chain ultimately manifest themselves very tangibly for our customers on the shelves.