Since 2017 the EU has lost 20 sugar factories 🏭💔
These closures result from a depressed market, rising costs & growing competition from low-cost imports, threatening hundreds of jobs, thousands of farmers and the future of local sugar production 👩🌾
@sugarbeeteurope.bsky.social
You might think lower prices are good news. For the people growing and making your food, they’re a disaster 😕
📉 Since Dec 2023, EU sugar prices are down 38%.
Costs remain up to 2x pre-COVID, demand is falling, yet the EU keeps opening its market to imports from Brazil.
Yesterday Commissioner Christopher Hanser said he will propose suspending the inward processing procedure for sugar. Thank you Commissioner! 🎉
Imports under IPP are putting EU beet farmers and manufacturers under pressure, risking factory closures and threatening rural livelihoods ❌📉
📣 Today CEFS is in Strasbourg standing side-by-side with almost 2,000 farmers from across 15 Member States to send a clear message: the future of EU agriculture is non-negotiable💪🚜
We call on MEPs to refer the agreement to the Court of Justice of the EU when they vote tomorrow.
🛑 STOP MERCOSUR!
🛑The EU-Mercosur agreement is a blow to the European sugar sector
190,000t of duty-free sugar = one EU beet sugar factory’s annual output.
⚠️ 20 factories closed since 2017
⚠️ No reciprocity on standards
⚠️ Safeguards are symbolic
👉Read here: bit.ly/49MTjLJ
🚨Europe has already lost 20 sugar factories since 2017. The EU-Mercosur deal risks closing another.
Each factory supports 1,200 growers and over 200 quality jobs in our rural communities 👩🌾👷♀️
Let’s not make that sacrifice.
#StopMercosur 🚫
Here’s to a sweet start to 2026! 🍬 CEFS wishes everyone a year full of growth, success and a little extra sweetness in every moment.
📣Today in Brussels: tractors, horns and thousands of farmers making their voices heard 👇
CEFS stands in solidarity with EU farmers facing rising costs, market imbalance & uncertainty.
A resilient EU agri-food chain starts with farmers being listened to & fairly supported 🚜🤝
Great visit to Raffinerie Tirlemontoise in Tienen yesterday! 🌱
We saw how Belgian beet sugar is made, met the people behind it and discussed key sector challenges.
Thank you to Raffinerie Tirlemontoise for welcoming us and to
@effat.org and @rudikennes.bsky.social for joining us! 🤝
Yesterday CEFS joined other agri-food sectors to sound the alarm on the EU-Mercosur deal ⏰
Huge gaps in standards, risks for EU farming, and major climate, environmental and labour concerns.
🛑 We urge EU institutions to reject the deal.
#StopMercosur 🚫
🚨 The EU beet sugar sector stands firmly against the #EUMercosur deal.
Why ?
❌ The safeguard is ineffective.
❌ Imports ignore EU standards & create unfair competition
❌ The “rebalancing” tool risks blocking key EU climate policies.
Read CEFS-CIBE joint position paper: bit.ly/49kCJmV
#StopMercosur 🚫
📢 Primary food processors support 140K direct jobs & 1.2 million indirect jobs across Europe! 🌾
From farmers to food factories, they power the EU food system & economy 🦾
#AgriFood #Jobs #PrimaryProcessing #EUFoodSystem
© Photo courtesy of Cosun Beet Company
This morning CEFS joined a breakfast discussion hosted by MEPs NorbertLins and Jan-Christoph Oetjen to address the growing threat of the planthopper (Pentastiridius leporinus) 🪲 to EU agriculture and food security 🌾
The message was clear: urgent, coordinated action is needed 🚨
Last week we visited Biowanze with Mr Philippe Lamberts, FWA & Raffinerie Tirlemontoise.
CEFS highlighted the EU sugar sector's challenges in decarbonisation & the path to net-zero by 2050 🌱🏭
Thanks to Biowanze & Mr Lamberts for a great exchange! 🤝
How can 🇪🇺 sugar cut 90% of emissions by 2040?
Ahead of EU Council discussions on the 2040 target, we call for:
🌍 Flexibility (int’l credits & clear ETS rules)
💰 Realistic, cost-effective policies
🤝 Policy coherence & just transition
👉 bit.ly/4goLNsp
#EUClimateLaw #Sustainability #SugarIndustry
✅ The EU sugar industry has cut CO₂ emissions by 59% since 1990. But rising carbon costs, fewer allowances & lack of funding threaten jobs & decarbonisation.
📢 CEFS calls for an ETS that supports, not penalises, our sector.
🔗Check out our position paper: bit.ly/3IbNxrY
#ETS #SugarIndustry #CBAM
