AGP Executive Report

Heat & food security: Europe’s record-breaking heatwave is pushing power grids and public health systems, with UK scientists warning people may struggle to put food on the table as harvests fail and prices rise. Labelling transparency: A UK consultation highlights strong consumer support for mandatory animal-welfare method-of-production labelling, arguing shoppers are still “shopping blind” with vague claims on packs. Food safety recalls: Britain’s Food Standards Agency ordered a recall of pre-packaged fruit pots and snack packs after Salmonella was found in apples and kiwi used by PrepWorld, pulling items from major supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. Competition watchdog: Bulgaria’s competition authority opened a probe into potentially unjustifiably high food and drink prices at Sofia Airport after complaints about coffee, bottled water, soft drinks and snacks. Supply chain innovation: University of Copenhagen researchers say ordinary clay could help trap ethylene gas to slow ripening and cut fruit and veg spoilage in shipping. Agriculture cooperation: Kenya secured German support for smallholder irrigation expansion across seven western counties, aiming to lift farmer incomes. Rare disease biotech: Chiesi and Arbor said the European Commission granted orphan drug designation for ABO-101 gene editing therapy for primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Retail & brand moves: Slim Chickens opened its first airport outlet in Germany at Düsseldorf Airport, expanding the “better chicken” fast-casual push.

Bioeconomy Boost: Ireland opened a €4.7m National Biorefinery Pilot Plant in Co. Tipperary, alongside the €5m BioScaleUp initiative, to turn agricultural and food side-streams into new products for ingredients, bio-packaging and bioenergy. Smart Reuse in Foodservice: Compass Group UK & Ireland is scaling Cauli’s reusable, digitally tracked cups and takeaway containers (claimed up to 400 reuses), saying it has removed 383,000 single-use items so far. Packaging Meets the World Cup: Heineken and Heinz launched a six-pack concept mixing beer and ketchup bottles, sparking debate over whether it’s clever branding or a gimmick. Travel & Taste: Ryanair promoted lesser-known summer city breaks from Bristol, including Girona (food and culture) and Marseille (coast and cuisine). Food Integrity Watch: A Thailand canned fish scandal highlights species substitution and label-trust risks, with regulators recalling thousands of cans after alleged mackerel/tilapia mix-ups. Regulation Pressure (UK): The UK is preparing mandatory due diligence rules to curb illegal deforestation-linked ingredients, potentially affecting cocoa, coffee, soy, palm and rubber supply chains. Heatwave Disruption: Europe’s extreme heat continues to disrupt daily life and travel, with knock-on effects for food and hospitality operations.

Heatwave & Public Health: France is dealing with record heat plus major power outages, with tens of thousands of homes without electricity and dozens of drowning deaths reported as temperatures push into the 40C+ range; the WHO warns Europe must invest in climate-resilient healthcare as schools close and health risks rise. Food & Drink Consumer Pressure: A Worldpanel Brand Footprint update says UK shoppers are getting more selective and value-led, squeezing mainstream brands like Heinz and Walkers as people buy by specific needs and occasions. Health & Regulation (EU): The European Commission approved KEYTRUDA plus Padcev for cisplatin-ineligible adults with resectable muscle-invasive bladder cancer, marking a first-in-class PD-1 inhibitor + antibody-drug conjugate option in the EU. Irish Whiskey Rules: Ireland launches a consultation that could relax the product specification “technical file” for Irish whiskey, reflecting growth from dozens of distilleries across the island. Agri-Food Innovation: Ireland’s Slurry Solutions EIP is set to launch with €1.7m for on-farm trials on slurry separation and inoculation to improve soil health and water quality. Outdoor Food Culture: UK’s heatwave travel and leisure coverage includes a guide to outdoor pools/lidos for cooling off, with venues and hours to check before you go.

Heatwave Fallout: Europe is bracing for more extreme heat after France recorded its hottest day on record, with schools and transport disrupted and health warnings issued as deaths linked to the heat mount. Household Impact: A Climate Analytics study says heat plus drought is already cutting average household incomes across Europe, widening inequality and poverty risk as warming intensifies. Food Safety Alert (UK): Britain’s Food Standards Agency issued an urgent recall for pre-packaged apples and kiwi fruit after Salmonella was detected, pulling multiple fruit pots and snack packs from major supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, M&S and Waitrose. Brexit After 10 Years (Business): New reporting highlights how Brexit’s trade frictions and costly compliance steps have hit small food exporters hard, with some firms forced to stop selling to the EU. Agri-Tech & Cooperation: Kazakhstan’s president invited European partners to cooperate on agriculture, including livestock, grain breeding, precision farming and soil fertility, with a push for AI-led transformation. Serbia’s Raspberry Export Story: Serbia’s Arilje is spotlighted as a raspberry powerhouse exporting chemical-free, hand-picked fruit worldwide, though unpredictable weather and prices are squeezing producers. Cold Chain Investment: UPS plans a $48m upgrade of temperature-controlled cold-chain facilities to speed and secure deliveries of temperature-sensitive medicines across Europe and beyond.

Heatwave Fallout: Europe’s record-breaking June heatwave is turning deadly, with France reporting its hottest day ever (44.3C in Pissos) and at least 40 drowning deaths since 18 June, while schools close early and red alerts spread across dozens of French departments. Worker Protection & Demand Shifts: Companies are scrambling to keep staff safe and operations running, from DHL’s cool-box kits for delivery workers to retailers chasing demand for fans and portable cooling. Travel Warnings: The UK Foreign Office has updated advice for Brits heading to Spain, France and Portugal, urging travellers to follow local health guidance and weather alerts. Food & Packaging Sustainability: Yum! Brands’ latest report highlights progress on fast-food packaging circularity (including Pizza Hut’s recycled polypropylene wing bowls) but flags data limits on recycled-content claims. Circular Flexibles Roadmap: CEFLEX outlines why flexible packaging recycling in Europe will need multiple advanced recycling routes to improve recyclate quality. Agri-Food Support in Spain: Valencia’s government approves €680,000 to promote quality food schemes tied to EU CAP labels. Industry & Research: Scientists in Spain report how Bacillus cereus biofilms help it resist antibiotics, a finding with implications for food safety. EU Humanitarian Aid: The EU pledges €15m to WFP for cash assistance and logistics in Ukraine’s frontline areas.

Heatwave & Public Health: Europe’s third heatwave of the year is pushing energy demand and disrupting daily life, with France placing more than half its departments on danger-to-life red alert and the UK issuing rare red heat-health warnings as temperatures near 40C. Food & Drink Safety: In France, two children died in a car amid the heatwave, underlining the risks for vulnerable groups and the knock-on effects for food and water systems. Packaging Sustainability: Henkel is expanding water-based paper coatings for barrier and heat-seal performance, aiming to help brands shift away from plastic as EU packaging rules tighten. Industrial Cooling for Food: Trane launched a deep-freezing screw compressor chiller using R290 refrigerant, targeting food and beverage cold storage and refrigerated warehouses. Food Culture & Travel: A Hong Kong chef in Paris is winning fans with Cantonese classics, while World Cup visitors in the US are driving demand for familiar comfort foods like cheesesteaks. Climate-linked Food Security: A new EU-backed push highlights how water security and climate resilience are becoming central to food security planning.

EU Farm Relief: Member states backed an EU plan to mobilise over €56m from the agricultural reserve for farmers hit by extreme weather in Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia and Slovenia, with aid to be paid quickly. School Food Overhaul (Spain): Spain will remove sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods from school breakfasts and snacks, pushing fruit, wholegrains, unsweetened dairy and healthier limits on sugar, salt and fats. EU Protein Strategy (Draft): The Commission is set to unveil a food, feed and fuel protein strategy, aiming to boost domestic protein crops and reduce reliance on imports, while staying cautious on pushing big diet changes. Food Safety & Trade (Moldova): A debate is brewing over which raw materials could qualify for customs duty exemptions, with industry groups warning about knock-on effects for EU quota and preferential import rules. Market Watch (UK/Europe): English Wine Week spotlights booming UK wine tourism, while a separate report flags rising demand for herbal tea and functional beverages. World Cup Prices: Fans are complaining about concession costs, especially beer, as stadium food and drink mark-ups spark sticker shock across host cities. Heat Pressure: Europe’s heatwave continues to drive health and water-safety warnings, with Spain and the UK among the places urging extra caution.

UK Agriculture After Brexit: NFU president Tom Bradshaw says leaving the EU has “completely reshaped” British farming, pointing to trade deals, the end of CAP and new import/export checks that have pushed up costs and changed what gets imported. Post-Brexit Food Bills: A separate report links Brexit-era trade barriers to a 12% jump in food prices since 2019, hitting low-income households hardest. EU Gene-Editing Rules: The European Parliament has passed new rules allowing gene-edited crops without foreign DNA, aiming for more climate- and pest-resistant varieties with fewer chemicals. Plant-Based Protein From Waste: Danish researchers say they can turn rapeseed oil press cake into yoghurt-like gels using napin—an EU-backed route to meat and dairy alternatives. Accessible Labelling Shift: Spain’s draft decree keeps braille requirements for food, but raises the store-size threshold to 1,000 m², narrowing who must comply. Heatwave Health Warning: UKHSA warns of a rise in deaths as record-breaking heat hits, with major strain on health and social care. Foie Gras Race: Reuters reports China’s foie gras boom is accelerating output and could soon challenge France’s dominance.

Food Safety Recall: Krispy Kreme is recalling two doughnut lines in the UK over undeclared hazelnuts, with an allergy alert issued by the Food Standards Agency. Heat & Health: Germany saw at least 10 injuries after lightning struck during a handball competition, including a 13-year-old and a woman hurt while preparing food. Agri-food Data: Extremadura (Spain) is rolling out four free workshops to bring its new Agri-food Data Space closer to producers, aiming to turn scattered farm and market data into better decisions. Food & Culture: A new “Eating the Past” feature spotlights cilantro’s polarising taste, linking dislike to a specific genetic trait. Market Watch: Global rates and FX moved as investors tracked policy divergence, with Europe’s central bank maintaining a hawkish stance. Frozen Food Fire: Los Angeles declared a state of emergency after a days-long blaze at a frozen food warehouse, raising concerns for nearby residents’ air exposure.

Heat & food security: France’s central bank warns recurring heatwaves could drag on economic growth, while a red heatwave alert has triggered an alcohol ban in public at major events like Fête de la Musique. Weather pressure: The UK has expanded severe heat warnings across England and Wales, with temperatures potentially near record highs—raising concerns for health and daily life. Farming & staples: Zimbabwe says farmers have planted a record wheat hectarage (126,394ha), aiming to cut import dependence and protect bread supplies amid El Niño risk. Food culture & travel: A new easyJet route from Birmingham to Copenhagen (from £31.99) spotlights Europe’s city-break demand, while Italy’s Cinque Terre is fining hikers up to €2,500 for wearing flip-flops on trails. Cuisine stories: A look at how bánh mì blends French and Vietnamese roots, plus a spotlight on Egyptian street food in Paris via Baba Baris. Tech & delivery: Notre Dame is winding down its campus food-delivery robots as Starship Technologies shifts focus to grocery and hot-food delivery partnerships across Europe and the US.

EU Health & Medicines: The EMA has approved alpelisib as the first targeted treatment for CLOVES syndrome, a rare PIK3CA-driven overgrowth disorder—moving care beyond surgery and supportive treatment. Food Innovation: Nuritas is bringing clinically supported plant-based peptide hydrolysates to IFT FIRST 2026, pitching “precision nutrition” that can be built into everyday foods like yogurt, beverages and bakery. EU Travel & Safety: The EU lifted its negative travel advisory for Assam for most travellers, with restrictions still applying to three AFSPA districts (Charaideo, Tinsukia, Sivasagar). Trade & Ingredients: APEDA helped secure the first commercial export of dried whole egg powder from Odisha (Balangir) to Austria—22.6 tonnes—highlighting growing demand for value-added Indian poultry inputs in Europe. Public Health Debate: A new report links natural food colour additives to higher risks for type 2 diabetes and cancer, reigniting scrutiny of “natural” ingredients. Food & Lifestyle: A Liverpool park-based wave of independent traders is boosting local food culture, with fresh bakery launches and mobile trailer formats.

EU Food Policy: The EU ban on BPA in food packaging takes effect, tightening rules on chemicals that can migrate into products. EU Meat Labelling: The EU moves to define meat terms more clearly in a protective move for consumers and producers. EU Court & Retail: Hungary’s mandatory food discount scheme is ruled against under EU law, adding pressure to national pricing policies. Health & Nutrition Research: A French NutriNet-Santé study links natural food colour additives to higher Type 2 diabetes risk and increased cancer rates, reigniting debate over additives. Food Safety & Packaging Tech: Walki and Dow develop mono-material pouches for food packaging, aiming to simplify recycling. Trade & Fresh Produce: Uttarakhand’s premium litchis ship to Italy for the first time, opening a new European entry point for Indian fruit. Consumer Costs: Reports highlight food price pressure across Europe, with inflation still shaping how people spend. Hospitality & Travel Culture: World Cup fans’ “ranch” obsession sparks airport carry-on issues and brand tie-ins, showing how US food trends travel fast.

EU Packaging Watch: The EU’s BPA ban in food packaging kicks in from July 2026, extending earlier restrictions and targeting BPA and other bisphenols in wrappers, containers and even kitchenware. EU Food & Farming Policy: The European Parliament has approved a package to strengthen farmers’ position in the supply chain, including clearer meat definitions and protected meat-related terms, plus mandatory written contracts and cost-based pricing indicators. Circular Packaging Push: A 16-partner initiative called InFACT aims to turn household soft plastic waste into new packaging for retail and food-grade uses, running 2026-2028. Industry & Innovation: Teagasc is trialling solar-powered seeding and weeding robots and other precision machinery with organic vegetable and tillage farmers to cut labour and improve weed control. Trade Support: The European Commission disburses €34m to Armenia to cushion Russia-linked trade restrictions, with extra help for agri-food and export sectors. Global Food Business: Kraft Heinz will reorganise into three regions (NA, Europe, EPDM, and EM) from July 1, 2026, and combine procurement with supply chain. Market Entry: Uttarakhand litchi makes its European debut with a first shipment to Italy.

UPF Marketing Clash: Campaigners say the next ultra-processed foods fight is less about ingredients and more about how brands use packaging, influencers, licensed characters and digital promotions to shape children’s tastes. UK Welfare Pressure: The DWP is sending thousands of letters to pensioners to boost take-up of Pension Credit, warning that around one in three eligible people still aren’t claiming—potentially missing money for essentials like food and heating. EU Budget & Geopolitics: EU leaders kick off a new phase of the long-term budget battle while also debating how the bloc should handle future Russia talks. Food Security Watch: FAO warns a potential super El Niño could disrupt global food output, though high stocks may soften the blow. Aviation & Nutrition: Qantas unveils science-led “wellness zone” plans for ultra-long flights, including meal timing and lighting designed to reduce jetlag. Agri-Policy UK: New farming minister Stephen Morgan visits an NFU farm as farmers push back on rising costs tied to fuel and fertiliser. Mediterranean Nutrition: A conference in Ancient Olympia spotlights health links between Mediterranean wine and olive oil, focusing on polyphenol-rich extra virgin oils.

EU Food Policy: EU lawmakers agreed to simplify fertiliser rules in an “omnibus VI” deal, aiming to cut burdens while keeping health and environmental standards intact. Fishing Governance: France is among 15 countries pledging to target illegal fishing by sharing fisheries data, with a push for more transparency. Climate & Food Security: FAO warns global food commodity markets face rising weather and geopolitical risks, with cereal supplies still high but vulnerable to El Niño and energy/fertiliser volatility. Humanitarian Food Support: The EU added €14m (about $16m) for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, including support for clean cooking fuel access. Food Safety: Estonia reported a salmonellosis outbreak linked to instant noodles. Industry & Investment: Mondelez chief says the UK’s “volatile” nutrition and health regulation is hurting investment confidence. Agrifood Data: FAO launched a major FAOSTAT dataset on women in agrifood systems to track inequality and guide policy. Heat Impact: A new heatwave hit France, with temperatures forecast near 40C and disruptions to trains and classes.

EU Food Policy & Farming: The European Parliament has approved tougher rules to strengthen farmers’ position in the food supply chain, including limits on meat-only naming terms like “steak” and “bacon” while allowing “veggie burgers” to keep the “burger” label. UK–Scotland Red Meat: New “Meating Our Potential” data says Scotland’s lamb and beef could add about £350m in output and £100m GVA by 2032, with 81% of Scots wanting supermarkets to prioritise Scottish red meat. Brexit Fallout for Food Costs: Research cited in Scotland says Brexit cut Scotland’s GDP and also pushed up average household food costs in the UK by £250 (Dec 2019–Mar 2023) via added import friction. Drug Shortages: UK pharmacy leaders warn “worst ever” shortages are affecting medicines including ramipril, painkillers and Creon, raising patient-safety concerns. Trade & Food Exports: The UK–India free trade deal is set to start 15 July, cutting tariffs on many goods including processed food and marine products, with 99% of tariff lines duty-free. Food & Health Research: A study suggests ancient European diet inequality: men more often had access to protein-rich foods than women. Hospitality & Drink Economy: A report says pubs can help tackle loneliness, while a Coventry arena event sold 47,000 pints and 19,000 glasses of wine, boosting local hospitality.