European Commission launches call for proposals for EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory

The European Commission has launched a call for applications to set up the EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory (“AFCO”). The creation of this Observatory, which will examine production costs, margins and commercial practices, was announced in mid-March as one of the measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain and to reinforce trust between all actors in the chain. It aims to increase transparency of prices, cost structure and the distribution of margins and added value in the supply chain, while respecting confidentiality and competition rules.

The work of the Observatory will support the development of methodologies to assess and monitor the cost structure and the distribution of margins and added value along the food supply chain.

The Observatory will bring together up to 80 members, representing national authorities responsible for agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture or the food supply chain, as well as organisations representing stakeholders active at different stages of the chain: farmers, input suppliers, food industry, traders, transport, logistics, retail and consumers. The Observatory is expected to hold its first meeting in July 2024.

The call for applications will be open until 13 May. Applicant organisations must be registered in the Transparency Register in order to be nominated.

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More information: European Commission