The request for a meeting was initiated by GEA following public statements by Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen highlighting the need to reassess the role of crop-based biofuels in the context of declining grain prices, agricultural competitiveness, and Europe’s energy security objectives. In his remarks, Commissioner Hansen underlined the economic challenges faced by European farmers due to sustained low cereal prices and suggested that existing policy constraints on the use of agricultural feedstocks for renewable fuel production merit renewed consideration.
In light of these developments, GEA sought an exchange with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) to discuss the contribution of domestically produced renewable ethanol to the Union’s strategic priorities. Discussions focused on the role of the European ethanol sector in creating stable demand for EU-grown cereals, supporting farm incomes and rural development, enhancing energy security through reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, and contributing to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. The exchange also provided an opportunity to present industry perspectives on how future EU policy frameworks could better align agricultural, energy, climate and industrial objectives while strengthening the Union’s strategic autonomy.
GEA was joined at the initial meeting by founding member Edeniq, which contributed technical expertise on the role of corn kernel fiber as a potential feedstock for advanced biofuels under RED III.