GCCA coordinated European Parliament roundtable on food security

On June 25, 2025, cold chain leaders from across Europe gathered in Brussels for a roundtable titled “Delivering Food Security for Europe.” Coordinated by the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), the event addressed key issues raised in the recently published Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food. It formed part of GCCA’s advocacy efforts to highlight the role of logistics in food supply resilience and to promote supportive regulatory and financial policies across the European cold chain sector.

The roundtable was hosted by MEP Adrian-George Axinia of Romania, a member of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee. Additional speakers included MEP Daniel Buda, Vice Chair of the AGRI Committee, and representatives from cold chain businesses across Europe.

Participants discussed the designation of cold chain infrastructure as critical, the recognition of cold chain workers as essential personnel in crisis planning, and strategies to remove investment barriers. Other topics included trade flows within and outside the EU and the need for incentives to support innovation in energy, automation, and advanced equipment.

The event took place ahead of the European Commission’s release of the EU Food Stockpiling Strategy, with the roundtable’s outcomes intended to inform the bloc’s future preparedness planning.

Before the event, GCCA President and CEO Sara Stickler stated: “This conversation is an important milestone in our ongoing effort to ensure a robust and influential voice for the cold chain at the heart of European decision-making. Our industry has proved through action that it is resilient and reliable, but that does not mean that we are complacent. Leaders across the world must recognise the vital role of cold chain operations and work with us to ensure that the regulatory and policy framework creates confidence and incentivises investment, so that the cold chain can continue to deliver food security for Europe.”