The Banana and Plantain Cluster of Ecuador, represented by its coordinator, José Antonio Hidalgo, presented the Cluster's main challenges faced by the industry, with a particular focus on sustainability, security, and competitiveness in the European market. The meetings were held in Brussels with European Union authorities and key industry stakeholders.
These meetings, held from the last week of January until February 4, coincided with the visit of the Minister of Production, Trade, Investment, and Fisheries, Luis Alberto Jaramillo Granja, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Carlos Zaldumbide, further strengthening the working agenda of the Ecuadorian banana sector in Europe.
In meetings with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Gabriel Mato, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Rosa Estaràs, and the team of MEP César Luena, the Cluster highlighted the need for fairer regulations that benefit Latin American producers. Key topics discussed included:
• Abusive retail practices and their impact on producers.
• The EU's aesthetic requirements for bananas and their contribution to food waste.
• Certification harmonization to reduce costs and eliminate unnecessary overlapping.
The MEPs showed a willingness to collaborate and even considered visiting Ecuador to understand the sector's reality firsthand.
Additionally, with the support of Minister Jaramillo and Vice Minister Zaldumbide, the Cluster presented these challenges in meetings with MEPs Juan Ignacio Zoido and Bernd Lange, as well as with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE).
"Ecuador, a country with a clear export-driven economy, faces numerous challenges in its productive sector, as well as opportunities to advance a shared and responsible agenda for sustainable and secure exports with the European Union," stated Minister Jaramillo.
Impact of EU regulation and cooperation on security
In its meeting with the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), the Cluster addressed regulations such as the Due Diligence Directive and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), emphasizing the need for a unified methodology to reduce the bureaucratic burden on producers. DG AGRI acknowledged the importance of Ecuadorian bananas in the European market and the necessity of ensuring fair production conditions.
Regarding security in the value chain, the Cluster held meetings with the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Port of Antwerp, and Belgium's National Drug Commissioner. Ecuador's efforts in container scanning, farm security, and collaboration with local authorities were presented. A call for European shared responsibility was made, emphasizing that increased drug consumption in Europe is one of the primary factors driving drug trafficking.
Event in Rotterdam: sustainability and security in banana logistics
Additionally, the Cluster organized an event alongside the Port of Rotterdam, Trust Control, the Embassy of Ecuador in the Netherlands, and PRO-ECUADOR, titled: Sustainability Practices, Safety, and Efficiency in International Logistics for Bananas and Plantains. It was reaffirmed that drug trafficking is a global issue requiring coordinated actions between Europe and Latin America.
For more information:
www.aebe.com.ec