The coordinator of the Banana and Plantain Cluster, José Antonio Hidalgo, carried out his agenda in Brussels from Monday, January 27, to Tuesday, February 4.
Brussels, February 5, 2025 – The Banana and Plantain Cluster of Ecuador, represented by its coordinator, José Antonio Hidalgo, held a series of strategic meetings in Brussels with European Union authorities and key sector stakeholders. These meetings, which took place between late January and February 4, coincided with the visit of the Minister of Production, Trade, Investments, and Fisheries, Luis Alberto Jaramillo Granja, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Carlos Zaldumbide, strengthening the working agenda of Ecuador's banana sector in Europe.
During the meetings, the Cluster presented the main challenges faced by the industry, with a special focus on sustainability, security, and competitiveness in the European market.
DIALOGUE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION: FAIRER REGULATIONS AND COST REDUCTION FOR PRODUCERS
In meetings with Members of the European Parliament Gabriel Mato, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Rosa Estaràs, and the team of MEP César Luena, the Cluster emphasized the need for fairer regulations that benefit Latin American producers. The topics discussed included:
Abusive practices in the retail sector and their impact on producers.
The EU's aesthetic requirements for bananas and their contribution to food waste.
Certification standardization to reduce costs and avoid unnecessary duplications.
The Members of the European Parliament showed willingness to collaborate and even proposed the possibility of visiting Ecuador to witness 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 Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) of the European Commission.
"Ecuador’s productive sector, in a country with a clear export-driven vocation, faces numerous challenges as well as opportunities to advance a common and co-responsible agenda for sustainable and safe exports with the European Union," stated Minister Jaramillo.
IMPACT OF EUROPEAN REGULATIONS AND COOPERATION IN 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 need to ensure fair conditions for their production.
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 co-responsibility was made, highlighting that the increasing drug consumption in Europe is one of the main drivers of drug trafficking.
EVENT IN ROTTERDAM: SUSTAINABILITY AND SECURITY IN BANANA LOGISTICS
The Cluster also organized an event in collaboration with 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.”
The event brought together 25 representatives from the Dutch logistics and banana sectors, highlighting Ecuador’s advancements in sustainability and security within the supply chain. It was reaffirmed that drug trafficking is a global issue requiring coordinated actions between Europe and Latin America.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND SECTOR VISIBILITY IN THE EU
To strengthen the sector's presence on the European agenda, the Cluster held a meeting with POLITICO Europe, a key media outlet for the dissemination of EU policies, and with FRESHFEL Europe, a forum for the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain. In the latter, the need for continuous dialogue between European and Latin American producers was emphasized to face agricultural sector challenges together.
The meetings in Brussels have strengthened the Cluster's voice in the European institutional agenda, creating new cooperation opportunities. In the coming months, the Cluster will continue to promote concrete actions to improve the competitiveness, sustainability, and security of Ecuador's banana sector in the international market.
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