Copenhagen — June 2009

CIBE Congress

Every three years, CIBE organises a congress which is attended by around 400 growers' delegates from all over Europe. Personalities from European political, sugar and agriculture circles also participate to discuss problems concerning the beet/sugar sector. CIBE held its 42nd Congress in Copenhagen (DK) from 16th to 19th June 2009.

16 June 2009, Copenhagen

The beet and sugar sector from all over Europe gathered in Copenhagen for the opening session of CIBE's 42nd Congress. Mr Jos van Campen, CIBE`s President, and Mr Jørn Dalby, President of the Danish Sugar Beet Growers' Association (DKS), welcomed the participants to this unique forum on the situation and development of the sector. Among the speakers, His Excellency Dr. Patrick I. Gomes, Guyana's Ambassador to Belgium, presented the impacts of EU market liberalisation on ACPs-LDCs sugar flows to the EU. CIBE also published a Press Release, containing the highlights of the Congress final resolutions.

17 June 2009, Copenhagen

The second day of CIBE's Congress opened with a speech by Mr Klaus-Dieter Borchardt, Head of Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, who presented the results of the EU Sugar Reform. Ms Dominique de Jonckheere, Senior Policy Advisor at Copa-Cogeca, contributed to the debate, presenting the developments of bioethanol production in Europe and the opportunities arising from the promotion of renewable energies for European agriculture and sugar beet. Panel discussions focused on beet supply and on the impacts of the restructuring of the sugar beet sector.

18 June 2009, Copenhagen

The third day of CIBE's Congress focused on issues relating to competitiveness, improvement and reception of sugar beet, and also gave a fruitful assessment of the contribution of sugar beet cultivation in response to the emerging challenges of the CAP: climate change mitigation, soil conservation, water management, biodiversity and green production. The CIBE President in his closing speech of the three- day conference, presented the resolutions adopted by the CIBE Press Release of 16 June. The participants concluded the event with technical visits to an ancient monastery estate, a dairy farm and a research centre.