• Starch is a fundamental link in the value chain between agriculture and thousands of end products in both food and non-food applications.Starch is the most important carbohydrate in the human diet. In food applications, which represent 60% of starch applications in the EU, we develop nature-based ingredients that enhance their texture, flavour and nutritional values.In addition to its uses in many food products, starch has multiple non-food applications. Ranging from hydrolysed wheat starch found in shampoos to dextrose found in pharmaceutical applications, the European Starch industry is continuously seeking to push the envelope with new applications and uses.From the production phase to the supermarket shelf, starch has numerous uses. In industrial applications, we utilise traditional starch-based ingredients, plus high-performance specialties and advanced green solutions to develop products used in fermentation, chemical, cosmetics, textile, paper, plastics and detergent industries. Because starch is renewable and biodegradable it is also a perfect raw material to act as a substitute for fossil-fuel components in numerous chemical applications including plastics, detergents and glues.The uses of starch

• Starch Europe strives to protect and promote the interests of the European starch industry so that it can continue to provide a reliable and sustainable supply of safe starch-based ingredients in a fair competitive environment whilst addressing the challenges of an increasingly competitive market.
• With a manufacturing history spanning more than 100 years and backed by decades of experience, we closely monitor global trends that will impact our industry including environment, raw materials, operations and external markets.
• As an experienced partner specialised in this sector, Starch Europe strives to connect with external parties, including policy makers and other stakeholders in order to maximise the opportunities and minimise the threats open to the starch industry.
• Ensuring a viable and sustainable market for the European starch industry to operate in requires us to identify and respond to the challenges faced by our customers, communities and other key stakeholders in the EU.
• In helping to address the key issues confronting the continued sustainability and economic contribution of the European starch industry, the Starch Europe serves a vital source of information and industry insight.

About Starch Europe

Our industry acts responsibly in terms of environmental stewardship, social responsibility and business ethics. We understand that it is a business imperative to manage our industry’s resources responsibly, set meaningful targets to reduce emissions, and develop resilient infrastructure that can withstand a changing climate.

• As demand for energy continues to rise, the European Starch industry is doing its part to reduce energy consumption and deliver clean energy solutions that do not contribute to climate change. We are also pursuing ongoing efforts to track and improve our impact, from our supply chain to our operations and products.

Our issues on environmental policy

• We support transparent and regular engagement with our stakeholders including customers, employees, shareholders, policy-makers, media and civil society at large to ensure:
  • sufficient supply of good quality raw materials at competitive prices
  • fair competition with competing products
  • recognition of starch’s role in the bio-economy
  • adequate rules on labelling and use
  • international trade rules that maintain the EU starch industry’s competitiveness

Innovation:

Innovation plays an integral role in the European starch industry which helps us to deliver better products, protect our employees and the environment, create new business opportunities and ensure cost-effectiveness.

We seek to drive innovation with a sustained commitment to R&D. Researchers at our plants work at the intersection of technology and industry to enhance our operations by improving performance in productivity, reliability and efficiency and by seeking to address new challenges facing the starch industry.

Our approach to research and innovation does not stop when starch is developed into food or non-food applications. Our teams of scientists and researchers are constantly looking beyond the boundaries of traditional starch production to develop new applications. This information is relayed to our teams on the ground so that we can both improve existing products and develop new ones, so that innovative, effective solutions remain a core element of our business.

Agriculture:

As a major industry and user of European agricultural raw materials (primarily wheat, potatoes and maize), the European starch industry seeks to secure a stable supply of high quality EU agricultural raw materials at a reasonable price.

Our issues on agricultural policy

Trade:

In the global starch market starch is produced at a lower cost in leading starch producing markets such as the US, China and Thailand. The structure of the European starch industry is determined, not only by economic factors, but also by factors such as regulatory restrictions and stringent safety levels resulting in reduced economies of scales, and higher energy and labour costs. Starch Europe strives to protect the future of the European starch industry in a fair competitive environment whilst addressing the challenges of an increasingly competitive market.

Our issues on Trade

Bio-economy:

With 40% of EU starch used to manufacture non-food applications, starch has for centuries been a major contributor to the bio-economy. Given its renewable and biodegradable form, and as a viable alternative to fossil-fuel components, the continued production of bio-based products in Europe is essential for the development of a sustainable economy based on renewable materials in Europe.

Our issues on the bioeconomy

Environment:

We seek to minimize the environmental impact at our plants while at the same time trying to ensure that our manufacturing processes are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. As one of the first agri-food sectors to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study for all our products, this not only demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a reliable supply of starch-based ingredients but also reinforces our commitment to strengthening our environmental standards.

Our issues on Environmental policy

Food/feed law:

In order to maintain its reputation for producing high quality, safe food and feed, the EU is renowned for implementing some of the world’s strictest food and feed law. This often leads to higher production costs for European starch producers compared to our international competitors. We closely monitor the development of new laws and seek to ensure that the specific interests of European starch producers are considered.

Our issues on Food & Feed law

Nutrition and health issues

Starch is the most common digestible carbohydrate in the human diet. Digestible carbohydrates are the most important fuel for our brains and provide our bodies with the energy our organs need to function. In order to function correctly, our body needs carbohydrates, protein, fat, water, minerals and vitamins. In terms of energy intake, EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, recommends that 45-60% of our daily energy intake comes from carbohydrates (4 kilocalories of energy per gram).

The maintenance of a stable body weight requires the right balance between the total amount of energy consumed and the total amount of energy expended. However, increases in body weight occur when energy intake exceeds expenditure. Carbohydrates, like starch, form an essential part of the human diet; however, if they are consumed in excess, this can lead to problems of obesity.

Starch Europe fully supports the EU’s public health action programme, which focuses on lifestyle determinants such as adequate nutrition and physical activity. We also seek to communicate to our stakeholders on the nutritional and health impact of starch products.

Our issues on Nutrition and Health

The production of starch has been a mainstay of the European economy since the 18th century having first been produced from wheat, and later potatoes and maize all of which are grown in the European Union.

History

Europe is the world’s leading producer of potato and wheat starch. It is also at the forefront of production of certain starch-co-products including fibres and proteins as well as wheat gluten; in addition to its annual production of 10 million tonnes of starch and starch derivatives, the EU starch industry produces 5 million tonnes of these starch co-products every year.

Starch co-products

Compared with the worlds other major starch-producing region, the EU has the most diverse raw material base across wheat, potato and maize.

The European starch industry is an important employer, making vital contributions to local economies across the continent. Being located primarily in rural areas where employment opportunities are often scarce, EU starch plants provide an invaluable source of income and employment to the many EU farmers who cultivate the raw materials from which starch is produced.

The European Starch Market in Figures