The Novel Food Regulation: A Major Obstacle to Sustainability in the Coffee Industry

The global shortage of agricultural source products and the rising need for sustainability in supply chains have led to an effort to replace current sources, such as those for energy or protein, with novel foods. These include by-products from agricultural production that are currently being wasted or completely new plant or insect sources. Unfortunately, the novel food regulation of the European Union (EU) creates a hindrance to rapidly adjusting in times of crisis, and it particularly poses an unfair barrier against traditional foods from third countries. These might include some agricultural coffee by-products or the use of silverskin as a coffee roasting by-product. This presentation argues that the novel food regulation creates a significant trade barrier for applying novel foods, such as coffee by-products, to replace sources affected by current crises, like grains from Ukraine, or to improve sustainability in the industry at large. Furthermore, it is suggested that the approval requirements for traditional foods of third countries are overly strict and do not consider the practical realities of an agricultural food product. In conclusion, it is necessary to revise the EU novel food regulation to eliminate these barriers and allow a rapid and flexible introduction of novel foods. This should include traditional foods from third countries. Such a revision would assist in upholding food security and sustainability in the EU.

Proceedings: Lachenmeier, D.W.; Walch, S.G. The Novel Food Regulation: A Major Obstacle to Sustainability in the Coffee Industry. Proceedings 2023, 89, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/ICC2023-14840