Colours by Europe. Tastes of Excellence Elevates Seoul Food 2024 with a Spotlight on EU Meat and Organics
Seoul, June 13th, 2024 - The European Union (EU) sets a benchmark for quality, authenticity, safety and sustainability. H.E Maria Castillo Fernandez, EU Ambassador to Korea, honoured guests by inaugurating the participation of the 'Colours by Europe. Tastes of excellence' campaign in Seoul Food 2024. The campaign hosted a series of events, which included a trade seminar on EU meats, an Organics workshop and a live cooking show, presented by TV personality Ida Daussy. Participants gained valuable insights into EU meat industry and sustainable practices by European producers, and the influence of these trends on consumer preferences and market demand.
H.E Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU Ambassador to Korea echoed the essence of this gathering, underlining the importance of unity and cooperation: "Seoul Food exemplifies the power of international cooperation and a shared passion for gastronomy. The European Union is thrilled to participate, representing a region known for its culinary heritage and commitment to authenticity, quality, safety, and sustainability. Our partnership with Korea, based on shared values of openness and cooperation, has led to increased market access and collaboration in sectors including agriculture and food. We are proud to bring our ethically sourced and delicious European products to this vibrant event."
Meaningful dialogue for better meat
Meat from the EU stands out for its quality and production methods. Strict food production and safety regulations such as the EU’s dedicated Animal Health Law place strong emphasis on animal welfare and full traceability. Careful breeding and centuries of culinary traditions protect the quality of all EU meat. Tadhg O'Callaghan, EU market specialist from Bord Bia Irish Food board presented the qualities of EU beef, highlighting the specific nutritional qualities of Irish Grass-fed beef. Joris Coenen, Manager at the Belgian Meat Office, presented EU pork, as the EU is the world’s second biggest pork producer, highlighting EU pork belly as the most popular cut for the Korean market. For his part, Ferdinando Gueli, Trade Commissioner to the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) presented key qualities and characteristics of European cured meats, emphasizing the traditional methods and protected designations, such as Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This insightful seminar was followed by a networking cocktail where attendees could sample 70 agri produce from 26 Member States and get a true taste of the potential of EU products.
Understanding a market ripe for organics
The EU Organic green leaf means the product has undergone a strict certification process covering all steps of the food supply chain from farm-to-fork. It guarantees that at least 95% of a product's ingredients are organically farmed, meaning restricted use of antibiotics and hormones, pesticides and chemicals, which in turn helps lower greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s speakers took a deep dive into explaining the EU Organic labelling system and how “going organic” could benefit Korean businesses. Christophe Besse, Minister Counsellor of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea highlighted key developments in the EU organic sector, emphasizing consumer confidence in organic food products and a commitment to a sustainable food production. Yohan Rim, Director of Purchasing gave a presentation on the growing demand for organics globally, highlighting major trends and specific organic products for businesses in Korea and Jong-Un Kim Professor and Department Head at Baehwa Women’s University gave an address on how Korean consumers understand organics and the increasing trend of consumption among them.
Cooking up the future with Chef Hoyoon Kim
The EU places great importance on preserving the authenticity of food products by protecting the traditions and recipes that have been passed down through generations. To inspire Korean F&B industry professionals to invest in EU produce that carry quality logos, such as PDO and PGI, as well as those with the organic label. Celebrity chef, Hoyoon Kim, cooked up two delectable recipes using 23 products from 17 EU member states: succulent pork collar and asparagus wrapped in jamón serrano with buttered corn spiced with Pimentón de la Vera PDO and Irish Whiskey PGI; and meltingly tender low-temperature cooked beef ribs with organic garlic cream cheese and crispy focaccia.
The events were a huge success, establishing meaningful connections between EU agri-product suppliers and experts in the Korean F&B industry.
About the campaign
The "Colours by Europe. Tastes of Excellence" Campaign is dedicated to increasing awareness of EU agricultural products in South Korea through a range of social media, retail, and HoReCa activities and promotions. For more information about the campaign, visit https://colours-by-europe.campaign.europa.eu/en and be sure to follow us at https://www.instagram.com/euagrifood_korea/ for news about upcoming events.