The Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the EU and Banco Santander are hosting the 4th edition of the joint business mission focused on the agri-food sector

Brussels, July 15, 2026. – The Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the European Union and Banco Santander held the fourth edition of their joint business mission on July 14 and 15, which this time focused on the agri-food sector.

The companies participating in this edition were Vall Companys, an agri-food group and European producer of animal protein with operations in swine, poultry, beef, and food processing, represented by Tomás Rubiato, Head of Public Affairs; Riera Roura, a company specializing in the import, storage, and distribution of agricultural raw materials, represented by Oriol Nadal, Head of Imports and Distribution; MatHolding, a business group focused on technological solutions for agriculture—irrigation systems, plant nutrition, and water management—represented by Félix Lorente, Global General Manager of the Agricultural Division; and Afrucat, a trade association representing Catalonia’s fruit sector and bringing together more than 40,000 professionals involved in the production, cooperation, and marketing of fruits and vegetables, represented by Manel Simon, CEO.

The first day, held on Tuesday at the Delegation’s headquarters, began with an official welcome by Alicia Sanchís Arellano, director of Banco Santander’s Brussels office, and Pilar Ruiz Huélamo, director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the EU. Following presentations by each company, Sofía Muñoz, Director of Interinstitutional Relations, Outreach, Communication, and Resources at the European Commission’s DG TRADE, gave a talk on the EU’s trade policy regarding unfair practices. The companies then participated in a luncheon discussion on the future of the agri-food sector in Europe with Diego Canga, Acting Deputy Director at DG AGRI.

The afternoon began with a session focused on the impact of the Omnibus packages on regulatory simplification in the sector, featuring María Gafo, head of the Social Sustainability Unit at DG AGRI. This was followed by a panel discussion on digital innovation and artificial intelligence in the agri-food sector, featuring Luis Vivas, Sector Head of the Research and Innovation Unit at DG AGRI, and Jorge Molina, Policy Officer in the Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit at DG RTD. Finally, the first day concluded with a talk on sustainability and climate adaptation by Claudia Olazabal, head of the Sustainable Freshwater Management Unit at DG ENV.

On Wednesday, the four companies held bilateral meetings with officials from the European Commission, the Permanent Representation of Spain, and other European institutions, each tailored to the specific challenges of their respective fields of activity. The program also included a visit to the European Parliament and a lunch discussion with MEP Cristina Maestre (S&D Group) on the future of the agri-food sector from a parliamentary perspective, as well as a presentation by Cristina Rueda Catry, head of the External Communication and Policy Promotion Unit at DG AGRI, on positioning and communication strategies for the sector.

At the Spain Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the EU, we continue to work to ensure that Spanish companies can access and take advantage of the available European instruments and programs, while ensuring that their interests and needs are taken into account in the development of EU policies.