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The 24 companies making up the membership of the AAF, Association des Amidonniers et Féculiers the trade association representing the interests of the European starch industry, produce virtually all of the EU's cereal and potato starches and starch derivatives, using maize, wheat, barley, rice and starch potatoes. Their annual raw material input is of over 14 million tons of cereals and approximately 7.9 million tons of starch potatoes. Their output is 9.6 million tons of more than 600 different starches and starch derivatives – including co-products such as corn gluten feed and wheat gluten, which are sold both in food and non-food applications.
The role of the AAF is to ensure that the regulatory framework in which its member companies operate is adapted to their needs, and that their competitiveness in European and foreign markets is not impeded by legislative decisions. This includes legislation related to trade, food law matters, and environmental rules.
The European Starch Industry in Figures
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Number of companies
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24
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Number of plants
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77
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Direct Employees (*)
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approx 15.500
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Turnover for the year 2007
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approx 7.5 bn €
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Average Investments from 2005 to 2007
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approx 1.2 bn €
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Average investments per year in Research and Development from 2005 to 2007
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approx 100 Mio €
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[*] A significant amount of indirect employment is created in the areas where the industry is located.
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