Who we are
Our main aim is to connect international trade buyers with German food and agribusiness companies in order to facilitate the growth of existing and emerging export markets.
GEFA represents the German food and agribusiness industry and is a key partner for the export market. We work closely with the industry and trade organisations as well as the German government and have a strong international network.
Members
Bundesverband Deutscher Pflanzenzüchter e.V.
BDP voices the interests of its members, internally and externally. The most important objective is to optimize the breeding and seed trading framework with regards to:The German Plant Breeders Association (BDP) is a registered association with offices in Bonn and Berlin. It represents the interests of the plant breeding and seed trading companies in Germany. BDP is a non-government, non-profit organization financed by its 130 member companies.
- the organization of plant breeding research,
- the promotion of new breeding technologies,
- the development of variety protection and variety certification,
- appropriate regulations for seed marketing,
- legal conditions of plant breeding,
- protection of intellectual property,
- public communications on all relevant topics.
Decisions on all issues concerning German plant breeders are taken on European and international level. Through its national office at Brussels BDP also actively contributes to numerous committees of European association and sets up internal working groups with the aim of responding to the global responsibilities of German plant breeding. BDP’s objective is to provide quick and competent information to its members on international developments and to bring in German proposals.
Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Ernährungsindustrie e.V.
The Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE) is the political top-level association of the German food and drink industry. Its membership comprises the branch associations and major companies. BVE's principle task is the representation of its members' common interests in the national and international context.
Bundesvereinigung der Erzeugerorganisationen Obst und Gemüse e.V.
Important tasks:The German Association (BVEO) is the national confederation of fruit and vegetable producers' organizations or of their federations in accordance with the purpose of the Common Market Organization for Fruit and Vegetable of the European Union. Its office is located in Bonn. The BVEO represents its members' interests nationally and abroad. 9 regional federations are affiliated to the BVEO.
- Creation of optimum marketing and promoting conditions for producers' organizations through representation of members' interests versus German ministries, institutions, food retailing industry and politics.
- Point of contact for many issues and problems of the fruit and vegetable industry.
- Grouping of members' activities in the fields of advertising, marketing and PR campaigns.
- Organization and implementation of fairs nationally and abroad.
- Diffusion of specialist and members' information.
In 2008, the group of the German producers' organizations generated a turnover amounting to approx. 2.75 billion EURO with the organized fruit, vegetable, flower and plant marketing.
Deutscher Bauernverband
The German Farmers’ Association (DBV) is the agricultural umbrella organisation in Germany. Over 90 % of all German farmers (about 380.000) are members of DBV on a voluntary basis. DBV represents the agricultural, economical, legal, fiscal, environmental, social, educational, and socio-political interests of the agricultural and forestry sector vis-à-vis society at large and the world of politics. Via its offices in Berlin and Brussels, it acts as the contact point for all political issues debated at national and European level. One of the main aspects of its vocational work today is increasingly the effective marketing of agricultural products and the task of assuring quality of foods. Via its membership in COPA (the working group of the farmer’s associations at EU-level), the German Farmers’ Association represents farmers’ interests in dealings with the EU authorities and institutions.
Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V.
The DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts- Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) was founded by the engineer and author Max Eyth in the year 1885. It has over 22,000 members and is a leading organisation in the agricultural and food sectors.
Deutscher Raiffeisenverband e.V.
DRV's work is based on the original cooperative principle of personal responsibility combined with the joining of forces to benefit both business and society. In its capacity as an umbrella association, it represents the interests of its cooperatives, who are actively engaged in the purchasing, processing and marketing of agricultural products. Factors contributing to successDeutscher Raiffeisenverband e.V. – DRV (German Raiffeisen Association) is the umbrella association encompassing the agricultural and food management cooperatives in Germany, to which almost all farmers, horticultural businesses and winegrowers belong. The 2,900 members of DRV include cooperatives of all sizes with local as well as international operations and revenues totalling more than € 38 billion.
- Rigorous focus on current market requirements and future trends
- Continuous increase in efficiency throughout the process chain
- Horizontal bundling in response to consolidation in the food retail sector
- Application and continuous refinement of quality management systems
- Optimisation of transparency and hygiene along entire process chain.
Food – Made in Germany
Food – Made in Germany is the export organization of the German food industry – from businesses, for businesses. FMIG sees itself as a cross-sector initiative and central contact for all questions regarding export, especially for smaller and medium-sized enterprises.
Our service profile:
- Development and implementation of a small business oriented German export marketing concept in cooperation with all relevant stake holders
- Information on export relevant events inland and abroad (exhibitions, market research trips, collaboration exchanges, match making, seminars etc.)
- Foreign market information research and contact initiation
- Measures for exchanging experiences as well as for training and further education
- Measures for market entry (exhibitions, business trips, business presentations etc.)
In the group GEFA, Food – Made in Germany e.V. represents all food producers that are not represented by the sector specific member associations of the GEFA.
German Dairy / Export-Union für Milchprodukte
The Association of Dairy Producers represents the interests of some 100 member companies. If we include our co-operation partners in the equation, the figures cover around 95% of all German dairy supplies, or 26 million tons of milk. The sector overall has a turnover of 20 billion euro, making it one of the sectors with the highest turnover in the German food industry.
Animal Breeding in Germany
The genetically improvement of the agricultural livestock is targeted by the breeding organizations. They have a long tradition about more than 100 years. The breeding federations are competitive companies of breeding and insemination. They aim their breeding programs at the requirements of the market.Breeding animals from Germany enjoy a very good reputation all over the world. Beside the optimization of the achievement potential, the characteristics of health and fitness are also in an important consideration.
German Meat GmbH
German Meat is the joint export promotion organization of the German meat industry. The aim of German Meat is to promote the export of products made by the German meat industry. It helps you to find exactly the right supplier of meat and meat products from Germany.
German Sweets
German Sweets e.V. (German Association for the Promotion of Chocolate, Confectionery, Biscuit, Snack and Ice-cream Exports) is the committed export partner of the German confectionery industry.Founded in 1977, our organisation meanwhile counts round about 100 companies from the manufacturing sectors chocolate products, sugar confectionery, fine bakery wares, ice cream, snacks, and raw pastes among its members.
Verband der Ausfuhrbrauereien Nord-, West- und Südwestdeutschlands e.V.
The Association of the Export Breweries of Northern, Western and Southwestern Germany was established in 1946 and its task is to safeguard and promote the foreign trade interests of its member breweries throughout Germany (outside Bavaria). Central concerns are guidance and advice for members in all issues relating to export, and representation of their interests vis-à-vis government bodies at national and European level, and also vis-à-vis third countries.
Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.
We are lobbyist, spokesman, service provider, consultant and information broker for the manufacturers of agricultural engineering. Approximately 150 companies of the industry are organised in the Agricultural Machinery Association. Specialised departments are the networks for common sounding and pursuing of the particular interests. They are often the source of projects and initiatives of the association.
Verband Deutscher Weinexporteure e.V.
German wines are marketed all over the world. About 20% of an annual harvest are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. During the last years German wines have enjoyed an increase in demand not only on the domestic German market but also on export markets.
However, import regulations for wine differ from one country to another and occasionally lead to trade complications or even to trade barriers whose solution is subject to the commitment of the German Wine Exporters' Association in Bonn. German wine exporting companies belonging to this Association profit from their membership in many respects, e.g. information and assistance with regard to trade regulations and international wine trade statistics as well as the collection and evaluation of market data on specific target markets.
Member companies strongly profit from the Association's anchored position within an international network of organisations and institutions relevant to international trading matters not only on the national but also on the European and on the international level. In this way the Association of German Wine Exporters provides a solide basis to its member companies to successfully start and extend their German wine exporting business around the world.
Sustaining members
BGA - Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen e.V.
The BGA, the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade, and Services, is the leading organization for the wholesale, foreign trade and service sector in the Federal Republic of Germany. Currently the BGA consists of 26 regional employers´ associations, primarily responsible for wage policy. In addition, there are 40 branch associations covering the entire spectrum of wholesale and foreign trade including the food and agro sectors.
In collaboration with its members the BGA exercises influence on legislation by working with the German Bundestag, government and relevant ministries. Another main task of the BGA is to inform members in a timely manner about new developments as well as about legal and regulatory changes. The BGA is a service-oriented organization. It informs its members on all kinds of developments, especially in the field of foreign trade. It organizes regular events in order to promote the imports and exports with countries in Europe and abroad, as well as seminars, business delegations and training measures.
The BGA stands for the principle of the Promotion of free, unhindered trade- both on the field of imports and exports.
Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und ländliche Räume des Landes Schleswig-Holstein
The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas (MLUR) is responsible, among other things, for furthering the interests of Schleswig-Holstein’s agricultural and food industry. The ministry’s duties in the food sector include inspection and safety, veterinary measures and quality management, but it also endeavours to promote sales. In the field of exports the Ministry of Agriculture regards itself as:
- A contact for small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural and food industry;
- An interface for communication between the government and the associations and companies in the food industry;
- A coordinator and organizer of joint stands for firms from Schleswig-Holstein at trade fairs and exhibitions;
- And not least as an image-promoter for Schleswig-Holstein in the agricultural and food sector.
Ost-Ausschuss der deutschen Wirtschaft
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten
Food from Bavaria
The web pages for producers, retailers and gastronomy: Here you can order Bavaria stands and plenty of free promotion materials, and you can download high-resolution images. With a mouse click, the producer database gives you an overview of the Bavarian food industry and its products, and all the important addresses for the Bavarian nutrition industry.
Board
| Dr. Franz-Georg von BusseSpokesman of GEFA |
| Willi Meier2nd Spokesman of GEFA |
 | Steffen ReiterCEO |
 | Dr. Carl-Stephan Schäfer2nd board member |
GEFA contact
German Export Association for Food and Agriproducts GEFA e.V.
| Holger Hübner Gertraudenstraße 20 Skype: gefa.huebner |
 | Claudia Wilmans Gertraudenstraße 20 Skype: gefa.wilmans |
 | Sebastian Lewicz Gertraudenstraße 20 Skype: gefa.lewicz |
 | Uta Bieber Gertraudenstraße 20 Skype: gefa.bieber |
 | Salome Korte-Chanturia Gertraudenstraße 20 Skype: gefa.korte-chanturia |
