Strengthening ties in the European Union for the Uruguayan meat
The event, organized by Block Foods, a key strategic partner and importer of Uruguayan meat in Germany, was held under the motto “Aus Weide wird Genuss!”, which translates to “From Pasture to Culinary Delight.” The evening brought together more than 360 guests from various business sectors connected to the food service, hotel, and restaurant industries across Germany.
The event was attended by prominent authorities and industry leaders, including Karl Heinz Krämer, CEO of the Block Foods Group; Eugen Block, founder of Block House; Fernando López Fabregat, Uruguay's Ambassador to Germany; Gianni Motta, Sustainability Manager of the National Meat Institute (INAC); and Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Windisch, an expert in animal nutrition from the Technical University of Munich.
Throughout the various presentations, the strengths of Uruguayan livestock farming were highlighted. In this context, Karl Heinz Krämer referred to the collaboration with Uruguay as a partner country, emphasizing its leadership in sustainable livestock production. He underscored that Uruguay is a pioneering country in adopting a comprehensive vision of responsible livestock farming, with a strong commitment to animal welfare, environmental regeneration, and a production recognized for its exceptionally high-quality beef.
Eugen Block, founder of Block House and owner of the Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg, welcomed the attendees and expressed his gratitude for the strong partnership of over 35 years with Uruguay, built on shared values of sustainability, quality, and reliability.
Professor Dr. Wilhelm Windisch, from the Technical University of Munich, explained—based on local experience—that a significant portion of the plant biomass generated by crops such as wheat or soybeans is unsuitable for human consumption, while pastures produce exclusively inedible biomass. He noted that transforming this biomass into feed through cattle nutrition allows for its integration into a circular economy, maximizing food production and making a key contribution to food security.
Gianni Motta, Sustainability Manager at INAC (National Meat Institute), presented Uruguay as a global example of livestock production, based on its unique ecosystem of native grasslands, where livestock farming coexists harmoniously with biodiversity and plays an essential role in its preservation. In this regard, he highlighted that Uruguay stands out for having the highest degree of conservation of this biome in the region.
He also emphasized the public sector's firm commitment to the country's sustainable development, in line with the environmental commitments made to the United Nations and the Paris Agreement. Within this framework, he underscored that Uruguayan livestock farming has managed to reduce methane emissions by 32% per kilogram of meat produced, thanks to greater production efficiency that, with a stable cattle stock, has allowed for a 50% increase in production over the last 20 years.
Finally, he noted that Uruguay has been classified as a low-risk country for deforestation under the new European Union Regulation on deforestation. He also highlighted that, thanks to public livestock information and traceability systems, importers can now access detailed information on the origin of animals and verify, through third parties, that the meat entering the European Union comes from deforestation-free farms.
All these actions led to the FAO designating Uruguay as co-chair of the 2026 International Year of Grasslands and Pastoralists, a distinction that recognizes the value of Uruguayan livestock farming and positions the country as an international leader in sustainable production.
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