BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  The Politics of European Agriculture and EU Trade Negotiations

The Politics of European Agriculture and EU Trade Negotiations

Rory O'Donnell, Managing Director of International Agriculture, Food, and Trade, Penta Group

17-May-24 12:00

The Politics of European Agriculture and EU Trade Negotiations

“I think we’re getting past the luxury of just being against things”, Penta's Rory O'Donnell on global food security.

Farmers' protests in Europe are reshaping the political landscape as the European Parliament elections approach, with the protest highlighting a frustration among European farmers as they navigate tougher competition, rising production costs, and concerns over the environmental impacts of initiatives like the Green Deal strategy.

With that in mind, today we delve into the intricate world of European agriculture, exploring the evolving landscape of agricultural policies within the EU, their global ramifications, food security, and lessons that Asia can learn from Europe and vice versa. Joining us is Rory O'Donnell, Managing Director of International Agriculture, Food, and Trade at Penta, who brings over three decades of experience in the UK Civil Service and a deep understanding of EU affairs.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketsgovernmentculture

Tags:  european parlimentfarmers’ protestsagricultureenvironmental impact





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Kenneth Loh, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence discusses the outlook for the shipping sector in light of conflict in the Middle East.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Captain Mohd Radzi Mohamad Alias of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) discusses how US-Iran military attacks are disrupting aviation and what it means for flight safety.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Julia Lau of the ISEAS and Muhammad Haziq Jani of the RSIS share insights on Indonesia’s political and economic trajectory under President Prabowo Subianto.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Sharon Zollner, Chief Economist of ANZ Bank New Zealand, discusses the New Zealand's economy and its impact and implications.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser of Pacific Research Centre, discusses the unfolding Malaysian political events.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Kenneth Loh, Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence discusses the outlook for the shipping sector in light of conflict in the Middle East.

9:35 AM

BBC The Inquiry

Can the world catch China in the rare earths race?

10:05 AM

Open For Business

When AI Becomes the Search Engine. As AI-powered interfaces reshape how people search for information, the rules of digital marketing are shifting. We speak with Alvin Koay, Founder and CEO of Growth.pro, a Penang-based agency helping brands move beyond traditional keyword-based SEO toward AI-driven visibility. Alvin explains the idea behind AI Citation Engineering, how Growth.pro helps brands become sources that AI systems reference directly, and how this approach translates into measurable results for clients in a rapidly evolving search landscape.

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

Has PR Earned Its Seat at the Table? PR teams are under pressure to prove ROI, yet many still rely on traditional metrics. Mimrah Mahmood of Meltwater talks about leadership alignment, AI’s impact, and whether PR in APAC is ready to move from activity to outcomes.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

1. Alun Jones, Project Director of Montgomery Asia (organiser of ICBS 2026) 2. Koh Wei Yang, General Manager of Barista Guild Awards

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille (REPEAT)

Julia Lau of the ISEAS and Muhammad Haziq Jani of the RSIS share insights on Indonesia’s political and economic trajectory under President Prabowo Subianto.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

4:05 PM

Health & Living

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday