Spanish national with more than three decades of experience in EU affairs, Diego Canga Fano has always been closely involved with AGRI Promotion policy and high-level missions. A Director in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture (DG AGRI) since 2014, after several years working in the European Parliament and experience in national politics, Diego returned to DG AGRI in October 2023 as Director F, in charge of Outreach, research and geographical indications.
More: https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/agriculture-and-rural-development_en

Mr Christophe Hansen is the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food since December 2024. Born in Luxembourg, in 1982, he was a Member of the European Parliament with extensive experience in international trade, environment, and social affairs. He served as a coordinator for the International Trade Committee and as a Quaestor of the Parliament. Mr Hansen has been a main legislative rapporteur for key regulations, including the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Regulation on CAP Strategic Plans, and the Deforestation Regulation. Prior to his European roles, he was active in Luxembourg's national institutions. Professionally, he has worked as a political adviser and attaché in EU and Luxembourg contexts.

More: https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/christophe-hansen_en

Dr Hirofumi Takinami graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (LLB) in 1994, The University of Chicago, Harris Graduate School of Public Policy (MPP) in 1998, and Waseda University, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (PhD) in 2021. After working for the Ministry of Finance for 19 years from 1994, he returned to his hometown and was elected to the House of Councillors (HC) in 2013. In 2019, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, and in 2023, he became Chair of the HC Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In November 2024, he was appointed as State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Mr Ignas Hofmanas graduated from Kaunas University of Technology, with a doctoral degree in technological sciences, energy and thermal engineering in 2014. He worked as a farmer from 2009, becoming chairman of the Radviliškis Region Farmers' Union from March 2019. In April 2023, he became Lithuanian Agricultural Council chairman until his nomination as minister of agriculture in December 2024.

More: https://zum.lrv.lt/en/structure-and-contacts/management/ignas-hofmanas/

Mr Jean Rummenie studied agricultural engineering at Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands and had an extensive career at the Ministry of Agriculture. Before becoming the Minister for Fishery, Food Security, Horticulture and Nature Conservation in July 2024, he served as an agricultural counsellor in for example Hungary, Poland, the United States, Argentina, Indonesia and Mexico. He believes that Dutch agriculture, horticulture and fisheries are leaders in sustainable and efficient production. He is committed to retaining a strong sector that also contributes to enhancing the unique cultivated landscape and areas of natural beauty.

More: https://www.government.nl/government/members-of-cabinet/jean-rummenie

Mr Martin Heydon graduated from Kildalton Agricultural College and took over his family’s suckler and tillage farm. In 2011, he was elected as a Member of the Irish Parliament. He has served as a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, the Joint Committee on Climate Action and on Committees on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs, and Petitions. In July 2020 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, New Market Development, and Research and Development. In January 2025, he was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

More: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/biographies/martin-heydon/

Mr Dirk Jacobs is Director General of FoodDrinkEurope, the organisation of the European food and drink industry, Europe’s largest manufacturing sector in terms of turnover, employment and value added. Mr Jacobs is a member of various EU platforms and initiatives, such as the European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF), and participated in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture in the EU, launched by President Ursula von der Leyen. Under the auspices of the European Commission, he also led a multistakeholder task force which developed an EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices. Mr Jacobs is also a member of the OECD-FAO Advisory Group on Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains and regularly participates in international food-related fora in the UN system. Mr Jacobs has long-standing professional experience covering various roles in international and EU public/political affairs and strategic communications. A Dutch national, he holds a Master of Science (MSc) in International Business Administration at Maastricht University (NL), studied international economics in Milan (IT), and holds a post-graduate MBA in European Business in Brussels (BE).

More: https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/person/dirk-jacobs/

Born in 1972, Mr Shigeyuki Yagi has been the President and Head of Sales Department at Bio c' Bon Japon since May 2022, after joining the company as Head of Sales Department in 2019. Bio c' Bon, an organic supermarket from France, is renowned for its fresh produce and everyday items. The brand launched its first Japanese store in Azabu Juban in 2016, promoting the theme ""organic for everyday life.""
Before Bio c' Bon, Mister Yagi began his career at Jusco (now AEON) in 1997, transitioning to the Corporate Communications Department in 2002 and becoming Head of the AEON Fantasy Brand Strategy Office in 2017. His vision and commitment continue to drive Bio c' Bon's success, expanding its presence with stores in Tokyo and Kanagawa, and a nationwide online store.

Born in 1980, Mr Yanagihara Hiroki has led the Product Development Division at Kokubu Group Corporation since January 2025. Kokubu Group, founded in 1712, is one of Japan’s oldest and largest food distribution companies, evolving from a sake wholesaler to a major logistics and supply chain enterprise.

Hiroki joined Kokubu in 2002 and moved to the Original Alcoholic Beverages Division in 2006, now the Product Development Division. He has consistently been involved in importing spirits such as whisky and wine. As MD for Kokubu's original Western spirits, he oversees planning, import, and sales.

He organizes the Kokubu Alcoholic Beverages Comprehensive Exhibition, attracting 1,200 attendees in 2024 with 2,500 items showcased. In 2025, he was appointed as a Board Member of the Japan Wines and Spirits Importers' Association. His commitment to sustainable products includes importing ‘Terra Vitis’ certified wines and ‘Roche Mazet’ organic wines, promoting earth-friendly and people-friendly choices.

Mr Vensild has joined the Danish Bacon & Meat Council and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council in 2024 after 21 years with the Danish Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries - in Denmark and on postings in Brussels and Washington DC. During his time with the government, he held positions as Director for International Cooperation and chief negotiator for market access for live animals, food, feed, etc. Mr. Vensild has led trade delegations and been promoting Danish Agriculture and Food in the EU and on markets around the world - in particular, China, Japan, USA, and markets in Southeast Asia.

More https://agricultureandfood.dk/

Ms Rita Liberti, born and raised in Naples, served as the Head Secretary and Executive Assistant for the Consorzio di Tutela Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Dop/Pdo.

She has almost twenty years of experience in the cheese sector. After graduating with honors in political science from the Università degli Studi l’Orientale of Naples, she lived in Japan, where she deepened her expertise in import-export, especially regarding Italian cheeses with geographical indications.

In 2011, she returned to Italy to join the Consorzio di Tutela Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Dop/Pdo. Her responsibilities there include managing logistics and promotion, as well as assisting management in planning the consortium's activities.

Mr Jean-Eric Paquet is the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan since
autumn 2022. He held various mandates at the European Commission, where he contributed in shaping EU policy in various fields and achieved major breakthroughs. As the Director-General for Research and Innovation from 2018 and 2022, he set up the European Innovation Council and promoted a whole-of-government approach for R&I, notably via the creation of several EU Missions to solve major ecological, societal and economical challenges. He gained considerable experience at international level as Director for the Western Balkans in the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and as EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 2004 to 2007.
From 2015 to 2018, he was Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission, in charge of Better Regulation and Policy Coordination.
He also led the development of the Trans-European Transport Network Policy and was responsible for Europe’s transport infrastructure policy and investment strategies, the single European rail area,Finland waterways and port policy.
In all his endeavours, he puts co-creation and systemic change at the heart of the decision-making process, and strongly believes that citizens should be more involved in shaping public policy agendas.

More: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/japan/about-ambassador_en?s=169