The EU is being urged to eliminate environmentally-harmful subsidies, which could have far-reaching implications for firms in the food manufacturing industry.
A total of 89 international organisations have sent a letter to EU Commission president Jose Barroso, asking for the removal of such subsidies to be made a priority.
The EU committed to defining a roadmap for progression on the issue back in 2006, though little progress has been made.
If the subsidies are removed, farmers may find themselves under increased financial pressures and the cost of cereals would subsequently rise.
However, ClientEarth chief executive officer James Thornton says that the EU has made an important commitment to the environment and must follow through.
He said: "The European Commission has ignored its own commitment and the requests of both the parliament and council.
"It is an outrage public funds should be used to subsidise environmentally-damaging activities."
Food manufacturing firms are already having to deal with the ever-escalating cost of cereals, with commodities like corn reaching record-high prices in the last few months.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the food manufacturing industry includes:
