The impact of acrylamide regulations on the competitive structure of the grain market
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This paper examines the European grain market in the context of emerging food safety regulations targeting free asparagine accumulation in wheat and its role in acrylamide formation during thermal processing. The wheat market is often characterized as near-competitive, with standardized commodities, transparent price discovery, and a dispersed producer base. However, stricter acrylamide standards have the potential to alter this structure. While these regulations aim to reduce consumer exposure to a recognized process contaminant, they may unintentionally reinforce market concentration by privileging firms with the capital and testing infrastructure required for compliance. Small and mid-sized millers and manufacturers face comparatively higher costs in sourcing low-asparagine wheat and adopting monitoring systems, raising barriers to entry. By analyzing market organization, contract arrangements, and the limited scope for product differentiation, this paper evaluates how regulatory asymmetries may constrain competition and offers policy recommendations to support both effective food safety governance and equitable market access. • Acrylamide rules may accelerate consolidation in the EU grain market • Small firms face sourcing, testing, and supply chain access challenges • Large firms control supply chains through contracts and custom grain sourcing • Acrylamide rules risk disrupting grain supply chains for small manufacturers • Policy support is needed to protect food supply chain diversity and equity
Source: Food Chemistry X
Author: Veronica Nowakowski
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,330
OpenAlex ID: W4416265792