Director of the Board and Vice-chairman of the GS1 HK Food and Beverage Industry Advisory Board, kick-started the GS1 HK Food Safety Forum 2024 with other distinguished guests. (Image source: GS1 Hong Kong)

Drawing more than 200 in-person attendees from the food and catering industry, the tenth edition of GS1 Hong Kong Food Safety Forum concluded successfully on 23 August 

The event was kick-started by Diane Wong, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government, who was also the Guest of Honour. In her opening remarks, she highlighted the importance of advanced technology in food safety and sustainability, along with its role in efficiently reducing food loss and waste by significantly improving storage, handling and distribution practices. 

Keith Wu, Chairman of GS1 HK's Food and Beverage Industry Advisory Board, highlighted the importance of the sustainability of local food ecosystem and cited GS1 HK's '1QR', a QR code with GS1 Digital Link standard, as a good way to promote food safety and sustainability. Retailers can scan the code at the check-out counter to view the 'Best Before' or 'Sell By' dates – allowing expired foods to be rejected at checkout, and those close to expiry to be sold at a bargain – to reduce food waste.

Moreover, additional information including nutritional values, industry certifications and allergy advice can also be accessed by consumers along with the sustainability details such as sources of materials, carbon footprint and recycling methods that can help uplift consumers' confidence and attachment. 

The new 'Quality Food Scheme ESG' has awarded 17 enterprises with recognition, which are assessed mainly in accordance with GS1 Global Traceability Standard (GTS), MSCI ESG Indexes and United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) etc. The scheme aims to encourage businesses to not only put efforts in food traceability and safety, but also act on ESG practices.

"I'm very pleased to see the encouraging responses for our inaugural 'Quality Food Scheme ESG' from the industry, which shows their commitment to sustainable development," said Chief Executive of GS1 HK, Anna Lin. "We will continue to work with all the parties, by means of consultation, training and award schemes, to elevate food safety standard and more sustainable practices."

This in-person gathering marked a significant opportunity to strengthen relationships among laboratories and countries. (Image source: ICRISAT)

The eighth summit meeting of the Asian Soil Laboratory Network (SEALNET) was held from 15-16 July in the Philippines

The summit brought together distinguished dignitaries, scientists, and SEALNET members from across the globe. After years of virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this in-person gathering marked a significant opportunity to strengthen relationships among laboratories and countries and to define a sustainable work plan for the coming years.

At the inaugural session held on 15 July 2024, FAO Representative in the Philippines, Lionel Henri Valentin Dabbadie and Director of the FAO Land and Water Division, Lifeng Li were the guest speakers. The keynote address was delivered by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Philippines, Francisco P Tiu-Laurel Jr. 

All focal points were called on to encourage regional laboratories to join SEALNET and participate in regional proficiency testing. All focal points were called on to encourage regional laboratories to join SEALNET and participate in regional proficiency testing. In her address, Dr Nilo stressed the role soil laboratories play in meticulously measuring and providing the vast data required for the preparation of soil health maps.

"Quality soil data and integrity are key to sustainable soil management and achieving food self-sufficiency. Healthy soil leads to a healthy life, as 95% of our food comes from land. It all begins with soil and water, the sources of life," said ICRISAT's deputy director General-Research, Dr Stanford Blade, while appreciating SEALNET's extensive efforts and emphasising the importance of soil health monitoring in the context of 'One Health'.

Around 580 companies from 40 countries along with 12 countries' pavilions and 18,467 trade visitors gathered at the exhibition. (Image source: PT Napindo)

PT Napindo Media Ashatama (Napindo) extends appreciation and gratitude for all participation and contribution towards the Indo Livestock, Indo Feed, Indo Dairy, Indo Agrotech, Indo Vet, and Indo Fisheries 2024 Expo & Forum, which was successfully held this year

Around 580 companies from 40 countries along with 12 countries' pavilions and 18,467 trade visitors gathered at the exhibition. During his opening ceremony, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) appreciated the event as a form of positive support to encourage the growth of the livestock and fisheries industry in the country. 

“The exhibitions provide significant information contributions for stakeholders in the food sector, especially in supporting food self-sufficiency. Indo Livestock 2024 Expo and Forum are a momentum for business actors to develop products that currently have not achieved food self-sufficiency, especially dairy and milk products,” he said.

Project Director Napindo said, this series of successful collaborations with six exhibitions and forums will continue with Indo Livestock, Indo Feed, Indo Dairy, Indo Agrotech, Indo Vet and Indo Fisheries 2025 Expo & Forum from 2-5 July 2025 at Grand City Convex, Surabaya.

A total of 300 companies from 30 countries are targeted to participate in this annual event, including 10 Country Pavilions and it is hoped that it will attract 15,000 visitors during the three days of the show.

Each day will focus on a different topic. (Image source: IPM ESSEN)

IPM ESSEN is organising a new forum in Hall 2 from 28-31 January 2025 in Germany

Gardeners, breeders and young plant producers can exchange information at Messe Essen on the future topics of this important interface in horticulture. The new information programme which is currently being developed in close cooperation with the industry offers space for keynote speeches, panel discussions, innovations and best practices. 

The forum offers valuable insights into the latest developments and trends in the young plant sector and the opportunity to share experiences with each other. Each day will focus on a different topic. Guided tours of growers and young plant companies begin at the stand area. Moreover, translation will be provided for all non-German-speaking visitors.

At IPM ESSEN, we would like to offer a meeting place in the centre of the young plant area where current topics and solutions can be discussed with experts and producers, as well as knowledge and know-how passed on,“ explained IPM project manager, Andrea Hölker. “In this way, we are promoting targeted industry dialogue for gardeners in order to tackle the challenges of the future. At the same time, exhibiting companies can actively contribute their own ideas and strengthen their network.“ 

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.ipm-essen.de

Technological solutions for the innovative indoor production of feed and food have now been developed and are under evaluation. (Image source: DLG)

Organised by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), this year's Inhouse-Farming - Feed & Food Show is scheduled to take place from 12-15 November in Hanover, Germany with 13 November marked as the Aquaculture Theme Day 

The show invites attendees to learn more about fish, crustaceans, algae and other aquaculture topics. Exhibitors will showcase their technologies, ranging from turnkey solutions to specialised feeding and farming equipment. On 13 November, information on aquaculture will be discussed and exchanged in Hall 24. System builders and their producers will provide information about their experiences on the farms and international experts will report on how fish and vegetables thrive together in aquaponics systems.

Technological solutions for the innovative indoor production of feed and food have now been developed and are under evaluation. Ulrich Averberg from the German Algae Co-operative, along with other experts on indoor farming products will be discussing the question with representatives from the retail sector: "How can we escape the marketing desert?" There is a need for action and optimisation in marketing. The economic success of the new system depends on the development of new markets and successful links to international trade, "otherwise the others will take the business," says Averberg.

The various facets of food and feed production in closed inhouse systems enable the creation of new material cycles and the utilisation of nutrient and energy flows, which will be demonstrated and discussed in Hanover. Moreover, algae and insects as feed additives will also be discussed, as will nutrient solutions and CO2 binding in algae farms, packaging material from crustacean moults and insect growth on waste materials.