The Call for Papers and Cases allows researchers, practitioners and companies to submit contributions and case studies to the IAIC. (Image source: DLG)

Organised by the International Association for Agricultural Sustainability (IAAS), this year's International Agriculture Innovation Conference (IAIC 2024) which is partnered by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) will be taking place on 10 June 2024 at the DLG's headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany

The conference titled: 'Advancing Sustainable Agriculture through Innovation,' will be uniting leading global experts, practitioners and stakeholders from the agribusiness sector who will discuss the future of agriculture, including ways to achieve the global goals of food security, poverty reduction and climate protection. It will also include a practical excursion programme to selected industry partners on 11 and 12 June. 

Moreover, the Call for Papers and Cases for the conference is now open, allowing researchers, practitioners and companies to submit contributions and case studies to the IAIC. With a focus on sustainable developments, the technical scope of eligible contributions covers a wide range of topics relating to the agricultural value chain, from plant and animal production to packaging and legal issues. The deadline for submissions in 20 May 2024.

Further details on the broad range of topics in the field of sustainable agriculture and the procedure for submitting papers can be found at:https://iaic.iaas.org.sg/author-guide.

As part of Macfrut's internationalisation efforts, around 50 presentations were held around the world. (Image source: Macfrut)

The 41st edition of Macfrut 2024 is all set to welcome the global fruit and vegetable supply chain at the Rimini Expo Centre, from 8-10 May this year

The focus is on the fruit and vegetable supply chain, a strategic sector of the Italian agri-food industry. According to the Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market (ISMEA), the production of fruits and vegetables in 2023 was estimated at around 24 million tonnes, on an area of around 1.3 million ha involving 300,000 farms. In terms of consumption, the ISMEA data also shows a decline in bulk purchases of citrus fruits, potatoes and fresh-cut salads. Sales of fruits on the other hand, remained stable while sales of vegetables increased by 1%. 

This year, the international focus will be on the Arabian Peninsula, where an initiative launched three years ago will see the participation of around 100 buyers from the region, mainly interested in apples, kiwis and table grapes. Also from the Arabian Peninsula, Emirates SkyCargo will be attending the trade fair with around 100 buyers to highlight the opportunities for business in the region as a logistics hub.

Moreover, Macfrut's focus on Africa along with the implementation of the 'Mattei Plan' has resulted the trade fair to become increasingly strategic in the government’s international policy. This year's fair will also have a pavilion dedicated to the African continent and will host 400 exhibitors from 24 African countries, mainly growers, but also importers of agricultural technology and technical products for agriculture. Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Namibia and Togo will be taking part for the first time. Larger exhibitors include Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique and Mali with 37 companies. Along with exhibitors and wholesalers from South America and Spain, 50 top buyers from India will also be attending the event as one of the new participants.  

As part of Macfrut's internationalisation efforts, around 50 presentations were held around the world, both in person and via streaming, made possible with the support of ICE - Italian Trade Agency. Apulia, famous for its excellent fruits and vegetables will also be taking centre stage this year, by being the partner region of Macfrut. With a focus on certified fruits and vegetables, the region will have a major presence at the trade fair, promoting Apulia’s agri-food products through conferences, events, and tastings, and showcasing itself on the international stage.  

Themed exhibitions at the event will include the Macfrut Table Grape Symposium, the world’s leading symposium that will bring together major experts and global players during the three days of the trade fair to take stock of research, market trends, production performance, product innovation and business strategies. In addition, two new exhibitions are planned: the Innovation Hub for Healthy Food, dedicated to sustainable products and processing technologies for the production of foods with high nutritional value, and the Agrisolar Systems & Technologies, showcasing the opportunities offered by photovoltaic energy generation to support agricultural production. There is also the Biosolutions International Event with around 60 exhibitors, making Macfrut the leading event in Europe for natural plant protection, nutrition and biostimulation products.

On the same days as Macfrut, the Africa & Mediterranean Poultry Forum, an international event for the poultry industry will also take place, providing attendees an opportunity to take an in-depth look at the poultry industry and to discuss with institutions and stakeholders how to systematically improve networking throughout the supply chain.

For more information, visit: www.macfrut.com

Visitors to ILDEX Vietnam can anticipate encounters with more than 180 top companies within the livestock and aquaculture industries, all under one roof. (Image source: ILDEX Vietnam)

The ninth edition of ILDEX Vietnam, the international livestock, dairy, meat processing, and aquaculture exposition, stands poised to once again set the standard as the premier trade exhibition in the Asia region

Garnering robust attendance and brimming with abundant business opportunities, industry experts and leading exhibitors alike have hailed it as the foremost marketplace and international business platform for the Vietnamese market. Scheduled to take place from 29-31 May 2024 at the esteemed Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, this edition of ILDEX Vietnam is the result of a collaborative effort between VNU Asia Pacific, the organiser, and ITEC, the local partners, promising a powerful trade fair tailored to the vibrant Vietnamese market.

What’s to expect?

Visitors to ILDEX Vietnam can anticipate encounters with more than 180 top companies hailing from more than 32 countries worldwide within the livestock and aquaculture industries, all under one roof. This presents a remarkable opportunity to engage with global brands from diverse nations, constituting more than 85% of the total exhibition, offering cutting-edge technology and innovation to drive business development in Vietnam and across Asia. Notable exhibitors include Big Dutchman, DE Heus, Business France, KSP, Peja Vietnam, and North USA, among others. Furthermore, investors can explore and forge partnerships with international country pavilions from France, North USA, the EU, Turkey, Brazil, China, the Netherlands, and South Korea, alongside media, consultants, and associations, fostering discussions on collaborative efforts to enhance business prospects through extensive networking.

Variety of business profiles

In a bid to comprehensively cover the supply chain, ILDEX Vietnam 2024 introduces two special pavilions: the Meat Pro Pavilion, focusing on food processing and packaging, and the HAN Select Vietnam Pavilion, centered on Agriculture-Horticulture businesses. This initiative aligns with our commitment to embody the ethos of the VIV worldwide map, striving to present holistic solutions from seed to food within the trade fair. The exhibition will showcase a diverse array of business profiles spanning poultry, pig, livestock, sustainable farming, aquaculture, animal health, and meat processing, accentuated by technical conferences throughout the three-day event.

Get your free ticket now!

For those eager to explore the extensive exhibitor list and conference programme, please visit www.ildex-vietnam.com.

Admission to this edition of ILDEX Vietnam is priced at US$10 per person for a three-day entry. Pre-registering before the show via https://ildexvn2024.jupinnothai.net/Registration/ChooseTypeRegis.aspx?codeInv=ILD009 will allow attendees to bypass this fee. For individuals requiring invitation letters for visa/media inquiries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call: +662 1116611 Ext.335 (VNU Asia Pacific).

Through this platform, the council members are able to share the best practices and industry experience. (Image source: InvestPenang)

In an attempt to strengthen Penang's position as an investment hub for agritech, foodtech, and other related sectors in Penang, InvestPenang has initiated the establishment of the Penang AgriTech & FoodTech Industry Council

With the primary objective of serving as a collaboration and engagement platform between government agencies and industry players, the council will focus on trends, opportunities, policies, and strategic directions in supporting the growth of agritech, foodtech, and other related sectors in Penang. 

The platform will allow council members to share best practices and industry experience, while also providing an avenue for benchmarking, learning and sharing of best practices to broaden their expertise and network. InvestPenang in collaboration with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) on 1 February, co-organised an exhibit and dialogue conference, titled 'Smart Agriculture & Food Manufacturing: Cultivating a Sustainable Future,' serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations and developments in agriculture and food technologies, addressing challenges posed by extreme climate changes and exploring how modern agricultural practices contribute to global food security. 

The full-day conference comprised a dynamic programme of presentations, case studies and panel discussions, covering topics on global trends and policies in food manufacturing and agriculture, the future of human-machine collaborations, smart farming for food security, and financial support and risk management in agriculture and food production.The conference highlighted Penang’s AgriTech and FoodTech capabilities, presented market opportunities and ecosystems for technology transfer, and commercialisation of local R&D products. Moreover, it also provided insights into expected changes in the agricultural and food industry while encouraging participants to anticipate future shifts and challenges. 

Experts also showcased their products and solutions, such as spanning drones in precision agriculture, indoor farming with LED technology, human-machine collaboration, and successful smart manufacturing case studies. 

For more information, visit: https://investpenang.gov.my/ 

The first webinar and workshop of the BEATLES project will take place on 23 April from 10:00-12:15 CET. (Image source: BEATLES)

Organised by Q-PLAN International and SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS, the first webinar and workshop of the BEATLES project is scheduled to take place on 23 April this year

BEATLES is a Horizon Research & Innovation project funded by the European Union which aims to accelerate the systemic and systematic behavioural shift to climate-smart agriculture and smart farming technologies.

The webinar will begin with an introduction to the BEATLES project by the coordinator from the Agricultural University of Athens, Marilena Gemtou. Following this, project partner, Søren Marcus Pedersen will delve into 'Locks-in and levers for transition to sustainable food systems'. Simone Cerroni will then present findings on 'Farmers' preferences for subsidy schemes to promote methane emission reduction in the livestock sector', drawing from insights of the sister project VISIONARY. Concluding the webinar, Irina Popescu, a Food Policy officer at BEUC, will address consumer attitudes and initiatives like 'Put Change on the Menu'.

Moreover, an attractive workshop will be featured in the second part of the event, bringing together technical experts and stakeholders to collaboratively identify challenges and opportunities in transforming the food system. Attendees also have the opportunity to provide feedback on the presented research results and collectively explore strategies for advancing practices for climate-smart farming.

For more information, visit: https://beatles-project.eu/

To register for the project, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdN8CWrn5wencOwaLH3yUcefLdAQOI_cqbcoZykjyb8oRKTPg/viewform