The event aimed to facilitate efficient connections between new channel buyers and exhibitors. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Food2China Expo 2024 & the Guangzhou International Food and Ingredients Exhibition (GlFlF), alongside Wine to China Expo, Guangzhou (Jiangnan) International Fruit and Vegetable Industry Expo 2024 kicked off on 25 September in Area B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou

Spanning 60,000 square meters, the Food2China Expo featured nearly 2,000 exhibitors from around the globe and attracted tens of thousands of buyers and visitors. Attendees were able to indulge in a culinary and beverage extravaganza, explore industry trends and envision future growth. 

At the opening ceremony, top management executives and executive directors from participating organisations delivered keynotes, sharing their vision for the expo as a premier international food exhibition whose location in Guangzhou makes it the perfect venue for connecting China with the global market. Around 200 high-level guests joined the celebration including acclaimed food and beverage professionals, officials from consulates general in Guangzhou and commercial organisations from nearly 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Belarus, Chile, Turkey, the Philippines and Singapore. They were joined by delegates from commerce agencies, trade promotion organisations, industry associations, and businesses across China.

During the exhibition, the Food2China Expo & National TOP Channel Selection Meeting, an event featuring over 30 leading private channels covering the full gamut of the industry, was held. These channels included community group purchasing organisations, community stores, brick-and-mortar chain stores, e-commerce companies, and influencers from popular short-form video platforms, including Douyin and Kuaishou.  

UAE launches expanded US$2mn Global FoodTech Challenge at Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Annual Meeting during the UN General Assembly. (Image source: FoodTech Challenge)

During the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this year, the latest installment of the FoodTech Challenge competition was launched at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting held in New York

In response to growing global food security challenges, the FoodTech Challenge identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in harsh environments. Offering its biggest cash prize to date, FoodTech Challenge 3.0 is expanding its focus to three key areas: food and water, food and energy, and food loss and waste. 

Through a shared US$2mn cash prize, as well as go-to-market support and access to a robust network of partners, four winning start-ups will undertake new projects and partnerships to demonstrate, refine, and expand their leading tech solutions in the UAE. From this base, the teams can then scale their solutions to underserved markets in the Global South and contribute to a more food-secure future for all. Developing new ways to nourish a rapidly growing population with finite resources and such a challenging climate as that of the UAE, will provide solutions that are replicable across much of the world. 

In just two editions, the competition has garnered over 1,100 applications from start-ups across 98 countries. 

"After the historic COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, and the announcement of the partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation on agriculture innovation, the critical role of agriculture and food production in the wider climate crisis is increasingly coming into focus," said head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and co-chair of the FoodTech Challenge, Mariam Almheiri. "With the rising demands for food, water, and energy in the face of climate change, we need bold action, innovative thinking, and a transformative approach to our food systems."

Mr Ascoz provides insight into the company's most popular products while also highlighting the significance of their presence at the event and their market growth over the recent years. (Image source: FEAG)

Bellota Agrisolutions sales director, Mr Inigo Ascoz speaks with Far Eastern Agriculture at AGRITECHNICA & HORTI ASIA 2024, that took place from 22-24 May at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Bangkok, Thailand 

Mr Ascoz provides insight into the company's most popular products while also highlighting the significance of their presence at the event and their market growth over the recent years.

Can you give us some insight into your company?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): We are the biggest manufacturer of wear parts in the world. We have 11 manufacturing plants worldwide including Europe, the United States, Canada, India and Brazil, among others. We have two main divisions, namely the hand tools division and the agricultural wear parts division, which is based on Agrisolutions. Under Agrisolutions, we have different brands, with the main one being Bellota. Besides this, we have other brands and we also produce under customers’ brands. We are currently cooperating with more than 500 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide. The main ones are the biggest players in the market and all of them are customers from us. Moreover, we are also working with distributors for the aftermarket business.

What is the significance of the AGRITECHNICA ASIA show for Bellota in the Asian market?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): Well for us, the significance of course, is to partner with the main players, not only in Thailand, but also in Southeast Asia. 

Is this your first time exhibiting in Asia?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): No, this is the third time we have participated in this show. But in Thailand, yeah, this is the first. 

Which other trade shows have you attended in the past?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): At the moment, this is the only show we take part in within Asia. Of course, we have participated in the main shows like AGRITECHNICA in Germany and some other local shows in North America, Brazil and in different countries. I was also conversing with an AGRITECHNICA organiser and they were thinking of conducting some other shows in places in Southeast Asia. Well, that is definitely something we will consider. Our main purpose of being in this show is to get in touch with our current customers and have a look out for new customers, whether they are the OEMs or distributors in different markets in Southeast Asia.

Have you launched any new products recently or during the show?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): Yes, we do build and create new part numbers in the existing product lines and we are currently also into innovative long lasting solutions involving application with tungsten carbide technologies or higher resistance materials.

How is Bellota’s current market performance?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): Well, we are performing quite well. In terms of innovative solutions, the OEMs are usually more willing to adopt to this application, rather than the aftermarket.

Are your products targeted towards smallholder farmers or large scale farms?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): At the end of the day, we target the ones that are more sensitive to the quality of parts. They can either include large scale farmers, contractors or servicing companies. Since time is money for them, long lasting solutions serve as an important subject. 

What are the long and short term goals of the company and do you have any plans of expansion?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): We have been very active since 2008 and especially after 2014, we have been acquiring companies, either those that have provided us a wider product branch or a deeper product branch to be more specialist in the different product branches. We also acquire companies that provide us with new technologies to be applied to the existing product branch.

Do you offer training programmes and workshops to people of the younger generation?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): No, we of course train our own employees, but we mostly focus on training our customers by organising training courses with the sales force from our customers regarding the difference between our products and other products in the market, why our offer is premium, etc.

Which is currently your best selling product and who is your primary customer?

Inigo Ascoz (IA): Our best selling product is always the disc. It is considered a universal product since it is a type of product which is being used in all the continents, whereas you have some other products that are more specific for some countries. It is a big world and every market has different requirements. Our main customer is the OEM. They come to us for existing solutions or new solutions that we can provide to them.

The event will bring together 400 exhibitors and 13,000 visitors from 50 countries and regions. (Image source: Vietstock Expo & Forum)

The International Aquaculture Conference 2024 held during Vietstock and Aquaculture Vietnam 2024 will be taking place from 9-11 October at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The aquaculture industry significantly contributes to Vietnam’s seafood production, providing nutritious food and supporting millions of livelihoods. However, the industry faces significant challenges due to climate change and environmental degradation. Although economically profitable, the traditional aquaculture model is increasingly unsustainable, owing to its contribution to global warming and ecosystem degradation. This can in turn lead to numerous factors including lower productivity, reduced product quality, and a heightened risk of disease outbreaks and resource scarcity.

In an attempt to combat these challenges and secure the sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector, the International Aquaculture Vietnam Conference, held as part of the Vietstock and Aquaculture Vietnam in October will be collaborating with experts and businesses to find solutions to the most pressing aquacultural issues.

Recognising the industry’s current state, the sixth edition of the International Aquaculture Vietnam Conference will present the theme 'Greenhouse Emission Reduction and Development of Green Economy in Aquaculture.' With support from the Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) and the International Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS), attendees will have access to in-depth content and optimal solutions to improve aquaculture models and production while protecting aquatic ecosystems.

The first day of the conference will deep dive into the rich tapestry of 'Aquaculture Species diversity'. The second day will focus on the technological advancements and strategic approaches to develop aquaculture industry sustainability. 

Vietstock 2024 and Aquaculture Vietnam 2024 will take place concurrently, providing a comprehensive platform for the development of the livestock and aquaculture industries. The event will bring together 400 exhibitors and 13,000 visitors from 50 countries and regions. Companies are also offered an opportunity to contribute their voice through sponsorship and by becoming speakers at the International Aquaculture Vietnam Conference. 

The 42nd international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector will be held from 6-8 May 2025 at the Rimini Expo Centre in Cairo. (Image source: Macfrut)

The presentation of the 42nd edition of Macfrut 2025 was held in Cairo and is expected to be even more innovative and spectacular

Held at the Rimini Expo Centre, Macfrut is the industry’s only international supply chain trade fair and is a unique event that combines three key elements for the sector’s growth: business, networking and knowledge. With Egypt as the international partner, Lazio as the Partner region and potatoes in the spotlight, the International Symposium on Biotechnological Tools in Horticulture, thematic focus sessions with a new addition, ‘The Healthy Food Show’, will be presented in an innovative and spectacular way. These are just some of the novelties of the 42nd edition of Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector, which will be held from 6-8 May 2025.

Egypt is a strategically located Mediterranean country that has long chosen Macfrut as the world’s leading showcase for the growth of its fruit and vegetable sector. During the three-day trade fair, Egypt will play a central role with events, tastings, meetings and international presentations, supported by a large institutional and business delegation. With this international partnership, Macfrut continues to strengthen its ties with the Middle Eastern countries, which are an increasingly important market for the sector. 

The Lazio region, known for its certified quality products, will take centre stage at the 42nd edition of Macfrut, with various products such as PDO chestnut, PGI artichoke, PDO potato and PDO hazelnut, among others featured at the three-day event and presented in detail to an international audience as part of an extensive programme of initiatives. 

As one of the world’s most widely grown crops, with a global production area of around 18 million hectares, potatoes will be the star product of the 2025 edition. The trade fair will host the International Potato Symposium, a two-day event featuring in-depth discussions on technical, agronomic and market issues with international experts, global stakeholders and leading researchers in the sector. 

For the first time, Macfrut will host the Biotechnology Symposium, sponsored by the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS), which promotes research in all areas of horticultural science. It will be an opportunity for plant biotechnology researchers and the production chain to meet. The aim is to present the latest technical and scientific information on technologies used in plant in vitro cultures, plant propagation and the creation of new, resilient and high-quality varieties.  

A number of themed exhibitions such as the Healthy Food Show, the Biosolutions International Event, the Plant Nursery area, the Spices & Herbs Global Expo, the Agrisolar Systems & Technologies, the Red Planet, the water revolution and Macfrut Field Solutions will showcase innovations that address issues in modern fruit and vegetable production.