Currently at 60% self-sufficiency in home-produced foodstuffs, the aim is to become 100% self-sufficient. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The ongoing SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE (LIVESTOCK SUMMIT) is taking place from 1-4 October in Clermont-Ferrand, France

Hosting 2,000 animals representing 70 different breeds of livestock, 1,700 exhibitors from 35 countries will be attending the event which will also host a packed programme for the expected 120,000 visitors. 

As an international business forum, the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE is also more than 5,000 foreign visitors from over 90 countries, who come to discover French cattle and sheep breeds, and meet suppliers of farm equipment, animal feed and health products, and not forgetting new technologies and the latest industry innovations. As every year, they can expect a VIP welcome with a specific programme of events and activities to include access to the International Lounge, farm visits and the international gala evening, among others.

Known for its long tradition of nomadic livestock farming, Kazakhstan possesses 32 million hectares of croppable land, that’s more than that of France and Germany combined. Known as the number one sheep meat producer in central Asia, Kazakhstan is also the sixth world producer of wheat.

"At a time when agriculture is facing major challenges, our event throws light on the many issues facing livestock farmers, such as replacing the current generation of farmers, young people setting up in business, farmers’ quality of life, improving incomes, climate change, animal welfare, etc," said the show's general manager, Fabrice Berthon. "They come to us to learn more about the challenges they ultimately face. The SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE gives them solutions, ideas and perspectives that they may not find elsewhere. All in the festive, friendly atmosphere for which our event is world renowned. Because that too is all part of the SOMMET, four days of sharing, chatting and laughing, it’s some valuable down time for everyone!"

Dr Jacqueline Hughes being presented the 2024 PGPR Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Agriculture. (Image source: ICRISAT)

Director general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Dr Jacqueline Hughes was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Global Agriculture Award at the eighth Asian PGPR International Conference for Sustainable Agriculture in Taiwan

Dr Hughes' lifelong dedication to agricultural research fetched her the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in Global Agriculture Award, highlighting her pioneering work in plant virology, sustainable agriculture, and food security in regions challenged by climate change and agricultural strain.

Working extensively in both Africa and Asia, Dr Hughes has led research and development programmes that have significantly improved the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Her leadership has driven programmes focused on strategic innovation, sustainable agricultural practices, and cross-cutting research that have had far-reaching impacts across multiple continents. Through her work, Dr Hughes has promoted food and nutrition security, strengthened plant disease management, and pioneered the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to reduce chemical inputs in farming.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award from the Asian PGPR Society. I share this achievement with the many dedicated colleagues and partners who have been integral to finding sustainable solutions for agriculture," remarked Dr Hughes at her acceptance speech at the World Vegetable Centre in Shanhua, Taiwan. "The challenges we face due to the warming climate are substantial, especially in the semi-arid tropics, but so too are the opportunities to make a lasting impact on food security and environmental sustainability."

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."