Event News

There is a lot to see and learn at the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa. (Image source: Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa 2024)

Africa's leading industry event, the Organic and Natural Products Expo 2024 is all set to open its doors from 12-14 September at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa

Designed as a hybrid event that caters to trade buyers while allowing retail sales directly to consumers, the expo is the continent's only dedicated event for the organic and natural products industry and serves as the ultimate platform for traders and exhibitors to showcase their offerings to a diverse and influential audience. 

Besides featuring a mix of local and international manufacturers, producers, suppliers, importers, exporters and distributors, the expo also brings together suppliers, buyers and eco-enthusiasts to celebrate greener, healthier, and more sustainable living. Moreover, it also showcases numerous product categories including health, body & beauty, lifestyle, home, food & beverages, and baby & kids. 

The expo has attracted significant interest from across the African continent and aims to open doors to new business opportunities from countries including Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar and Malawi. The event also offers a memorable, informative and exciting experience, including exclusive networking opportunities, live demonstrations, product tastings, interactive sessions, engaging potential clients and showcasing products in real-time. Additionally, attendees will gain valuable industry insights, staying ahead of market trends and learning about the latest innovations in sustainability and wellness.

“This is looking to be our biggest event yet and we are delighted to bring the expo for its fourth consecutive year to Johannesburg,” said Organic and Natural Product Expo Africa’s head of sponsorships and partnerships, Warren Hickinbotham. 

For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://www.organicandnaturalportal.com/expo/

The event will celebrate innovation, sustainability, profitability, scalability, and entrepreneurship within the African food and agriculture sector. (Image source: AAC)

The African Agri Council (AAC) has called for nominations from industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders across the continent for the Agri Investment Indaba Awards which is scheduled to tale place at the African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) 

The event will celebrate innovation, sustainability, profitability, scalability, and entrepreneurship within the African food and agriculture sector. By recognising these achievements, the council strives to shift the narrative and highlight the continent's significant advancements towards food security.

Some of the notable award categories include:

Deal of the Year Award: Recognises a significant transaction in the African food and agriculture sector that exemplifies the transformational aspects of the deal, the execution complexity, the deal size, and the potential value creation of the deal.

Rising Star Award: Designed to recognise and celebrate emerging talent in the African food and agriculture sector.

Woman of the Year Award: Celebrates the achievements of an outstanding woman in the African food agriculture sector. 

Innovation in Food and Agriculture Award:  Recognises groundbreaking innovations in the food and agriculture sector that have the potential to transform the industry.

Sustainability Champion Award: Recognises efforts to implement sustainable practices, reduce environmental impact, and promote long-term ecological balance.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognises a lifetime of dedication, exceptional achievements, and pioneering efforts that have left a profound and enduring impact on the industry and its advancement towards food security and sustainability. 

By benchmarking each entry against some of the best in the industry, AAC's independent judges provide participants with an opportunity to see how their team measures up. 

To apply, choose the category, review the entry information, upload required documents and complete the following online entry form: https://agricouncil.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=90e05023b424cae3970ac38df&id=0adefa5d39&e=1af6632021

All entries are required to be submitted online, with the deadline for submissions being 16 September. 

Attendees can expect to engage in insightful panel discussions, product demonstrations, workshops, and networking sessions. (Image source: NIAEXPO)

Designed to revolutionise agriculture focus on the region, NAIEXPO 2024 uilises state-of-the-art solutions and aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among farmers, researchers, policymakers and industry experts 

The sixth edition of the premier Nigeria's agri-event, NIAEXPO 2024 will provide a unique opportunity for participants to network, explore potential business opportunities and lean about the latest trends in the agriculture sector. The event offers an unparalleled opportunity for businesses that seek to tap into Nigeria's growing agricultural sector.

Given the region's rapidly growing population and increasing demand for food security, this expo provides a platform for companies to showcase their products and services to a targeted audience of industry professionals, stakeholders, and potential customers.

Exhibiting at NIAEXPO 2024 not only allows companies to stay ahead of industry trends, but also enables them to network with industry experts, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainable agriculture practices. It is a valuable opportunity to showcase innovations, technologies and solutions that can drive growth and efficiency in the agricultural value chain.

The event is scheduled to take place from 27-29 August at the Abuja Trade & Conventon Centre, FCT in Abuja, Nigeria.

A number of mechanisms have been established within the veterinary domain by the AU IBAR. (Image source: AU IBAR)

In an attempt to control the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the South African region, the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with stakeholders from various organisations and member states attended a three-day sub-regional training workshop which took place from 30 July to 1 August at the Kingdom of Lesotho in South Africa

Organised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and conducted under the umbrella of the Global Framework for progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GFTADs), the workshop focused on FMD epidemiology, diagnostics and surveillance for strengthening the control of this virus in the Southern Africa region.

During a presentation, the head of Animal Health Unit at AU IBAR, Dr Hiver Boussini emphasised the role of animal resources as being an important livelihood and commercial asset, particularly to rural communities which consititutes 70% of the African population. 

Among the numerous Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) and Zoonoses diseases that impact the African continent, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most widely distributed diseases in the continent, with the Southern Africa region being the most adversely affected. 

To combat this issue, a number of mechanisms have been established within the veterinary domain by the AU IBAR. These include the Continental Animal Health Platform of Public and Private Actors (CAHP-AFRICA) which works on providing leadership in the implementation of Animal Health Actions, the African Association of Veterinary Education Establishments (2A2E-V) which spearheads reforms in veterinary education across the African continent and the African Association of Veterinary Statutory Bodies (2VSB) which co-ordinates reforms in veterinary regulation. 

The objective of these mechanisms is to strengthen the competencies of veterinary services for the implementation of the Standards Methods and Procedures in Animal Health Approach (SMP-AH) which in the long run will help in the prevention and controlling of Transboundary Animal Diseases in the African Union member states.