The first International Week for Smart Food Production will take place from 18 - 22 June 2018, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the global food and agriculture industries
As both the global food and agriculture industries face pressure to improve and increase yields, sustainability, quality, transparency, traceability, health and profitability, the International Week for Smart Food Production will bring the two industries together for the first time on a global scale.
From 18-22 June 2018, innovators, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, major buyers and investors, policy and decision makers in food and farming from all over the world will come together alongside stakeholders from across the value chain to promote collaborative thinking and development to accelerate the technological solutions needed to support sustainable growth.
The week will feature international trade shows including VIV Europe (animal husbandry and processing), GFIA Europe and Halal Expo Europe. It also has multiple side events, technical tours, networking receptions, matchmaking meet-ups and deal making, to occur throughout the Netherlands with support from CEMA the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association, Wageningen University and Research, Invest in Holland, Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition Initiative and Enterprise Europe Network.
Speaking at the launch of International Week for Smart Food Production, Nicola Davison, event director at GFIA Europe, said, “Following the success of the first edition of GFIA Europe this May in the Netherlands, where the agenda for the event was driven predominately by smart technology and digital solutions it became apparent that there was a clear opportunity to bring both the food and agricultural industries together to support this initiative.”
Ruwan Berculo, director of VIV worldwide added, “Holland, as small as the country is, has always been a miniature lab boosting impressive game-changing technology developments in agrifood. Animal and plant protein sectors form the Dutch economy's driving force behind a constant flow of innovations spread out worldwide.”
Speaking on behalf of Proagrica, Roel Leferink, publishing director, said, “Proagrica has a mission to empower and connect people and businesses in order to feed and fuel the world sustainably. So we are very proud to launch this initiative with GFIA Europe and VIV Europe, and are certain that many leaders in the food and agri industries, governments and science will participate and support the first International Week for Smart Food Production.”
