October 15, 2024

A strategic alliance to boost synergy between Informa and Ipack Ima

October 15, 2024 - Informa Markets (World leader in the trade fair industry) and Ipack Ima Srl (international benchmark for process and packaging exhibitions, a joint venture between Ucima and Fiero Milano) publicly disclosed the agreement signed a few months ago meant to establish a brand-new strategic alliance. The deal aims to develop joint international promotion and step up cross-selling activities for their trade fair portfolios, including the Propak and Fispal platforms operated by Informa Markets and the trade fairs organised by Ipack Ima.

Valerio Soli & Fraser Hawkes

The agreement aims to guarantee a global presence for trade fairs focused on processing and packaging technologies, packaging materials, targeting the key sectors of the Food industry - with a particular focus on grain-based food and liquid food beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

As for communication, the teams involved have launched a shared path to strengthen the visibility and value of the partnership. In this context, Ipack Ima will also organise seminars and conferences on industry-related topics, particularly those related to packaging, processing and materials, which are of strategic interest to Informa.

From a commercial standpoint, Informa Markets and Ipack Ima agreed on the creation of an integrated, interconnected platform that is meant to foster visibility in international markets, offer in-depth opportunities for expansion and growth on a global scale.

This agreement will allow Ipack Ima to further consolidate its global position as a reference point for the technologies it deals with, thus strengthening key markets. With Informa's support, the presence of exhibitors from strategic markets like India and the United States will be enhanced, in addition to further consolidating its penetration in important European countries like France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium, supporting Ipack-Ima's already established sales network.

At the same time, Informa will benefit from Ipack Ima's direct presence in the Italian and Turkish markets, facilitating the acquisition of new exhibitors for its exhibition network.

"Since signing this agreement, we have already stated to uncover the synergies and opportunities that arise from aligning these two globally recognised brands. With their extensive expertise and networks in the key sectors served by our ProPak are uniquely positioned to enhance our offerings, foster innovation and deliver greater value to our customers worldwide." - Fraser Hawkes, Managing Director, International Sales Office of Informa Markets.

Valerio Soli, Ipack Ima President, comments: "This agreement is absolutely in line with our business plan, which envisions forging alliances with strategic partners in order to drive the growth and internationalisation of our fair by expanding partnerships and presence in other markets. Ipack Ima ranks among the global trade fair organisers, accentuating the mission of promoting outstanding companies from Italy (and beyond) within the target industries around the world. This alliance also helps us build further credibility with all of our international stakeholders".

The collaboration between Informa and Ipack Ima will therefore guarantee processing and packaging businesses increased visibility on the markets in all continents, supported by vertical skills tied to these industries.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

VIV Asia 2025 visitor registration now open

October 15, 2024 - VIV Asia, the world's leading event for the animal protein production industry, has announced that visitor registration for the 2025 edition is now open. Set to take place from March 12-14, 2025, at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok, in co-location with MeatPro Asia, and HortiAgriNext Asia 2025, this highly anticipated event promises an expanded and dynamic experience for its global crowd.

New! Expanded venue

This year, VIV Asia 2025 has expanded into new halls, right across Challenger 1, 2 and 3 will be complemented by the first edition of Horti Agri Next Asia, next to a Features Hall and a dedicated Hall for the CropTech-FeedTech sector.

Focus on key industry themes: regenerative agriculture & animal disease management

The 2025 edition will highlight two major themes driving the future of the industry - regenerative Agriculture and Animal Disease Management. Regenerative Agriculture is increasingly vital as the industry seeks sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices that promote soil health, biodiversity and long-term productivity. Animal Disease Management remains a top priority, with a focus on preventing and controlling outbreaks to ensure the health and safety of livestock populations globally. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore cutting-edge solutions in these areas, participate in dedicated sessions and network with leading experts.

Aquatic Pavilion: a new area focusing on aquaculture

Building on previous success, the Aquatic Pavilion has grown significantly for 2025, encompassing not only fish but also shrimp as a key species. The pavilion will also feature an enhanced content program designed to address the latest trends, innovations and challenges in aquaculture, making it a must-visit for professionals in the aquatic sector. With over 17 percent of last edition's visitors stating that their company is mainly related to Fish and Shrimps as a specie, the aquatic pavilion is expected to be a new centre of attention in 2025. 

New start-up hub pavilion

For the first time, and in a bid to support innovation and entrepreneurship, VIV Asia 2025 introduces the Start-up Hub Pavilion. This new platform offers young companies in the industry a plug-and-play solution, providing them with access to global audiences and key stakeholders at the world's most important event for the animal protein production sector.

Register now

VIV Asia 2025 is set to be the most comprehensive edition yet, with unparalleled networking opportunities, cutting-edge content programs and a platform that spans the full value chain of animal protein production. Interested attendees are invited to pre-register as early as possible to secure their entrance ticket free of charge. Tickets will remain free for visitors who register online until March 11 (23:59, BKK Time).

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Schothorst Feed Research welcomes Han van der Kolk as Chief Veterinary Officer & Quality Officer

October 15, 2024 - Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Han van der Kolk as Chief Veterinary Officer & Quality Officer. Han, a highly respected veterinarian and academic, joined the team on June 1, and as of September, he has expanded his role to four days per week.

Han van der Kolk

With an impressive career in veterinary medicine, welfare and research, Han brings a wealth of experience to SFR. His knowledge will ensure that SFR continues to uphold the highest standards in animal welfare and quality control. Han's expertise in metabolism, stress and nutrition aligns perfectly with SFR's mission to develop scientifically backed nutritional solutions for the livestock sector. Han joins SFR from Aeres University of Applied Sciences, where he worked as an all-around lecturer in animal health, teaching anatomy, animal health and nutrition. His career began at Utrecht University, where he conducted research on stress, metabolism and endocrinology in livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and horses. His research into the metabolism of nutrients fits seamlessly with SFR's ambitions to enhance feed digestion research.

At SFR, Han will play a crucial role in strengthening our research efforts, particularly in the areas of fat digestion and metabolism. His expertise will enable SFR to conduct in-depth studies, even at the mitochondrial level, to analyse how fats are metabolised. This could contribute to improving feed efficiency.

In addition, Han will lead efforts to further strengthen animal welfare at SFR. As Chair of the Animal Welfare Body (AWB) at SFR, and with his chairmanship of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees at Radboud University and Maastricht University, Han will advocate for the careful use of animals in research. He will also share his knowledge with colleagues working with animals in research, ensuring they receive the necessary training following graduation.

"We are thrilled to have Han join our team," said Francesc Molist, Manager of R&D at SFR. "His extensive experience and knowledge will certainly help us elevate the quality of our research and the welfare of our animals to an even higher level, ensuring that SFR remains a leader in these areas." Han will also be presenting webinars on topics such as metabolism, stress and welfare, allowing our clients to benefit from his in-depth knowledge in these fields.

Han: "I am fully committed to working at SFR for the coming years, focusing on further improving the quality of animal welfare and research at SFR. My goal is to ensure that the team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to maintain animal welfare and research at the highest level, keeping SFR at the forefront of the sector."

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

De Heus opens fifth production site in Purwodadi, Central Java

October 15, 2024 - De Heus, a global leader in animal nutrition, has further strengthened its presence in Indonesia with the successful acquisition and launch of its fifth production facility in Purwodadi, Central Java. This strategic expansion underscores De Heus' unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable livestock farming and empowering local communities.

Since its entry into Indonesia in 2018, De Heus has been driving growth to become one of the country's largest and well-established animal feed producers, providing best-in-class animal feed products to customers and providing additional customer-centric services in relation to farm design and management as well as animal health. Furthermore, through strategic investments in genetics and by taking on an active role in coordinating the value chain, De Heus contributes significantly to the further professionalisation of the independent livestock and aquaculture farming sector in Indonesia.

The new Purwodadi factory further strengthens De Heus' position in the Indonesian market, enabling the company to better serve its customers and meet growing demand for high-quality animal feed in Central Java and surrounding areas. The factory in Purwodadi, Central Java, has expanded its production capacity to 15,000 tonnes per month, contributing to De Heus' overall growth and reinforcing its position as a leading animal feed company in Indonesia. The strategic location of the new factory allows De Heus to serve customers in Central Java and nearby regions more efficiently and effectively, providing tailored solutions for livestock farmers.

At the same time, De Heus Indonesia remains highly dedicated to empowering the independent commercial Indonesian poultry and aquaculture farmers, with a firm continuing commitment to refrain from engaging in commercial broiler or aquaculture farming itself, thus ensuring it does not compete with the Indonesian farmers in their core business.

"We are thrilled to expand our operations in Indonesia and contribute to the growth of the livestock sector. The new Purwodadi factory is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality livestock feed and supporting sustainable livestock farming practices to the independent Indonesian farmers," said Kay De Vreese, President Director of De Heus Indonesia.

Supporting local communities and sustainability

Aligned with De Heus' global vision for sustainability, the Purwodadi facility aims to make a positive impact on the local economy by creating jobs and offering farmers greater access to high-quality feed. The facility's production processes are designed to efficiently meet the needs of local farmers, ensuring a consistent supply of feed while incorporating sustainable raw materials into the animal feed.

"Indonesia holds vast potential in livestock farming, and our goal is to support the industry's growth by providing dependable feed solutions that are tailored to the needs of local farmers. This new facility allows us to make a meaningful contribution to both the community and the environment," added Kay.

Empowering farmers through reliable support

As the Purwodadi facility enhances its production capacity, De Heus reaffirms its dedication to supporting local farmers by ensuring their consistent access to high-quality feed. The facility is committed to producing animal feed that meets global standards, with a strong emphasis on practical and sustainable farming solutions.

"With the opening of our new factory in Purwodadi, Central Java, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing products that boost livestock productivity and support the growth of our customers' farm operations," stated Nofrialdi, Factory Manager of De Heus Purwodadi.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Women in Ag Award 2024: winners announced

October 15, 2024 - The DLG (German Agricultural Society) and Women in Ag Magazine have today announced the winners of this year's 'Women in Ag Award'. Conferred for the third time and evaluated by an international jury, the award honours candidates in four categories 'Agriculture', 'Agribusiness', 'Education' and 'Technology and Research', each with first, second and third place. This year 'Technology and Research' produced two winners in first place. The award recognises the work of women who are active in the agricultural sector. The award ceremony will be held on November 13 at EuroTier 2024, for animal farming and livestock management, In Hanover, Germany at the DLG stand, Hall 13, Stand E58.

Women from the international agricultural sector were able to apply for the award, which is being awarded for the third time by the DLG and Women in Ag Magazine. The award winners were selected from 107 candidates from 34 countries by an international jury of representatives from agricultural practice, science, organisations and the media. The focus is on special achievements for the development of local, national and international agriculture.

The award winners by category:

Category: Agribusiness

  • 1 Place: Doreen Jean Nsasiirwe
    Doreen Jean Nsasiirwe is dedicated to improving health and conserving the environment by offering natural, nutritious and sustainable health products. She is an experienced agriculture professional and excels in leadership, lobbying, advocacy, mentorship and networking within the agribusiness sector.
  • 2 Place: Susan Waithira Kuria
    Susan Waithira Kuria is the co-founder and Managing Director of Essential Drugs Limited, a Kenyan Company that is involved in the manufacturing of animal feed premixes and distribution of animal feed additives in the East and Central Africa Region. She is a seasoned entrepreneur with a great passion for advancing the livestock sector through innovation and modern technology.
  • 3 Place: Neamat ElTazi
    Neamat ElTazi, Co-Founder and COO of PoultrySync, Egypt, has a background in business intelligence for organisations like the World Bank. Leveraging this expertise, Neamat together with her co-founders developed a technical solution for the poultry industry that enhances flock performance and efficiency, resulting in notable improvements in operations and profitability. Neamat also serves as a board advisor for the AnimalAgTech Summit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and as an Assistant Professor at Cairo University, Egypt, bridging the academia and industry gap

Category: Agriculture 

  • 1 Place: Jana Gäbert
    Jana Gäbert, a farmer and scientist in leadership roles, as well as a mother, champions fair milk prices, biodiversity and gender equality in the male-dominated agricultural sector. She is part of the management of Agrargenossenschaft Trebbin eG in eastern Germany, a cooperative that manages 4000 hectares, striving to balance sustainability with food production. Jana Gäbert promotes "unconventional conventional agriculture," bridging science and practice to address climate change while focusing on biodiversity, sustainability and innovation.
  • 2 Place: Caroline Jaspart
    Caroline Jaspart runs a farm in Belgium with her husband. They breed Blanc Bleu Belge, the local beef breed, in a sustainable way. One year ago, she was appointed President of the Union des Agricultrices Wallonnes. She feels fortunate to represent the voice of women farmers in various places and to carry out projects on the status of women and well-being in the workplace. Her quest is to show that the female farmer is an entrepreneur just like any other.
  • 3 Place: Judith Bakirya
    Judith Bakirya is the Managing Director of Busaino Herbs and Fruits (BusHFruit), Busoga, an AgroEcology farm with social enterprise mission. BusHFruit grows avocados, jackfruit, trees and forest herbs, called the 'Food Forest Garden Model'. Judith Bakirya works with small garden owners who are the neighbours, and are both in-growers of nuts, beans, soya and vegetables in the fruit farm and out-growers of avocado and jackfruit. With several awards, Judith Bakirya and the farm host agroecology learning safaris.

Category 'Education'

  • 1 Place: Rosinah Mbenya
    Rosinah Mbenya serves as the Country Coordinator for PELUM Kenya, a network that promotes agroecological practices among smallholder farmers and pastoralists. As a professional environmentalist with more than 12 years' experience, she has accumulated expertise in development projects, particularly in agroecology, climate change, market development, advocacy, capacity building and networking. Rosinah combines strong theoretical knowledge with practical experience in these fields.
  • 2 Place: Christine Jodloman
    Christine Jodloman is a dedicated agriculture advocate from a family of farmers in the Philippines. With 10 years of experience in development work in agriculture, she has co-created and reached more than 40,000 farmers in the Philippines and in ASEAN region. As part of her contribution to education, she regularly carries out international engagements and was recently appointed as a member of 'the 30 for 2030' by the UN Women Asia and Pacific, and also as an Ambassador of the Next-Gen Agriculture Impact Network (NGIN).
  • 3 Place: Helen Louton
    Helen Louton is a leading academic in animal welfare with a particular focus on poultry husbandry and management. As a Professor of Animal Health and Welfare at the University of Rostock, Germany, special features of her work are innovative teaching methods, practice-oriented solutions and interdisciplinary approaches. In her work, she has positively contributed to the training of individuals in agriculture, scientific research and agricultural practice in addition to setting new standards in poultry welfare.

Category 'Technology and Research'

  • 1 Place: Annika Behler
    Annika Behler is an agricultural scientist at the Institute of Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects (IASP), Germany, specialising in drone technology and AI to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency in agriculture. She has led projects on AI-driven soil compaction detection, tested large agricultural drones and is currently developing an automated nitrogen supply system. All her projects aim to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in farming.
  • 1 Place: Katharina Berse
    Katharina Berse is Project Manager for strategic agricultural research at Evonik Creavis, Germany. With a background in biotechnology and over 10 years of experience in microbiology and fermentation, she and her team have developed a solution to stabilise Gram-negative bacteria in liquid formulations, promoting more sustainable agriculture. In addition to her work, Katharina Berse also runs a farm with her husband, focusing on both crops and livestock.
  • 2 Place: Lisbeth Henricksen
    Lisbeth Henricksen is the Director of Innovation at SEGES Innovation, an independent research and innovation company in Denmark. A visionary thinker, she is responsible for developing and innovating new knowledge, tools and products for farmers across all primary production sectors, including dairy, pigs, arable farming, climate and sustainability, economics and management. Lisbeth Henricksen holds a degree in agronomy from the University of Copenhagen.
  • 3 Place: LaKisha Odom
    LaKisha Odom works at the intersection of sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in agriculture, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable food production and economic viability for producers. She believes diversity drives innovation. Her passion is creating inclusive spaces where all voices contribute to addressing global challenges like climate change, population growth and food security. At the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), she leads DEI efforts and research programs that support regenerative farming, healthier food access and diverse farmer adoption of sustainable practices.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Interview – Driving Economic Growth: Kaveh Zargran’s Visionary Leadership in Iran’s Agriculture and Commodities Sectors

October 15, 2024 - Kaveh Zargran is economically active in the field of food, agriculture and mining industries in Iran and has an outstanding number of important roles to fulfil.  

He is a member of many industry boards and chambers including: a representative on the board of Iran Chamber in the 7th, 8th and 9th periods; on the Advisory Council of Iranian Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors of the Joint Chamber of Iran and Russia; Head of the Commission for the Agricultural Commission; Chairman of the Internal Trade Commission of Iran Chamber of Commerce; on the Board of Directors and Secretary General of the Federation of Iranian Food Industries Associations. 

In addition, he is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Joint Chamber of Iran and Brazil, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Iran Grain Association and a member of the Legal Technical Committee of Food and Beverages of the Food and Drug Organisation.

He is also on the Board of the International Sunflower Oil Association, Managing Director and Chairman of the Gholat-Ban Company, Chairman of the Atitiva Development Company, Chairman of the Khavar Rashnu Trading Company (all three active in the fields of vegetable oil and grains). Chairman of Aria Grain Logistics (mechanised silos for grain storage and logistics) and Chairman of Zaryab Pars (a company active in mining).

Q. What education did you achieve and how did you enter the grain and food processing industry in Iran? 

A. I have bachelor’s degree in mine engineering and a master’s degree in strategic management with a PhD in entrepreneurship and future researching. As my father had an industrial bread-making factory I work there from 22 years of age. Little-by-little I became involved with the industry associations and with unions.  

I became the chairman of Industrial Bread Association of Iran and after a few years. I entered the Federation of Food Industry Associations as a board member and after some years, while still engaged in my personal business in industrial bread production and in relationships with flour producers, because of my job in industrial bread production, I entered in the wheat trade too. I supplied wheat to flour producers from which we bought flour for our own family factory. 

I became the Secretary General of Federation of Food Industry Associations in 2013. And in 2014 I became a member of the Board of Representatives in Tehran Chamber of Commerce and then in charge of Agricultural Commission in Tehran Chamber of Commerce for several periods. At the same time I expanded my field of activity into the grains business. 

In 2018 I started to developed infrastructures for grain activity in northern ports of Amirabad and Anzali, as my business was growing and we were importing some grains from the Caspian Sea, so we established grain silos in those ports. 

 Then we expanded infrastructures into Imam Khomeini Port in the south of Iran, to facilitate our work in the south and at the same time we built vegetable oil extraction and an animal feed factory in the biggest industrial city of Kaveh Industrial City. So I added vegetable oil trade to my activities and today I’m involved in different fields like grains, vegetable oil, rice and beans. 

I established a transportation system to do the transporting of goods from these ports to different parts of Iran. 

Q.      What is the population of Iran and is the country self-sufficient in its food production or does it rely on imports of food raw materials, etc? 

A. Iran has 85 million people which is the second largest population, after Egypt, in the area of Middle East and Northern Africa. Iran is also the second biggest economy in the region. Iran has 8.6-million-hectare land capable of cultivating grains, in which six million hectare is wheat plantation. 

Wheat is strategic for Iran. 3.6 million hectares out of 8.6 million hectare is rain-fed cultivation and the rest needs irrigation. Good harvests in Iran are highly depends on rain-fed grains. On average grain production has been 23 million tonnes at most and 10 million tonnes at least during the past 10 years. The rest of the needs of the country for grains is imported. 

As the most part of our lands belonging to wheat production, so some years we are self-sufficient for wheat, but most years we need to import wheat due to the climate situation. Iranian consumption of wheat is 12.5 million tonnes annually in which about nine million tonnes belongs to bakery and is used to produced traditional breads and about three million tonnes belongs to industry consumption that is for spaghetti, confectionery and cakes-making factories. 

Q. Is the industry important to the government in terms of food security? 

A. Regarding wheat usage there is a lot of fluctuations. In short, Iran is not self-sufficient in grains and has to import about 13 to 14 million tonnes on average annually and some years that the climate is not good, it can even increase to 22 to 23 million tonnes. 

About crude vegetable oils like sunflower oil, soybean oil and palm oil the situation is the same. We import one to 1,5 million tonnes of crude vegetable oil per year. 

Iran needs 5.5 million tonnes soybean meal per year that is about half imported and the rest is coming from oilseeds crushed in crushing plants domestically. 

Q. Internationally, little is known or understood about the milling industry in Iran. With that in mind can you briefly explain how the flour milling industry is structured? And could you also explain about animal feed situation in your country? 

A. Iran has about 300 flour milling factories. Most of them are equipped with European and Turkish modern technologies. The capacity of flour milling is about 22 million tonnes, but 50 percent of this capacity is the country consumption-wheat and bread has a very significant role in Iran. Bread is a blessing and has a kind of holiness feeling in our country. 

Consumption per capita of wheat is about 141kg per person annually. As bread is very important and provides 40 to 45 percent of needed calories, it is the main portion of people’s meal so the government is the sole policy maker for it, however the factories producing flour are belonging the private sectors. 

Buying flour from farmers is done by the government through guarantees and the rest is imported by the government. The flour used in industry is imported by the private sector. 

For traditional bread making, the government prepares wheat from either local farmers or imports which it then provides to the flour mills. The factories receive the cost of milling from the government, then the government gives the flour to the traditional bread makers, and they have to sell the bread according to the government’s pre-determined prices. There is a certain amount of sharing of flour among each traditional bread making bakery and the government is very sensitive about the bread price. The government subsidies traditional bread by adjusting prices.  

There are 852 animal feed factories in Iran that produce animal feeds with the production capacity of 27 million tonnes. Half of these 852 factories have modern European technology. All kinds of seeds famous in the world are capable of production in the factories. 

Iran needs 10 to 11 million tonnes animal corn annually; one million tonnes is produced domestically, and nine to 10 million tonnes is imported 

Q. What are the key challenges facing Iran’s flour and feed milling sectors and is self-sufficiency and food security goals the government is aiming to achieve? 

A. The main problem for our industry is that a lot of animal husbandries and ranchers directly buy corn and barley and use traditional milling to make animal feed, so it lacks the additives and other useful micronutrient.  

That is why the animal feed industry tries to encourage the government to ban these activities and ask them to use modernised and concentrated animal feeds produced in factories. 

The main problem of flour milling industry is that all the process is under government control, and it seems as if the factories work for them. More than 95 percent of the factories belong to the private sector, but the rules are made by the government totally. Government is the sole policy maker. 

Also, 95 percent of the animal feed factories belong to the private sector but about policy making it is not like the flour milling that government wants to interfere 100 percent. 

Factories can buy from anyone and sell to anyone too but they have to submit who they buy from locally and who they sell to in a special system. 

Q. What advice would you give to students and young professionals about the benefits of working in the grain milling sectors? 

A. If anybody wants to enter this business needs to have an aim and then stamina. 

To have experiences from other professions and also by themselves which is also very important. But the main drive is to try and try and try again. 

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

October 14, 2024

World Food Forum: putting youth at the forefront in efforts to tackle hunger

October 14, 2024 - The World Food Forum's (WFF) Global Youth Forum opened today at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), marking a week of activities dedicated to youth-led solutions and actions for transforming agrifood systems under the theme 'Good for all, for today and tomorrow'. The event brings together young leaders, innovators and changemakers from around the world to FAO's headquarters, reinforcing the critical role of youth in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive agrifood future.

Youth attending the Youth Forum's opening ceremony at FAO headquarters ©FAO/Riccardo De Luca

During the opening ceremony, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasised the necessity of youth involvement: "Youth perspectives and youth action are not only a top priority; they are a necessity for the future of our global agrifood systems food cultures." He urged the young leaders present to "Speak up and be heard," underlining that their voices are essential for driving change. He highlighted the progress made, stating, "In just four short years, the World Food Forum has grown into a global movement, with thousands of passionate individuals coming together to make a difference."

The Global Youth Forum, running from October 14-18, will bring together the next generation of students, farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs to discuss and enact change - from the local to the global level. Participants can attend workshops, award ceremonies, events and roundtable discussions designed to foster connections, engage with industry leaders and gain the tools necessary to address today's challenges related to food insecurity and climate change.

The opening ceremony featured a panel discussion on the importance of youth engagement and empowerment in agrifood systems transformation. Key contributors included Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR; Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the United Nations Youth Office; Juriaan Middelhoof, Dutch Ambassador for Youth, Education and work; Marianna Montes Moreno, Chief of International Affairs and Cooperation of the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of El Salvador; Leyla Hasanova, COP29 Youth Climate Champion; and Andile Mnguni, WFF Youth Policy Board Member.

Youth empowerment and cultural exchange: a path to transformation

The forum will feature four thematic programmes: Youth Assembly, Youth Innovation Lab, Local Youth Action, Youth Education and Youth Culture - as well as Local Youth Action, where the WFF will launch 11 new National Chapters to reach a total of 25 that are bringing the impact of the WFF to the local level.

The Youth Assembly, the WFF's year-round platform for the systematic and structured engagement of youth in agrifood governance, will host policy sessions and roundtables addressing key thematic and regional priorities, where young people will discuss local priorities and challenges and identify actionable solutions for a better food future.

The WFF Youth Innovation Lab will include hands-on competitions for students and young professionals, such as the Startup Innovation Awards, aimed at elevating young entrepreneurs creating technologies and innovations to benefit our planet, and the Transformative Research Challenge, which will focus on innovative research ideas to help transform agrifood systems. And it will also include the expansion of the WFF Youth Food Lab to new regions around the world.

The WFF School Assembly, part of the Education programme, will inspire children and youth by inviting students from around the globe, both at FAO headquarters and virtually, to engage with international leaders and youth activists about the importance of good food for all. Meanwhile, the Youth Culture programme will incorporate gastronomy, art, music and film to enhance communication across cultures, featuring events like a Film Festival and cooking demonstrations to bridge the gap between policy, youth advocacy and actionable solutions.

The ceremony featured an inspiring performance by Mpiwa, a talented artist from Zimbabwe, who captivated the audience with her powerful presence and a cultural segment with Parneet Kaur, an Indian poet and sustainability and gender equality advocate.

What is 'Good food for all, for today and tomorrow'?

In 2024, the WFF aims to mobilise individuals globally through diverse events, targeted investments and innovations to drive strategic changes in agrifood systems. Launched in 2021, the WFF has become a leading platform for youth engagement in agrifood issues, fostering solutions to urgent challenges. The theme 'Good food for all, for today and tomorrow' calls for improved production, nutrition and quality of life for everyone, encouraging all ages to take part in creating a healthier planet and brighter future.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.




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