The 29th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global opened its doors yesterday and continued today with sessions analysing the challenges and opportunities of the sector within its conference program. The event, which is the largest edition ever held in the history of the Expo, held several sessions focused on leadership and business in the seafood industry, responsible sourcing of materials, the evolution of fisheries and aquaculture markets, and accountability, transparency and sustainability as growing trends within the sector.
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Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global takes place at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre until today, Thursday, 27 April, making Barcelona the global seafood capital for the second consecutive year. For three days, Seafood Expo Global/ Seafood Processing Global represents the largest and most diverse global trade event for the seafood sector. The Expo provides a valuable business platform for suppliers and buyers from around the world and features a comprehensive conference program with practical and theoretical industry topics.
The program includes more than 20 educational sessions by more than 85 international experts in the sector, from marine professionals and prominent policy makers to entrepreneurs, economists, NGO representatives, and experts in biodiversity and sustainability. Among them is Megan Greene, global economist, Financial Times columnist and professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. This Wednesday, Greene led the conference “Navigating the Global Polycrisis” and examined how different risks and factors – such as the reopening of China and global indebtedness, among others – will mark the roadmap of the world economy in the coming months.
Ms Greene notes that “the likelihood of inflation remaining persistently high is high,” a trend that will be accompanied by other plausible risks such as an impending recession or central banks breaking the markets. However, the economist points out that “business expectations and consumer confidence are improving” exponentially in a post-pandemic era and “wages remain robust,” facts that allow us to remain optimistic about a future of economic uncertainty.
Also today, the presentation ” Social Responsibility and Alignment With SDG14b: How Can Companies Meet Human Rights Challenges Whilst Ensuring Social Equity for Small-Scale Fisheries?”, delved into aspects of social responsibility in tuna supply chains, human rights in small-scale fisheries, and how companies can take greater responsibility for eliminating human rights abuses.
First day focused on sustainability, new trends and innovative solutions for industry
Speakers from today’s program included Javier Garat, secretary general of Cepesca, president of Europêche and of the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations; Arturo Clement, COB at SalmonChile; Børge Gronbech, of the Norwegian Seafood Council; and Mauricio Orellana, CEO of the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Fishery and Aquaculture Products (COMEPESCA). In the session, ” Building Future Seafood Consumers,” Garat, Clement, Gronbech and Orellana shared tools and strategies used to increase consumption of seafood products from their respective countries. “Our main objective is to promote the consumption of wild caught fish and combat the ‘fake news’ that stalk and weaken the seafood industry” said Garat in his speech. The four speakers shared that only with “good education” and the “joining of forces among competitors” will it be possible to get consumers to incorporate more and more seafood products into their regular consumption.
Tuesday also saw the session ” Planning Around Uncertainty: Business Strategy for Strange Economic Times”. Cliff White, Executive Editor of SeafoodSource.com, led a discussion with the CEOs of Trident Seafoods, Bakkafrost, Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Sea Harvest Group Limited. Attendees were able to learn first-hand how these leaders managed their companies during the pandemic and how they are planning for future success. On the other hand, the conference “Alternative Feed is no longer novel or discretionary” representatives from BioMar Group, Enthos Circular Feed Technologies, S2G Ventures and Benson Hill addressed the options and benefits of affordable and resilient alternative feed proteins and common and an effective solution to address the environmental consequences of intensive farming practices.
Last day of the conference program
Today, 27 April, the last day of the 29th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, will feature the panel discussion ” How Can Marine Ingredients Support the Growth of the Aquaculture Sector in a World of Greater Food Sovereignty?”. The session will provide an overview of different actions to increase the availability of sustainable marine ingredients, such as fishery improvement projects in India, exploring life cycle assessment of marine ingredients and supporting efforts to ensure food security in West Africa.
In the field of logistics, the session “Global Logistics Outlook” will focus on the global supply and demand for shipping and logistics from East to West and vice versa by sea and air.
For further information about Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, and to register, visit the website, HERE.
The Aquaculturists
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