Amped participates in Livestock and Horticulture trade fair VIV MEA in Abu Dhabi

Feed-to-food & Seed-to-food
With the theme ‘Shifting from Global to Local Protein Production’, the VIV MEA trade fair (Nov 20-22, 2023) has for the first time presented global expertise in animal as well as plant protein that can be applied locall, in co-location with the new Horti Agri Next trade fair.

This twin fair was organized at the special request of the government in the United Arab Emirates, represented by the Abu Dhabi Food & Security Authority (ADAFSA). They see an important future connection between livestock and horticulture in newly developed production systems to produce their own food in a sustainable and circular way.

Abu Dhabi week ‘Agriculture and Food Security’
VIV MEA 2023 and Horti Agri Next took place during ‘Agriculture and Food Security’ week in Abu Dhabi. The request from the Emirates to do business here provided participating companies the opportunity to turn innovative solutions into business. All the week’s events were held at the same location. More than 75 international associations, research and academic institutions and NGOs were invited, which was good news for all exhibitors and the ‘square partners’ of the Foodtech Transition Square, as that was the central meeting place for VIP delegations, trade delegations, agricultural councils, knowledge institutions and national and local governments, all under the banner of NL-branding to ensure a good unified and powerful positioning of the Netherlands.

Supplier and solution provider
The Top Sector Agrifood in the Netherlands supports the project because they see the strategic importance of a ‘technical’ connection between the two sectors, which still mainly operate separately. By connecting them, new possibilities and opportunities arise for Dutch companies in livestock and horticulture to not only as suppliers, but together also as solution providers for integrally sustainable and circular food production systems that the United Arab Emirates is proactively pursuing.

Inspiration Square
In the special business section of the square, a stage was provided for a select number of innovations and concepts from Dutch start-ups and companies. The Netherlands is a serious provider and interesting discussion partner for the realisation of innovative production systems that can already be tailored in the design phase, to future wishes and requirements.

Joint stage and business lounge
Visitors could learn about technical innovations and innovative concepts, focusing on relevant themes such as the protein transition. With the common goal of making a positive contribution to improving & increasing local food production in a future-oriented way; vital, sustainable and circular. Central part of the transition plaza was the Netherlands Meet & Greet Lounge. This was the central meeting place to exchange knowledge and experience and make contacts while enjoying a snack & drink.

Seminar program
In the conference room ‘FoodTech Transition Square’ seminars took place during 3 afternoons, in which the connection between Livestock and Horticulture were made visible with concrete innovations and projects of Dutch market frontrunners. These sustainable concepts showed how important the position of the farmer/horticulturist is and that by working together in practical circular solutions they offer perspective and inspiration in times of transition. The scalability of these concepts offers opportunities for innovative business models and also makes them interesting to the international public.

Monday November 20th
Short Food Supply Chains

• Opening by Agriculture Council – Simone Landhuis
• Short supply chain and food security – Mark Frederiks, Amped
• Blockchain – Stephan Nilsson, UNISOT
• Future Circular Food Systems – Dewi Hartkamp
• Maximizing profit with smart poultry solution – Pieter Brons, PoultryPlan

Tuesday November 21st
Circular floating farm systems

• Opening by HubOrange! – Noud Janssen
• Floating Farm Systems – Ingeborg Wolff
• Circular horti protein culture – Dewi Hartkamp
• Insects to realize food security – Petra van den Hengel
• Viscon, world’s first fully automated barn cleaning system – Jurgen Hijink

Wednesday November 22nd
Producing circular food with insects

• Opening by HubOrange! – Hennie de Haan
• NIK – Petra van den Hengel
• Winsect – Eelco Haaring
• Insectengineers – Bob Holtermans
• Glocal Farming – Noud Janssen

Both trade shows took place at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, this was VIV MEA’s 4th edition and it was the launch of the new Horti Agri Next MEA exhibition, both organised by Jaarbeurs|VNU Europe. Together, the fairs welcomed over 600 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors from more than 90 countries.

Promoting the Netherlands together
HubOrange!, in collaboration with the VIV-team was the organiser of the FoodTech Transition Square. To make the connection between Livestock and Horticulture, HubOrange! works with various Dutch parties with the aim of jointly promoting the Netherlands as a guiding country in Glocal Farming and the development of integrally sustainable and circular food production systems.