By Chinyere Anyanwu
The food, packaging and plastics technology value chain of the agricultural sector is set to witness a boost with the forthcoming 8th edition of Fairtrade’s agrofood, plastprintpack exhibition and conference scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The exhibition to be hosted by German trade show specialist, Fairtrade Messe, will feature global technology leaders from 11 countries and a three-day conference on Nigeria investing heavily in food, packaging and plastics technology.
The show, according to the Senior Project Manager, Freyja Detjen, will take place between March 28 and 30, 2023, at the Landmark Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Detjen stated that global technology leaders from the 11 countries will showcase adapted technologies and solutions for the Nigerian and West African market in the fields of agriculture, food and beverage processing, ingredients, plastics, printing and packaging.
The exhibitors are expected from Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Nigeria, Taiwan, Turkey, Tunisia and Spain.
She said, “One of the traditional highlights at Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria is the German Pavilion, and this year, 21 German exhibitors will be present.
“The German Pavilion is presented by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and supported by the German Trade Fair Association (AUMA) and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).
“A three-day packaging masterclass will take place parallel to the exhibition. It is organised by the African Packaging Organisation (APO), a member of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The target is to teach how companies can leverage food processing and packaging for retail trade through an Executive Certificate Course in packaging materials and food packaging technology.”
Speaking on the exhibition, President of APO, Ahmed Omah, said, “We are delighted to partner with Fairtrade to deepen participants’ knowledge in packaging materials and food packaging technology. During the three-day programme, experts will lead discussions on topics such as sustainable packaging innovations, the need for standardised production and processing methods, access to finance and much more.
“Key topics at the conference will cover beverage production and ingredients, supply chain evaluation, and finance, among others. C-level speakers representing market-leading companies and institutions such as Diageo, First City Monument Bank, Access Bank, Sterling Bank, Bühler Group, Psaltry International, Simply Green, JR Africa, Niji Group, Conversations Africa, Farm Republic, will deliver educational and entertaining sessions of the highest quality, promising immediate benefits for the audience in their day-to-day business.”
Agrofood and Plastprintpack Nigeria 2023 will enjoy the strong support of the following institutions: Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS; AHK Nigeria Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria; APO; German Agricultural Society (DLG); Equipment and Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN); Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD); German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action; German Consulate General, Lagos; Institute of Packaging Nigeria (IOPN); Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG); Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST); Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA); and German Engineering Federation (VDMA).
Founded in 1991, Fairtrade has long been one of the leading organisers of professional, international agrofood and plastprintpack trade fairs in Africa and the Middle East. Over the decades, more than 36,000 exhibitors and 1.5 million trade visitors have expressed their confidence in the organisation.
With its international trade shows, it employs innovative ways to connect emerging markets with solution providers from across the globe.
Also, the organisers disclosed that one of its co-located partners, OTACCWA, agreed to organise the 5th West African Cold Chain Summit & Exhibition (WACCSE) alongside Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria 2023.
WACCSE is the only cold chain event in West Africa, the most valuable in-depth and comprehensive B2B networking cold chain event serving the pharmaceutical, perishable farm produce, storage and distribution industries.
