The Fourth Global Feed & Food Congress, organized by the International Feed Industry Federation with technical support by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, was officially opened April 10 in Sun City, South Africa. This is the first time the Congress has been held in Africa.
Mario Sergio Cutait, International Feed Industry Federation chairman and Loutjie Dunn, chairman of the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa, were joined by the honorable Prof Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, deputy minister of economic development of the Republic of South Africa, Dr. Berhe G. Tekola, director of the Animal Production and Health Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization, and Dr. Hinner Koster, Animal Feed Manufacturers Association board member, to open the Congress and welcome the 650 international delegates representing the global feed and food chain.
Mkhize warmly welcomed Congress delegates to South Africa and highlighted that “agriculture remains one of the most reliable drivers of the economy.” Mkhize added “this Congress affords us the opportunity to review the key legislative, trade and practical aspects of a sector that plays a key role in food safety and security” and she urged delegates to learn from each other and to recognize the “importance of technology transfer and partnerships, which are key to increase global feed and food production and food security worldwide.”
Mario Sergio Cutait, International Feed Industry chairman, urged delegates to “participate in the discussion around the theme of the fourth Global Feed and Food Congress ‘Safe Feed & Food for All’ as only by working together can we continue to ensure feed and food safety, while meeting the global demands for food for 9 billion people by 2050 and to do so sustainably.” Cutait added, “The next three days are an important opportunity for industry, experts and governments to come together to discuss the critical issues of food and feed safety, technology and sustainability.”
Tekola highlighted in his opening address that “we must take decisive action if we are to meet both the growing demand of products of animal origin and the need to adopt methods which are environmentally friendly, suitable to reduce poverty and presenting minimum risks to human health and welfare.”
Dunn said “bringing the Global Feed and Food Congress to the African continent is not only a unique opportunity for exchange with the whole global agricultural chain, but also a sign of the growing importance of Africa in the world market, and I am delighted that we are able to host the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association Forum alongside this important Congress.”
Hosted by the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association the 4th Global Feed and Food Congress brings together more than 80 international speakers, including global leaders, dignitaries, and participants from civil society, academia and industry. The discussions at the Congress cover the whole feed manufacturing and food processing value chain, with a special focus on feed and food safety, food security, technology, and sustainability.
