Sixty years in, VICTAM International isn't slowing down — it's asking bigger questions. Feed Strategy's editor-in-chief Jackie Roembke talked with VICTAM General Manager Sebas van den Ende about automation, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and why the best conversations in Utrecht won't be about today's problems — they will look to the future.
Interview with Sebas van den Ende, general manager, VICTAM Corp.
Jackie Roembke, editor-in-chief, WATT Feed Brands: If you've spent any time in the feed manufacturing or grain processing space, you've heard of VICTAM. The trade show has been bringing together equipment manufacturers, feed producers and industry innovators for 60 years now — and this June, VICTAM International 2026 comes to the Netherlands.
I had a chance to sit down with Sebas Van Den Ende, who's been with VICTAM International since 2018 and has a front-row seat to how the industry is evolving. We talked about what's driving change on the production floor right now — workforce shifts, automation, the slow but real adoption of new technology — and what he's hoping exhibitors and attendees are talking about when the show opens its doors.
If you're weighing whether to make the trip this year, or you're just curious what the people running one of the industry's biggest events are thinking about, this one's worth a listen.
Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background.
Sebas van den Ende, general manager, VICTAM Corp.: My name is Sebas van den Ende. My background, I'm working for VICTAM International now for eight years, since 2018. Before this, I was in Brazil for 13 years, not in the aqua industry, but more, but I was in, involved in events. But since 2018 in the Netherlands with VICTAM, and since then we had several inspiring and challenging times with corona(virus) and, of course, now also with the geographical situation. But always, it's always interesting, always solutions for everything. This is why we're going to do a very nice VICTAM International 2026 coming month.
Roembke: Excellent. So, since you've been in the animal feed and grain processing industries, what, in your opinion, are the two or three dynamics that you think are most fundamentally reshaping how the industry operates?
Van den Ende: That's a good question. In general, we have two things here. We have the world's situation. It's always hectic and there's always things going on the industry always has to adapt to. And now, for example, with the Middle East crisis, it means that flying could be harder, that people are more depending on local demand and local supply. So that's one thing. And the other thing, what we see, of course, in the world is bigger and bigger. More people, means a lot more people to feed, and that's a challenge. So more sustainable, more efficient, more effective production are always very important dynamics in this industry.
Roembke: And typically, what sort of international attendance do you see at VICTAM Europe?
Van den Ende: Now, VICTAM Europe, that's our main event. It's in Europe, but it's not for Europe. It's a worldwide audience we see. We have several events in the world, for example, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and there we see more local visitors. But in the Netherlands or Europe, it's not only Europe, but it's there we see a lot of people from Africa, United States, South Africa, South America, Asia, everywhere actually.
Roembke: And based on your conversations with industry stakeholders, where do you see the most urgent need for new solutions and innovations?
Van den Ende: The main needs, it's always that there's new regulations from countries. There's more people in the world, so we have to do things better, quicker, more efficient, greener, more sustainable. I think they're normally the most innovations we see in the industry is energy reduction always, a more sustainable, more effective production, more regional production. Those are typical developments we see.
Roembke: Feed manufacturing and grain processing have historically seen a slower adoption of new technologies, and given the issues that you've already mentioned, I would say that it is changing. Where are you seeing the most meaningful adoption?
Van den Ende: The slow adaption in the industry. Yeah, it's a very conservative industry, a lot of smaller producers of feeds and so there was, once they bought a machine, they took a machine for 20 years, so the adaption and the innovation industry was not too fast. What we see now, we see more and more integration, more companies are much bigger, way bigger, much more production. So where, in the old days, companies bought a machine for 20 years. Now you see the bigger companies, they buy machines every day. So also with every day there's is a need for new technology. AI, of course, is a thing what we see, there's a lot of talks about this. How can we integrate this in the industry? And those techniques and technology is implemented in the industry the coming years.
Roembke: And when we're talking about equipment and new technology, of course, that relates heavily to the challenge of securing a reliable workforce. How is the industry thinking about developing the next generation of operators and engineers who increasingly work in automated environments?
Van den Ende: Yeah, there will be difference. I mean, 20 years ago, the feed mills were full of people with operators, with shifts, and people were everywhere. And now, for example, if you go to the most modern feed mills, you almost don't see anyone. And there's a control room where people are and that's basically the heart of the factory right now and that's most probably the future of these industries. Instead of the engineers walking around, feeding the machines, now we see it's the control rooms, people reading data. It's probably a high-trained staff they will have.
Roembke: And let's talk about the upcoming event here in June. Why don't you set the stage for what visitors or potential visitors could expect?
Van den Ende: It's a little bit with everything what we say. VICTAM International is now for 60 years. The first event was in 1965 when the industry and the situation was completely different. Interesting, by the way, is that we see still a lot of the same exhibitors who were there 60 years ago are still with us exhibiting. But during the years, and this is also the theme of this event that we see from past to future is the event. An exhibition is where people come together and talk. Not talk only about the weather, but also what they will need and how do we need it. So important at VICTAM International this year, we have several conferences.
One is from the FEFAC, the European Feed (Manufacturers' Federation). We have one, IFTC, that's the scientific conference from the University of Wageningen. And all those kind of conference, you see the people talk. The theory and the practice come together. So where not only innovation is not only driven by what's needed today, but also, more importantly, about what's needed tomorrow, and this is one of the headlights of VICTAM this event.
Roembke: And as you're walking around the show, what are the conversations that you're most hoping that exhibitors and attendees have, or what do you hope to overhear this year as you're making your rounds?
Van den Ende: I hope to see a lot of smiles. That's what I hope, to see a lot of handshakes because that's always a good sign. So for us as event organizers, the number of contacts between exhibitors and visitors is the most important one. Yeah, and what I hope they discuss, now basically what I just said, I hope they talk about future. I hope the world's, is turning so fast if they only speak about what's needed now in my factory, the moment there's a new machine, it's already old-fashioned. So I hope they're really going to talk, "OK, what can we implement the coming 20 years in our industry?" And if we can realize this in this conversation, then I'm very happy.
Roembke: The 2026 edition of VICTAM International will be held June 2-4 in Utrecht in the Netherlands. If you'd like more information about the exhibition and the conferences surrounding the show, please visit www.victaminternational.com. Here, you can learn how to participate, view the exhibitor profiles, check the conference schedule and plan your trip. Thanks again for tuning in.
