Inaugural event provides ideal platform for food and beverage industry

22nd August 2014

By: Jonathan Rodin

  

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Exhibition organiser Messe München International and its subsidiary MMI South Africa, launched the inaugural Food & Drink Technology (fdt) Africa trade fair and conference on March 18 and 19 at Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg. The event focused on all aspects of the food- and drink-processing value chain.

The event specifically aims to serve the African market by providing a networking platform.

“Beverages and foodstuffs produced and consumed in Africa require technically solid, efficient and reliable machinery and plants,” says MMI South Africa CEO Elaine Crewe.

“We are pleased with the number of local and international companies involved from the food and beverage industry. However, we are not surprised, as South Africa has been identified as an emerging market and companies are looking to capitalise,” says Messe München International exhibition group director Petra Westphal.

Sustainability
Sustainability researcher and analyst Sustainanalytics says food sustainability needs to be addressed in all sectors of the South African economy, owing to the increase in consumer awareness and concern over sustainability issues, such as wastage, evident in the country.

“This makes it necessary for the local food and drink industry to be more sustainable in the form of packaging, recycling and using resources,” explains Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation MD Richard Clemens.

According to the Standard Chartered Development Index, published last year by banking and financial services company Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa was ranked last of the 31 countries assessed in terms of the long-term sustainability of its environment.

“These results are evidence of a greater need for events such as fdt Africa to further educate the various sectors on the importance of sustainability and how this can be achieved,” says Messe München International business unit director Monika Dech.

Agriculture
National statistics company Statistics South Africa states that 638 000 people were formally employed by the agriculture industry in 2012, and it is estimated that about 8.5-million people are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their employment and income.

About 70% of agricultural output is used as intermediate products, making the industry an important driver of growth for the rest of the economy.

Government has plans, such as the New Growth Path, which aim to create five-million new jobs by 2020. This plan includes programmes and strategies to promote commercially orientated, small-scale farming.

Messe München International MD Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer says fdt Africa provides a platform for agricultural corporations and individuals involved in the industry to meet with local and international manufacturers, processors, distributors and retailers to become familiar with the latest technologies, products and services in the industry.

“This will enable the development of the South African agriculture industry, which will benefit the county’s economy and ensure that the sector remains globally relevant and competitive.”

“Although fdt Africa is a showcase for technology, it also serves as the foundation for the exchange of expertise and continuing professional development,” concludes Westphal.

She highlights that the event in March was strongly supported by exhibitors and was filled to capacity.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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