View of the main entrance of the Fira Barcelona Gran Via venue during the Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global 2023. Records were broken last year, and the same is expected in 2024.
Photo: Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global.
Only five days left until Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global 2024 (SEG24) opens its doors in Barcelona. As we reported in our April event recap, it will be held from the 23rd to the 25th at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue. This year’s will be the 30th edition of the world's most diverse seafood trade event and also the largest in its history.
The event, which will turn Barcelona into an international business hub for the seafood industry for the third consecutive year, will have an estimated economic impact on the city of more than 156 million euros. "Seafood Expo Global and Barcelona have formed a successful partnership with a great future," said Fira de Barcelona General Manager, Constantí Serrallonga. "The event came here three years ago to grow, and it is already breaking records as the global hub for the seafood industry."
If last year's edition was already the largest ever - with more than 2,000 exhibiting companies from 87 countries - in 2024, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global breaks records once again, and, although it will have three fewer participating countries - this year there are 84 -, it will occupy 4% more exhibition space than in its previous edition - up to 51,227 net square meters - in which it will host more than 2,050 exhibiting companies and 66 national and regional pavilions.
Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Côte d'Ivoire are among the new countries joining SEG24 with a national pavilion. Moreover, Brazil will also have a new regional pavilion, as will France, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Oman, which have confirmed their attendance at the event.
"With the expansion into Hall 1 the event reinforces its position as the largest in-person global seafood trade event and enables us to reach a broader range of international seafood professionals from across the supply chain who are eager to showcase and discuss their latest advancements," said Wynter Courmont, Vice President of Seafood at Diversified Communications, the event's organizing company.
"For the 30th edition of the event, we’ve strategically created new spaces to enhance attendees’ experience onsite, facilitate meaningful conversations and provide a unique platform for the industry to forge new business partnerships and relationships," she added.
Among the 2,050 exhibiting companies, many will be exhibiting for the first time ever, and up to 584 companies will do it for the first time in at least two editions. One of these companies repeating for the second time is WeAreAquaculture. We will be at booth 1B508 in the expanded Hall 1, so if you come to the show floor, you can find us there, along with our parent company, AquacultureTalent.
View of one of the crowded aisles in Hall 3 at the 29th Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global held last year in Barcelona.
Photo: Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global.
As said, Seafood Expo Global is the world's most diverse seafood trade event. Suppliers and buyers from around the world will come together to showcase - the first - and discover - the latter - innovations in fresh, frozen, canned, value-added, processed, and packaged seafood. This part of the event will take place in Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and in the Gallery between Halls 4 and 5 of the Gran Vía venue.
Meanwhile, at Seafood Processing Global, key industry leaders will showcase - in Halls 1 and 3 - every aspect of seafood processing and services for the seafood industry. This includes, among others, packaging materials and machinery, refrigeration and freezing equipment and supplies, primary and secondary processing equipment, hygiene control and sanitation, quality assurance services, aquaculture equipment, transportation, cold storage, or traceability solutions.
Exhibitors and visitors alike will have three days ahead to establish business or new relationships, find new products, and learn about the latest market trends. Networking opportunities will start at tastings served at the Expo Bars, and this year also sees the inauguration of 'Connecting Women in Seafood', a new networking event and reception. In addition, as usual, the annual Seafood Excellence Global Awards will recognize the best seafood products of the event.
Of course, a fundamental part of SEG24 is its conference program, which will bring together more than 90 leading international seafood industry experts in its more than 20 informative sessions. In this 30th edition, presentations and conference panels will cover a variety of topics, including aquaculture, sustainability, food safety and compliance policies, traceability and transparency, climate change, labor issues, and governance, and the impacts and implications of IUU fishing, among others.
It should also be noted that SEG24 will continue its collaboration with the Barcelona Food Bank (Banc dels Aliments), to collect seafood donated by exhibitors at the end of the three days. In last year's edition, more than 50 volunteers walked the aisles of the exhibition floor to collect permits for donations of products that had been properly stored throughout the event. The entity estimated recovering around 14,000 kg of product.
