The Aquafuture Spain Technical Conference will feature more than 60 speakers

As reported by WeAreAquaculture last month, AquaFuture Spain will be back for its third edition next May in Vigo, Galicia, with more than 200 exhibitors registered for this year's show. The event is getting bigger and so is its Technical Conference program, which was unveiled last week and will include more than 60 international speakers.

Over two days, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May, they will participate in 7 round tables and 25 presentations to be held at the IFEVI - Vigo exhibition center. The organization is still working on the selection of speakers and the allocation of schedules but has already announced the themes of the round tables.

Seven round tables to discuss the challenges facing the industry

The Conference Room 'Zona Franca de Vigo' will be the venue for the seven round tables that will address various challenges that the aquaculture industry faces today. The topics to be discussed will be the following:

• Implementation of the CSRD in the aquaculture industry. The new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) encourages companies to integrate biodiversity monitoring into their operations and reporting processes, and the roundtable will address the challenges and opportunities that its implementation poses to the aquaculture industry.

• Technology and artificial intelligence applied to marketing and production. It will be discussed practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies in aquaculture , such as optimization of production processes.

• Increasing production for sustainable global aquaculture. Different strategies will be presented to increase the productive capacity of aquaculture in a sustainable and efficient way.

• Circular innovation in aquaculture. The integration of the circular economy in the aquaculture sector will be addressed, and initiatives that transform aquaculture business models towards greater sustainability and profitability, through, for example, the reuse and recycling of resources, will be discussed.

• Future food trends. The roundtable will seek to identify emerging trends in consumption and food preferences that affect aquaculture products. In addition, changes in consumer demands, opportunities in international markets, and strategies to position aquaculture products as sustainable, healthy, and high-quality options will be discussed.

• Alternative Proteins. It will discuss the development of alternative protein sources in aquaculture and advances in new ingredients such as insect-based proteins, algae, or residues from agro-industrial processes, with emphasis on their role in sustainability and in reducing dependence on fishmeal.

• Internationalization in the aquaculture sector. Finally, strategies and tools for aquaculture companies, organizations, and institutions to expand into international markets will be discussed. Speakers will identify trade barriers and opportunities in emerging markets,  and offer ideas on how to implement alliances and collaborations that boost the competitiveness of the aquaculture sector globally.

Each round table will have a moderator and four speakers, will last one and a half hours, and will conclude with audience participation. Simultaneous English/Spanish translation will be provided for all of them.

Commercial talks, and presentation of projects and studies

In addition to the 7 round tables and 25 presentations, the Aquafuture Spain Technical Conference will be complemented by two Presentation Rooms - 'Deputación de Pontevedra' and 'Concello de Vigo' - where some exhibitors will give commercial talks and present projects and studies.

Companies such as Grupo Eurored, Sulzer, BioMar, Morenot, Ciimar, Flatlantic, Irta, Hipra, Lakse Systemers or the CIM - Uvigo (Mariña Research Center, University of Vigo) have already reserved space to do so, although the reservation period is still open and the full program will be offered in two months.

Described as the "largest aquaculture industry event in the south of Europe," the III International Aquaculture Exhibition, Aquafuture Spain remains in Galicia, but this year it moves from Santiago de Compostela, where it held its first two editions, to Vigo, to the IFEVI - Vigo exhibition center, already known by the industry for being the venue of one of the largest international fairs in Europe focused on the frozen seafood sector, Conxemar.

According to the organizers, this year's edition has already confirmed the attendance of more than 210 exhibitors from 27 countries, highlighting a large delegation from China and emerging countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. There will be at least 40% more participation than in the previous edition - held in March 2023 -, and a 35% growth in international exhibitors.

The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors, a fourfold increase over the first edition held in 2022.