Within the framework of Expo Agrofuturo 2024, the international presence was one of the pillars of the fair, where contacts were made that left business expectations for a little more than US$6.16 million.
(See: Peasant and mining strike has inflationary effects on food)
According to Doris Chingaté Vega, director of the fair, after the results of the 2024 version,
For the next version, they expect to increase the space by 800 meters, while at the same time surpass the number of attendees, which for this occasion reached more than 13,000 visitors.
How did it go at the fair?
This was the 17th edition of Expo Agrofuturo, a purely professional fair for the agricultural sector in the country, where we once again confirmed that the objectives of updating, training, showing the latest trends in the sector, holding a business conference, bringing investors, were met completely.
(Read: National Guarantee Fund and Fedearroz sign agreement to increase access to credit)
From the business conference, what was the result?
We had 60 buyers attending from Argentina, Aruba, Colombia, Curacao, Ecuador, Slovenia, United States, Guatemala, Panama and Venezuela. The participating exhibitors were 251, of which 94 were from the Ministry of Agriculture.
There were a total of 524 appointments made, with US$2.44 million in business done at the show. Thus, from one to three months they were for US$380,625, from three to six months for US$1.17 million and from six to 12 months for US$2.15 million, for a total of business expectations of US$6.16 million.
What type of innovations occurred?
We were surprised by quite a few exhibitors with developments such as precision agriculture, drones and technology in the field. There, high-tech startups brought several innovations that producers can implement in their places of origin.
Given this trend, we had 10% of the exhibitors with topics of automation, digitalization, big data, evolution in irrigation management, water and biotechnology. Additionally, the entire issue of machinery such as production, harvesting, transformation and packaging.
(See more: ‘Colombia can be a great exporter of chicken to the world’: Cargill)
Doris Chingaté Vega, director of Expo Agrofuturo
Courtesy
Who participated in the fair?
Producers at the national level participated, brought, for example, from Casanare, which was the invited department. The Government of Antioquia was also present, with a project it has with the Antioquia Compensation Fund, where they chose some producers from the region to show their products.
There were quite a few producers of avocado, cocoa, coffee and Amazonian fruits. This is what is marking the trend towards international markets and the interest in these destinations. We had bananas, with marketers and producers who made very important contacts with international buyers.
(Read also: The World Bank redefines its approach to agribusiness)
What countries are interested in Colombian agriculture?
Exhibiting were countries such as China, Chile, Argentina, France, Holland, United States, Peru, Uruguay and Poland. Most of these have technological developments to continue focusing on the fields.
However, a very curious one was Poland, showing that they want to enter the Colombian market with fruits from that country, with a quite interesting production system and different flavors. They had a kitchen-workshop space telling Colombians about the benefits of these products and looking for distributors in the country.
What other figures can you share from the fair?
There were more than 320 exhibitors, with 11,387 unique visitors who accompanied us for the three days of the fair, for a total of 13,500 attendees. We have exhibitors from 15 countries and more than 100 national and international conferences.
(See more: Fall in palm oil production, a challenge for the agricultural sector)
Expo Agrofuturo
Courtesy
What stood out from the academic agenda?
We had the Agrofuturo Innovation Forum, the first day dedicated to livestock and the second to agriculture, where the relevant topics were given to soils, animal nutrition and regenerative livestock.
They also talked about how the food market behaves worldwide, agricultural financing models, for example, to reach larger markets and more producers. We are talking about success stories such as avocado, banana, vegetables, etc.
Another focus was how to be more responsible with the environment, in a more sustainable way and how the products that reach the rural table do so in a healthier way for all families, not only Colombian but for the world.
(See also: Comprehensive vision: produce and care for biodiversity)
Based on your experience, how can agriculture be more productive?
Our alliance with different entities at the national level helps in one of our objectives, which is to make visible, regardless of whether they have a commercial space at the fair. We directly invite all producers at no cost, so that they can be spokespersons and provide relevant information.
We want them to become agricultural entrepreneurs and that is what we do through all the national unions of rice, potatoes, panela, sugar, mango, with the SAC itself, with the Chambers of Commerce at the national level, among others.
Expo Agrofuturo is the stage where they will find updates, investment, credits, the best inputs and products. Another alliance we made this year was with the Ministry of Agriculture where more than 100 producers came to receive training and take guided tours within the framework of the fair.
(Read: Concern about the implementation of Agrarian and Rural Jurisdiction in Colombia)
Expo Agrofuturo
Courtesy
How do you see the dynamics of agricultural credit in the country?
There are two related entities, Banco Agrario and Finagro, that work hand in hand with the farmers and are part of the Government. However, we have seen that banks such as the Bank of the West, the Bank of Bogotá or Bancolombia have focused their entire credit structure on the peasantry.
They want them to have low interests and that is what they are working on. That it is not only the solution of money, but the possibility that actors who are part of the productive chains are also linked to the different banks. The point is that they sit at the same table, bank, supplier and final buyer to reach interesting agreements.
We are interested in telling the peasantry to lose their fear of indebtedness, since this is responsible and the majority of Colombian banks, the lowest loans they manage are for agriculture, especially in the last three or four years.
(See: Colombian agricultural exports register sustained growth)
What plans do you have for the next editions?
We have a motto that has always been present, regardless of the new features of each version, and that is that we work with a more conscious and sustainable agriculture. That is something that we will always have in all versions of the fair and each one with a different focus.
We will surely have growth in the area of technology-based ventures and we are betting on more than 150 companies in this sense, with all the categories that are foodtech, animaltech, etc. Also, strengthen the credit wheel, investments and one of the innovations that we can have, and that is made easier for us in regions, are guided tours, not only within the framework of the fair but in surrounding sites.
By 2025 we hope to grow by at least 800 square meters. We already have the date of the next fair, which will be in Medellín from September 10 to 12. We hope to exceed 350 exhibitors, reach 15,000 visitors and have at least more than 150 conferences in different settings.
(Read more: Fruit and chocolate boosted food prices in September)
