Sun City, South Africa – The 4th Global Feed & Food Congress (GFFC), organized by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), with technical support by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was officially opened today in Sun City, South Africa, the first time the Congress is held on the African Continent.
Mario Sergio Cutait, IFIF Chairman and Loutjie Dunn, Chairman of the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa (AFMA), were joined by the honorable Prof Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of South Africa, Dr. Berhe G. Tekola, Director of the Animal Production and Health Division at the FAO and Dr. Hinner Koster, AFMA Board Member, to open the Congress and welcome the 650 international delegates representing the global feed and food chain.
Minister Mkhize warmly welcomed Congress delegates to South Africa and highlighted that “agriculture remains one of the most reliable drivers of the economy.” Minister Mkhize added “this Congress affords us the opportunity to review the key legislative, trade and practical aspects of a sector that plays a key role in food safety and security” and she urged delegates to learn from each other and to recognize the “importance of technology transfer and partnerships, which are key to increase global feed and food production and food security worldwide.”
Mario Sergio Cutait, IFIF Chairman, urged delegates to “participate in the discussion around the theme of the 4th GFFC ‘Safe Feed & Food for All’ as only by working together can we continue to ensure feed and food safety, while meeting the global demands for food for 9 billion people by 2050 and to do so sustainably.” Mr. Cutait added, “The next three days are an important opportunity for industry, experts and governments to come together to discuss the critical issues of food and feed safety, technology and sustainability.”
Dr. Berhe G. Tekola, Director of Animal Production & Health Division at the FAO highlighted in his opening address that “we must take decisive action if we are to meet both the growing demand of products of animal origin and the need to adopt methods which are environmentally friendly, suitable to reduce poverty and presenting minimum risks to human health and welfare.”
Mr. Loutjie Dunn, AFMA Chairman, said “bringing the GFFC to the African continent is not only a unique opportunity for exchange with the whole global agricultural chain, but also a sign of the growing importance of Africa in the world market, and I am delighted that we are able to host the AFMA Forum alongside this important Congress.”
Hosted by AFMA the 4th GFFC brings together over 80 international speakers, including global leaders, dignitaries, and participants from civil society, academia and industry. The discussions over the next three days will cover the whole feed manufacturing and food processing value chain, with a special focus on Feed and Food Safety, Food Security, Technology, and Sustainability.
About the GFFC
The Global Feed and Food Congress (GFFC) was launched in 2005 by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide a global platform for scientists, industry, governments, civil society and intergovernmental organizations to come together to discuss critical issues of food and feed safety, technology and sustainability. The tri-annual Congress has established itself as the leading global event of its kind and was last held in Cancun, Mexico, in 2010. For more information about the 4th GFFC please visit www.gffc2013.com.
About IFIF
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) is made up of national and regional feed associations, feed related organizations, and corporate members from around the globe, representing over 80% of the feed production worldwide. IFIF provides a unified leadership and coordinating role in order to contribute to the sustainable supply of safe, healthy feed and therefore food. For more information on IFIF please visit www.ifif.org or contact Alexandra de Athayde, Executive Director, at info@ifif.org.
About AFMA
The Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa (AFMA) strives for the development of a sustainable industry that acts responsible within the food chain by ensuring safe feed for safe food. For more information on AFMA visit www.afma.co.za or contact De We Boshoff, Executive Director, at dewet@afma.co.za.