09:30
09:30 | Chair’s opening remarks
09:40
09:40 | Major trends in agrifood: What lies ahead for the food industry?
Gain in-depth insight into new trends in the food and agriculture sector and what we can expect next. With a growing population and sector disruptors on the horizon, this session will provide information you can use to prepare for the next decade and beyond.
- Potential disruptors set to impact the food industry
- Advancing technology – its uses and threats
- Emerging consumer markets and demands
- Innovative agri-food products we could see growing in reach
Dr. Morgaine Gaye
Food Futurologist
10:15
10:15 | Fireside chat: Driving innovation today: Strategies from a leading restaurant CEO
In this session, a CEO of a leading restaurant chain will share insights into the challenges faced by the food industry today.
From navigating inflation and supply chain disruptions to embracing sustainability and tech innovation, this conversation will give attendees a glimpse into what it takes to lead a company in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, as well as insight into their career challenges and advice to progress. The session will also look forward, discussing trends and disruptions that are poised to shape the future of the food and agriculture sector.
Marcel Khan
CEO
Franco Manca & The Real Greek
10:45
10:45 | Macroeconomic forecasting: What will happen to the global economy?
With war in Europe, inflation across the globe and many major political elections in 2024, there was no shortage of global economic factors that have left those in the food and agriculture sector wondering how that will affect their day-to-day business. Featuring an Expana economist and forecaster, this presentation will offer you information on what we can expect next in the global macroeconomy so you can prepare for the market disruptors on the horizon.
- How the state of the economy has affected food buyers and sellers
- Rising inflation and what this means for the business of food
- Fluctuating interest rates and the impact of this
- Currency exchange rates and their effect on purchasing
- Utilising the PMI insight for decision-making
Tom Bundgaard
VP Price Forecasting
Expana
11:20
11:20 | Networking break
12:00
12:00 | Geopolitical scenario planning roundtables: : The ‘What if…’ sessions
Choose one of the below topics to discuss as part of this interactive roundtable session focused on potential world events and how these could impact your role in the food industry. Share ideas and network with others while developing your planning skills to manage challenging scenarios that could occur. Session topics to include:
- What would happen to agri-food markets if China no longer needed European imports?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if Russia’s war in Ukraine lasts another 2 years?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if the global temperature increases 3 degrees?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if the EU were to be dissolved?
Session titles subject to change to reflect the shifting geopolitical situation
13:15
13:15 | Networking Lunch
14:20
14:20 | Consumer analysis: What will people want?
This presentation from a consumer expert will showcase the trends that consumers are following at the grocery store and restaurant counter. Topics to be touched on include:
- Consumer trends and how they are changing.
- What are the major factors consumers consider when shopping?
- What items are trending upwards and why?
- Analysis for different demographics.
- Shifts we could see emerging over the coming months
Melissa Rodriguez
Vice President, Perimeter
Circana
14:20 | Global markets and stressors: How will these affect the food sector?
Factors including weather, energy costs and freight expenses are dramatically influencing agri-food prices around the world. This session will offer market analysis and forecasting for a number of key market stressors to provide you with insight into how agri-food prices and availability could change in 2025/26. Factors to be addressed include:
- Energy and gas markets
- Freight costs
- Packaging costs
- Weather
Marcel Goldenberg
Chief Market Reporting Officer (Food, Feed & Industrial)
Expana
14:50
14:50 | Innovation in food: The rise of cultivated protein
As global food systems face mounting pressure from climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity, innovation has become a necessity. Join Meatable, a leader in cultivated meat technology, for an insightful presentation on the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving sector.
This session will explore the potential of cultivated protein in shaping the future of the meat/food industry. It will explore how the meat and broader food sector can play a role in this fast-growing industry, and touch upon its scalability and sustainability. Stay updated on the trends and technological advancements, and get your head-start against your the competition.
Jeff Tripician
CEO
Meatable
14:50 | Restaurant, retailer & food service buyers panel: What food buyers need from suppliers
Bringing together views of senior procurement professionals from different food organisations, gain a picture of what buyers are currently facing and what they require from suppliers, to develop and future-proof your own strategies. Topics to be discussed include:
- The biggest challenges facing procurement professionals in the food industry
- What senior procurement experts need most from their suppliers
- How best to develop healthy relationships with suppliers
Amanda Wright
Group Procurement Director
Oscar Mayer UK
Francesca Diazzi
Senior Buyer
CIRFOOD
Bledi Jahjaga
Head Of Food
Pizza Pilgrims
15:30
15:30 | Networking break
16:00
16:00 | Megatrends in Agri-Food Procurement: Are You Ready for What’s Coming?
The agri-food sector is facing an unprecedented storm. Spiraling prices, supply shortages, and shifting consumer expectations are forcing buyers and sellers to rethink their short and long term strategies.
From the rise of AI to the growing demand for ethical sourcing, these megatrends are reshaping our sector. Learn how to navigate the turbulence and secure your place in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Luana Clapis
Chief Data Officer
Expana
Vinay Kapoor
Chief Product Officer
Expana
16:30
16:30 | Leadership in the agrifood industry: Tips from the top
This session will feature a candid interview with a food industry leader, offering attendees the opportunity to learn from their wealth of experience and apply lessons to their own roles.
Through reflection on past challenges, attendees will hear how the leader navigated industry transformations, managed crises, and predicted market disruptors, as well as their views on what is to come next from the agri-food sector. The session will focus on timeless leadership qualities, strategic foresight, and lessons that still hold value in today’s rapidly evolving food and agriculture sector.
Gordon Campbell
Former Managing Director
SPAR International
18:00
18:00 | The Agri-Food Europe networking party
After a day of educational market intel, relax with a night of networking with colleagues from across the supply chain.
08:00
08:00 | Registration opens
08:45
08:45 | Chair’s opening remarks
08:55
08:55 | Panel: Overcoming animal product supply chain challenges
- How leaders approached the biggest challenges in 2024.
- How to tackle sustainability issues in supply chains.
- Strategies to create more robust value chains.
- How to best navigate supply chain disruptions.
Dr. John Rich
Executive Chairman
MHP SE
Jan Vanbrabant
CEO
EW Nutrition
Jeroen Floris
Commercial Director
Storteboom Food Group Europe
09:40
09:40 | Dairy market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Environmental and welfare regulation and their impact on the sector.
- Analysis of dairy alternatives – do they pose a threat?
Sandro Schulz
EMEA Protein Team Lead
Expana
10:15
10:15 | Networking break
10:45
10:45 | Egg market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- The impact of avian diseases on the sector.
- Sustainability and welfare legislation: what that means for supply chains.
Dineo Komane
Market Reporter
Expana
11:20
11:20 | Poultry market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
Poultry market analysis
- How avian influenza and other diseases are disrupting the sector.
- The impact of sustainability and welfare legislation.
- Global poultry production with import and export data.
Rutika Ghodekar
Senior Commodity Analyst
Expana
11:40
11:40 | Beef and pork market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Livestock diseases and how they are disrupting the sector.
- What sustainability and welfare regulations mean for the sector.
- Red meat production, import and export figures.
Sandro Schulz
EMEA Protein Team Lead
Expana
12:00
12:00 | Networking Lunch
12:30
12:30 | Packaging Market Analysis
In this lunchtime session, gain in-depth analysis of the packaging market including current pricing and market disruptors, as well as trends and innovation in the packaging space.
Andrew Woods
Industrial Market Reporter
Expana
13:15
13:15 | Forecasting session: Where can we expect prices to go next?
Part 1: How to forecast food commodity prices
- Understanding how to price forecast.
- Forecasting different commodity prices for the upcoming months – reviewing key markets.
- Market events could cause shifts in the future.
Part 2: Ask me anything – A dive into Expana forecasting
Driven by audience questions and interests the forecasting team will talk through what to expect from commodity markets that are of interest to attendees.
Tom Bundgaard
VP Price Forecasting
Expana
14:00
14:00 | Panel discussion: Making financial risk management accessible for all
Identifying risks and making informed transaction decisions are crucial in the food industry. Join industry leaders and solutions providers as they share experience from commodity markets around the world and share examples on how to effectively safeguard your business from financial losses. Key discussion topics will include:
- Effective principles for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks and what the options for mitigation are
- The key role of derivatives in risk management in many products
- Understanding the influence of regulations on risk management practices
- Speculators – their role in risk management
- Managing currency, operational, and accounting risks
Clive Furness
Chief Executive Officer
Contango Markets Limited
Scott Wellcome
Director, Grains Risk Management
GoodMills Group
Mat Halsall
Global Commodity Strategist And Trader
Oromo Consultants
14:40
14:40 | Artificial intelligence: Will we still have jobs in 10 Years?
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic across the food and agriculture sector because of its ability to enhance our everyday duties while also potentially offering ethical and legislative challenges. Many in the buying and selling space are curious as to how this could affect their decisions and jobs over the coming years and this presentation will offer opinions on this. Questions to be answered include:
- How will buying and selling benefit from AI?
- Are there AI tools currently available that enhance buying and selling?
- Could these tools replace procurement and supplier teams?
- What conflicts could arise from the use of AI when purchasing?
Marc Kloepfel
CEO
Kloepfel Group
15:15
15:15 | Chair’s closing remarks and end of event
08:00
08:00 | Registration opens
08:45
08:45 | Chair’s opening remarks
08:55
08:55 | Panel: Supply chain challenges in grains, oilseed and feed markets
- The biggest challenges in 2024 and how these were tackled.
- Strategies to mitigate effects of geopolitical events.
- Implementing sustainability legislation including incoming anti-deforestation regulations.
- How to develop robust supply chains.
- Overcoming market disruption challenges.
Floris Lunsingh Scheurleer
Raw Materials Director
ForFarmers
Scott Wellcome
Director, Grains Risk Management
GoodMills Group
Silvia Sonneveld
Head ANH Vitamins Unit
dsm-firmenich
09:40
09:40 | Grains market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Import and export data.
- Production figures for key regions.
- How weather patterns may impact production over the coming months.
Benoît Fayaud
Senior Manager – Grains & Crop Analysis
Expana
10:15
10:15 | Networking break
10:45
10:45 | Amino acids, vitamins and minerals analysis
This session will address events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, global supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for.
Sam Weatherlake
Managing Editor – Feed Additives
Expana
11:20
11:20 | Oilseeds and oils market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Weather data and the impact of this on production.
- Import and export data for different commodities.
- Production intelligence across different regions.
Kyle Holland
Senior Analyst – Oilseeds & Vegetable Oils
Expana
Nouha Slama
Oilseeds Manager
Expana
12:00
12:00 | Networking lunch
12:30
12:30 | Packaging market analysis
In this lunchtime session, gain in-depth analysis of the packaging market including current pricing and market disruptors, as well as trends and innovation in the packaging space.
Andrew Woods
Industrial Market Reporter
Expana
13:15
13:15 | Forecasting session: Where can we expect prices to go next?
Part 1: How to forecast agri-food commodity prices
- Understanding how to price forecast.
- Forecasting different commodity prices for the upcoming months – reviewing key markets.
- Market events could cause shifts in the future.
Part 2: Ask me anything – A dive into Expana Forecasting
Driven by audience questions and interests the forecasting team will talk through what to expect from commodity markets that are of interest to attendees.
Tom Bundgaard
VP Price Forecasting
Expana
14:00
14:00 | Panel discussion: Making financial risk management accessible for all
Identifying risks and making informed transaction decisions are crucial in the food industry. Join industry leaders and solutions providers as they share experience from commodity markets around the world and share examples on how to effectively safeguard your business from financial losses. Key discussion topics will include:
- Effective principles for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks and what the options for mitigation are
- The key role of derivatives in risk management in many products
- Understanding the influence of regulations on risk management practices
- Speculators – their role in risk management
- Managing currency, operational, and accounting risks
Clive Furness
Chief Executive Officer
Contango Markets Limited
Scott Wellcome
Director, Grains Risk Management
GoodMills Group
Mat Halsall
Global Commodity Strategist And Trader
Oromo Consultants
14:40
14:40 | Artificial intelligence: Will we still have jobs in 10 years?
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic across the food and agriculture sector because of its ability to enhance our everyday duties while also potentially offering ethical and legislative challenges. Many in the buying and selling space are curious as to how this could affect their decisions and jobs over the coming years and this presentation will offer opinions on this. Questions to be answered include:
- How will buying and selling benefit from AI?
- Are there AI tools currently available that enhance buying and selling?
- Could these tools replace procurement and supplier teams?
- What conflicts could arise from the use of AI when purchasing?
Marc Kloepfel
CEO
Kloepfel Group
15:15
15:15 | Chair’s closing remarks and end of event
08:00
08:00 | Registration opens
08:45
08:45 | Chair’s opening remarks
08:55
08:55 | PANEL: Building resilience in softs markets
- How stakeholders overcame the biggest challenges in 2024.
- Strategies for dealing with fluctuating markets.
- Sustainability pressures and how to best address these.
- Creating more resilient supply chains.
- How to work-around market disruption.
09:40
09:40 | Coffee market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Global import and export figures.
- Weather insight and how this could affect production.
- How ethical sourcing and sustainability commitments are affecting value chains.
Steve Wateridge
VP Analysis – Soft Commodities
Expana
10:15
10:15 | Networking break
10:45
10:45 | Cocoa market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- How global weather patterns are impacting production.
- Import and export data.
- The effects of sustainability and ethical sourcing legislation on the supply chain.
Steve Wateridge
VP Analysis – Soft Commodities
Expana
11:20
11:20 | Sugar market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Global weather patterns and their effect on sugar production.
- Import and export figures.
- The impact of sustainability legislation and ethical sourcing.
Rodrigo Bermejo
Senior Manager – Sugar & Ethanol Analysis
Expana
12:00
12:00 | Networking lunch
12:30
12:30 | Packaging market analysis
In this lunchtime session, gain in-depth analysis of the packaging market including current pricing and market disruptors, as well as trends and innovation in the packaging space.
Andrew Woods
Industrial Market Reporter
Expana
13:15
13:15 | Forecasting session: Where can we expect prices to go next?
Part 1: How to forecast agri-food commodity prices
- Understanding how to price forecast.
- Forecasting different commodity prices for the upcoming months – reviewing key markets.
- Market events could cause shifts in the future.
Part 2: Ask me anything – A dive into Expana Forecasting
Driven by audience questions and interests the forecasting team will talk through what to expect from commodity markets that are of interest to attendees.
Tom Bundgaard
VP Price Forecasting
Expana
14:00
14:00 | Panel discussion: Making financial risk management accessible for all
Identifying risks and making informed transaction decisions are crucial in the food industry. Join industry leaders and solutions providers as they share experience from commodity markets around the world and share examples on how to effectively safeguard your business from financial losses. Key discussion topics will include:
- Effective principles for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks and what the options for mitigation are
- The key role of derivatives in risk management in many products
- Understanding the influence of regulations on risk management practices
- Speculators – their role in risk management
- Managing currency, operational, and accounting risks
Clive Furness
Chief Executive Officer
Contango Markets Limited
Scott Wellcome
Director, Grains Risk Management
GoodMills Group
Mat Halsall
Global Commodity Strategist And Trader
Oromo Consultants
14:40
14:40 | Artificial intelligence: Will we still have jobs in 10 years?
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic across the food and agriculture sector because of its ability to enhance our everyday duties while also potentially offering ethical and legislative challenges. Many in the buying and selling space are curious as to how this could affect their decisions and jobs over the coming years and this presentation will offer opinions on this. Questions to be answered include:
- How will buying and selling benefit from AI?
- Are there AI tools currently available that enhance buying and selling?
- Could these tools replace procurement and supplier teams?
- What conflicts could arise from the use of AI when purchasing?
Marc Kloepfel
CEO
Kloepfel Group