Extenda-Andalucía Exports and Foreign Investment organised the participation of a dozen Andalusian firms in the Smart Agrifood Summit, the leading meeting in the industry for the creation of innovation ecosystems in the European agri-food sector, which was held between 30 September and 1 October at the Trade Fairs and Congress Centre in Malaga. This is a new area of innovative business linked to the agri-food complex in which Andalusia has exported 147 million euros between January and July 2021, with a growth of 16.2%, its second-best figure in history.
The annual Smart Agrifood Summit is a commitment to the digital transformation of the European countryside and agri-food industry. A professional meeting that allows startups and companies from all over the world, international speakers, institutions, and organisations to make contacts, present projects, and find funding and business opportunities. In this fourth edition, the event aims to consolidate its commitment to R&D&I, which is fundamental for the sustainable development of the agri-food industry, maintaining the objectives of positioning itself as a meeting point for innovative ideas and access to funding, to learn about the latest technologies in the agri-food value chain and to promote cooperation between institutions in R&D projects.
To boost the international nature of the event, Extenda organised a reverse trade mission with seven leading international operators, including importers, distributors, and specifiers from the international markets of the United Arab Emirates, France, Italy, Israel, and Mexico. All of them present important business opportunities for firms in this industry and participate in the event through various presentations and round tables, as well as through b2b meetings with the firms present at the event.
Smart Agrifood Summit 2021 has taken place at the FYCMA-Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga, which organises the event together with the European Foundation for Innovation (INTEC). On this occasion, it brings together more than 350 companies and organisations that are leading technological transformation in the agri-food industry. At the same time, more than 20 countries will be represented and more than 50 international investors will be present.
The content programme includes the participation of more than 200 experts in different round tables and features meetings such as the Olive Oil Innovation Forum and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Forum, as well as a panel dedicated to Public Procurement of Innovation. The event will once again host the Water and Sustainability Forum, as it did last year.
Extenda will participate in the international forum “Agrifood Forum”, which brings together the main players in the agri-food sector worldwide, with a firm commitment to open innovation and cooperation to advance the digital transformation of the sector. This forum aims to be a meeting point for exposing, presenting, analysing, communicating, and debating the present and future of each of the activities that make up the agri-food chain, as well as the search for new ideas that promote disruption and innovation in all its processes.
Extenda has facilitated the participation of nine Andalusian companies in the fourth edition of the Smart Agrifood Summit (Agrogenia Biotech, Capricho Andaluz, Gourmet & Olé, Biorizon Biotech, Hispatec, DVA Iberia, Quimsa ITW, Earis & Berrypro, and Sacsis) belonging to very heterogeneous sectors related to innovation in the agri-food industry, with software, fertiliser, biotechnology, and R&D machinery companies present.
Andalusia exported 147 million euros in the agricultural technology and food industry sectors in the first seven months of 2021, 16.2% more than the previous year.
