French agricultural trade show SPACE celebrates 35 years this year. Visitors to the first day found not only show mascot Marguerite walking the halls, but new layouts, new signage, and new events.
Young Space, an initiative dedicated to students and young people, is offering participants to voice their hopes and aspirations via a series of workshops and debates and, on day one, participants had the opportunity to talk to Marc Fesneau, France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
Espace for the Future, another new initiative will be running all week and will look at climate change how the agriculture sector can offer solutions.
The agriculture sector in France must reduce its contribution to CO2 emissions by 55% by decade end, Espace for the Future is seeking to offer concrete solutions and adaptations.
Day one of the event also held a number of aquaculture debates and, perhaps, unsurprisingly a discussion of how the war in Ukraine is impacting food strategy.
Alongside discussions and future planning, the event played host to 1,200 exhibitors. As usual, some stands boasted yellow plaques indicating they were hosting new products and services that had been recognized in the annual Innov’Space innovation awards. In total, 36 products or services across species were recognized this year.
Poultry in difficulty
Amongst the awards this year, 10 were for use in the poultry industry. France was Europe’s second largest poultry meat producer last year, however, it is expected to fall to fourth place this year. This decline, according to industry association Anvol, is attributed to a 50% increase in costs over the last two years, outbreaks of avian influenza and growing imports, all of which will contribute to a decrease in production of close to 10%.
