February 5, 2018

VIV MEA 2018 welcome visitors of regional animal proteins sector

VIV MEA 2018, the regional animal proteins business event in Abu Dhabi, opens on February 5 and will take place until February 7.

The event will feature a line-up of international and regional suppliers serving animal protein businesses in an area extending from the Middle East and Africa to Iran and the countries of the Indian sub-continent.

Added value comes in the form of a series of regionally-focused conferences and seminars. The programme has been assembled by working closely with top partners in the industry and is devised to relate specifically to the region's forward-thinking operators in poultry, dairy and aquaculture.

The conference programme shown online at www.vivmea.nl lists over 40 separate presentations for VIV MEA's daily agenda. Among the many topics presented include poultry disease issues in the Middle East, nutritional challenges in hot climates and the emergence of India's animal health industry.

All conferences are located in the same venue as the trade fair, within the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). In addition, associated special seminars at ADNEC will part of a full day event on February 5 and organised by Global Dairy Farmers and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (under the title of "DairyTech Middle East & Africa"). The programme has wide-ranging sessions delivered by speakers who are focused on developing a better cow for the Middle East and effective cooling of dairy cattle in an arid climate.

"Aquafeed Extrusion" is a one-day short course on February 5 sponsored by International Aquafeed magazine and organised by Dr. Mian Riaz from Texas A&M University, US. Participants will hear about the current status of aqua feeds globally as well as the principles and practices of extrusion technology for this fast-growing sector. Another choice available to visitors is an opportunity to take part in Dutch Poultry Centre seminars that will focus on innovations developed in the Netherlands for advancing production techniques in the poultry business internationally.

Expanding into another hall at ADNEC, VIV MEA 2018 has added about 25% to its exhibition area, compared to the inaugural edition in 2016.

On the latest count, there will be 360 exhibitors originating from over 40 countries. An approximate breakdown of exhibit types by sector reveals almost 300 relating to poultry, about 210 for dairy and around 70 stand-holders offering products or services for aquaculture operations.

Most represented among the product types will be feed ingredients and additives, on nearly 80 stands. Animal health items will be presented by 40 exhibitors, closely matched by the numbers offering products and services either for farm production or for processing and handling. Other areas receiving considerable coverage are breeding/hatching and the manufacture of mixed feeds.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to attend the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) show that is co-located in neighbouring halls at the ADNEC site. GFIA will take place on February 5-6 and will feature innovative and sustainable technologies relating to food production. VIV MEA registered visitors can use their badge to enter the GFIA show free of charge.

In total, VIV MEA 2018 will cover more than 7,500 square metres in Halls 5, 6, 7 and 8 at ADNEC. The show layout is by sectors, with Halls 5 and 6 for farm production, breeding/hatching and processing/handling. Hall 7 is the largest individual hall for exhibits on feed manufacturing, ingredients and additives while animal health is concentrated in Hall 8.

Pre-registered visitors can collect their badges by coming either to the main entrance for the show (outside Hall 5) or from the entrance to Hall 7. Visitors who need to register upon arrival will need to apply at the main entrance.

Every visitors at VIV MEA can also enjoy the Abu Dhabi experience - the capital of UAE is reached easily by air both locally and internationally through an airport that is only 20 minutes by road from the ADNEC exhibitions complex.

Points of interest in the visually stunning modern city are outlined by ww.vivmea.nl.

VIV offers for the first time a 'Tandem' badge solution to its visitors. To facilitate Middle Eastern and African professionals' registrations to VIV Europe - the world expo from-feed-to-food taking place in the Netherlands on June 20-22 - VIV MEA visitor badges will function as Tandem badges. Visitors will be able to register to attend VIV Europe right at Abu Dhabi. It will simply take a second for visitors to scan their VIV MEA badges and get a registration confirmation for VIV Europe.

The VIV MEA Tandem badge doubles the business opportunities for MENA professionals of the feed-to-food supply chain to grow their business not only in the region, but also internationally.