Organic Food Iberia gains more industry support, with Andalucía, Valencia & 65% of exhibition space now confirmed
Organic Food Iberia, the highly-anticipated, new international organic trade fair, taking place in Madrid next June, gained further significant Spanish support today, with the announcement that Andalucía – the country’s biggest organic producing region – will host a 100 producer-strong pavilion.
The 800sqm pavilion, hosted with the support of leading organic association Ecovalia, will showcase hundreds of organic food and drink products from across this richly-biodiverse province.
Álvaro Barrera, president of the Organic Value Association (ECOVALIA) and CAAE, says: “It’s time for Spain to have a dedicated meeting point between production, industry and marketing that reflects the growing increase in organic consumption, which will be facilitated by Organic Food Iberia in June 2019. Sales opportunities will be improved for exhibiting companies, as well as distributors and specialised retailers, who can source products in line with the Ecological Philosophy of Consumption.”
“The enthusiastic reception for Organic Food Iberia by the Spanish government and all the country’s most important regions – particularly Andalucía, which represents almost half of all organic production in Spain – is incredibly exciting. It’s clear that we all agree that a dedicated international trade event for the organic sectors in Spain and Portugal is long overdue and will benefit producers, suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers alike,” says Susana Andrés Omella, project director at Organic Food Iberia.
“When you consider that Spain’s organic market is now worth almost 2,000 million euros, with more rapid growth forecast, there are huge opportunities ahead. Organic Food Iberia couldn’t have come at a better time and we’re look forward to staging, what we hope will become, one of the most important organic trade events in the world,” she says.
Today’s announcement comes just weeks after the Valencian Community – the fastest growing region for organic farming in Spain (it has enjoyed a 60% rise in the number of organic producers since 2010) also confirmed their presence at Organic Food Iberia.
Other confirmed exhibitors include key Spanish brands – Productos DulceSol, Laboratorio Almond, AxarFruit, Biosabor Nature SL, Gimeno Fruits, Biográ Alimentación Ecológica, Jacoliva, Ekotrebol, Kimera, Beltrán Hermanos SL, BIOcomercio, and Bras del Port SA, plus big international suppliers. Many more are due to be confirmed over the coming weeks, including international pavilions.
The rise of organic in Spain
Spain is the biggest producer of organic in Europe, with over 2,082,173 hectares. It is also among the top ten of most important organic markets in the world.
Speaking at BioCultura Madrid earlier this month, Luis Planas – the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, highlighted the ‘rapid growth’ of the country’s organic market and the Ministry’s continuing support to promote both domestic consumption and international trade of organic products via the ‘Strategy for the organic production 2018-2020’.
According to figures revealed by Minister Planas, organic consumption per capita rose from €36 in 2016, to €43 in 2017 (doubling the figure of four years ago). While domestic consumption may still be low in comparison to the EU average of €60.5, increasing retail availability has ensured constant market growth – taking approximate spend to almost 2,000 million euros.
Organic Food Iberia
Organic Food Iberia was launched as a direct result of discussions with the leading institutions in the industry and is organised by Diversified Communications (its trade event portfolio also includes Natural & Organic Products Europe in the UK, Nordic Organic Food Fair and Natural Products Scandinavia in Sweden, and Naturally Good in Australia).
The event, which is co-located with Eco Living Iberia, will benefit from Diversified’s international network of contacts and bring together the whole of Spain and Portugal – the largest area of ecological agri-food and wine production in Europe, to present the first major international showcase for this increasingly important sector.
In addition to attracting buyers from throughout Spain, the event will also benefit from a VIP and Hosted Buyers programme, including 500 hotel rooms and free flights.
Organic Food Iberia will feature a dedicated Organic Theatre, The Innovation Zone – featuring the next wave of bestselling products, regional and international pavilions, and the Eco & Organic Awards Iberia.
The event will take place at the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid on 6-7 June 2019. To register your interest in attending, visit: www.organicfoodiberia.com/register-visitors.
For further information visit www.organicfoodiberia.com
Bio Eco Actual, International Organic Newspaper
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