Seafood Expo Global conference program returns with slate of international experts

The 29th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, taking place in Barcelona, Spain from 25 to 27 April, 2023, will once again feature a conference program with international experts from across the seafood sector and beyond.

Covering more than 20 educational sessions over the three-day expo, the program will cover a wide array of subjects impacting the seafood industry – from climate change and environmental issues to economic forecasts. Taking place at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, the sessions include more than 85 international experts from around the world representing NGOs, seafood companies, leading political policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

The keynote this year will welcome back economist Megan Greene, who also gave a keynote at the latest Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America. Greene is a columnist for the Financial Times, and a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. In her session, “Navigating the Global Polycrisis,” Greene will examine how multiple ongoing global crises – such as the war in Europe, skyrocketing energy costs, global inflation, and more – are impacting the economy and will discuss what the global economy will look like as the issues are resolved.

Other prominent guests of the conference program include Javier Garat, Chairman of the International Coalition of Fisheries Association (ICFA); Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods; Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost; Laurène Jolly, Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG MARE); Alf-Gøran Knutsen, CEO of Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett AS; Felix Ratheb, CEO of Sea Harvest Group Limited; Andrew Russell, Global Sustainable Sourcing Lead – Fish for Mars Petcare ; Safa Souidi, Analyst, EUMOFA Team at AND-INTERNATIONAL; Mariana Toussaint, Fishery Expert at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, and others.

Experts outside the seafood industry are also presenting information – giving the seafood sector a chance to learn from experts in other supply chains. In "Supply Chain Equity: Value distribution in Blue Swimming Crab and Mahi Mahi and Lessons from the Cocoa Industry,” Peter Zandee of Tony’s Chocolonely, Susanna Balaguer Serra from the Impact Institute, and Leonardo Pradela from the Walton Family Foundation will discuss equity in supply chains using the cocoa industry as an example of an industry that has seen success in developing 100 percent labor exploitation free products.

One of the main focuses on the conference program, organizer Diversified Communications said, is the increasing need for sustainability and responsible fisheries. Industry players involved with NGOs and prominent governmental organizations will be on hand to discuss the major challenges facing fisheries and aquaculture.  [Editor's note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource]

The entire conference program is listed on the event website.  

Photo courtesy of Fira de Barcelona