Seafood Expo North America keynote to address 2023 economic outlook

Megan Greene, a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and Kroll Institute global chief economist, is returning to deliver the keynote launching the comprehensive conference program at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, and taking place from 12 to 14 March, 2023, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The three-day conference program includes a slate of more than 30 education sessions featuring seafood, retail, environmental, and governmental experts in panels and presentations covering a number of topics relevant to the seafood industry, according to event producer Diversified Communications. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]

Greene will start the program off with an economic outlook for 2023 in her presentation, “Economic Update for 2023 – Where are we headed?” Her keynote will offer insight on the worldwide economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, and will include an update on international supply chain challenges, the impact of inflation, and the economic costs of climate change.

Greene, who writes a regular column focused on global macroeconomics and policy for The Financial Times, has been cited and interviewed by CNBC, Bloomberg, NPR, BBC, and numerous other prominent financial news outlets.

Also at this year’s Seafood Expo North America, U.S. Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee will deliver a plenary titled “A Call to Action: Good Work in Fishing is Smart Business,” addressing harmful labor conditions in the global fishing industry often associated with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. Lee’s presentation will underscore the private sector’s responsibility in curbing the abuses, and will also address how government, worker organizations, and the private sector should address and remediate labor violations.

The wider conference agenda will cover an array of topics relevant to the seafood industry, including consumer data, trends in foodservice, how supply and demand is affecting shipping logistics, and more:

• Speakers from Hy-Vee, H&N Group, Publix Super Markets, and the Food Marketing Institute will provide the annual “Power of Seafood 2023” report update, reviewing shopper behavior data for retailers interested in growing seafood sales.
• An expert panel from BAADER North America, Bristol Seafood, and Marel will address how processing has changed, what current market demand looks like, and where there are future opportunities in “The Evolution and Future of Seafood Processing.”
• Dataessential’s extensive resources will suggest seafood trends in the U.S., and how companies can build more targeted strategies to reach consumers, in “Seafood Trends in Foodservice.”
• "Increasing the Seafood Industry’s Voice in Global Climate Policy” will feature speakers from COMEPESCA, the Global Tuna Alliance, Environmental Defense Fund, Seafood 2030, and the Walton Family Foundation to explore how the seafood industry can communicate to climate-related issues impacting oceans, fisheries, and seafood production more effectively.

The agenda also features a session for companies looking to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives into their businesses. “Unpacking DEI: Why it Matters in the Workplace” will address ways to take a more effective approach to “improving relationships, navigating difficult topics, and challenging automatic patterns of thinking,” Diversified Communications said.

Other conference speakers include NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Rick Spinrad; Wegmans Food Markets Seafood Group Manager Steve Philips; Trident Seafoods Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Stefanie Moreland; and Luke’s Lobster Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Ben Conniff.

The 2023 edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America will feature 25 percent more exhibit space than 2022, according to Diversified Communications. New participating exhibiting countries at the 2023 Seafood Expo North America include Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea; and new pavilions representing Australia, Denmark, Papua New Guinea, and Poland will also be present, according to Diversified. China will also have a presence at the show after a hiatus due to Covid-related travel restrictions. 

Photo courtesy of Megan Greene