The Dubai World Trade Centre is abuzz this week as it hosts tens of thousands of visitors from the global food and beverage industry for the inaugural Gulfood Green event. This unique showcase, dedicated to sustainable practices, cutting-edge technologies, and transformative trends, is set to make waves with a comprehensive range of products and services on display.
Gulfood Green, a first-of-its-kind event, runs alongside ISM Middle East, the region’s leading sweets and snacks show, and Private Label Middle East, the only event of its kind focused on private label and contract manufacturing in the region. Together, these events offer a packed agenda featuring conferences, exhibitions, investor programs, exciting product launches, a startup competition, and a festive showcase. The goal is to provide a platform for networking, business growth, and valuable industry insights.
India, with its growing influence in the global food and agricultural space, made a notable presence at the event. The Indian pavilion showcased a diverse array of food and agricultural products, with entrepreneurs highlighting the latest innovations in the agro-sector. The official representation was led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), showcasing India’s commitment to sustainable food practices.
Pritee Chaudhary, Regional Director, FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India attended the Future Food Forum. Speaking at the event she advocated the need for a sustainable approach to food waste management, advocating for repurposing, reusing, and recycling. “If food is not fit for consumption, it should be used as animal feed or repurposed for industrial uses like biofuel or soap production. Composting should only be a last resort, and wet food waste should never end up in landfills,” she said.She also stressed the importance of flexible regulations that allow businesses to innovate and grow. “Regulation must evolve from current needs and create space for innovation, not just impose rigid restrictions.”
At the heart of Gulfood Green is the Food for Future Summit, featuring over 90 global and regional leaders in food innovation, sustainability, and agricultural transformation. The summit offers attendees the opportunity to engage with pioneers who are redefining the global food systems agenda. Another major highlight of the event is the Gulfood Green Shoots Startup Pitch Competition. Over the first two days, selected startups will pitch their innovative solutions to a global audience of venture capitalists, potential customers, and industry leaders.
The inaugural Gulfood Green promises to be a milestone event, underscoring the growing focus on sustainability within the food industry. India’s significant participation reaffirms its commitment to both sustainability and global collaboration in the food and agricultural sectors. As the event unfolds, industry leaders and startups alike will have the opportunity to explore, innovate, and contribute to shaping the future of food.
Vinod Kumar (UAE)