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The Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa (AFMA) is the official industry representative body of the South African feed industry in the livestock feed sector and larger agricultural environment.
One of the most prestigious events on the AFMA calendar is the AFMA Forum. This event, which is one of the largest animal feed industry events on the African continent, takes place every three years.
This year the Forum will be hosted from 5 to 7 September 2023 at Sun City, South Africa and the theme is “Feed and food – The fourth agricultural revolution”.
We are now entering the fourth agricultural revolution (Agriculture 4.0). This means that, in the coming years, agriculture will undergo significant structural changes, which will mostly be sparked by technological developments and digital advances.
Some of the recent advances include automation (robotics), artificial intelligence (AI), gene editing, traceability through blockchain technology, precision livestock farming, waste reduction, new animal nutrition, and rapid adoption of sustainable farming practices.
However, the economic landscape is also changing rapidly, and the feed industry is facing several challenges. These challenges include rising input costs, increasing competition, and changing consumer demands.
At the same time, never-ending economic ‘crises’ are also now commonplace. In the modern world, there is no ‘normal’, and animal agriculture must be able to evolve and mitigate the effects of sudden change. As an integral part of the animal protein production chain, feed manufacturing will have an important role to play in providing sustainable animal protein to satisfy an ever-increasing demand under challenging conditions.
With all of this in mind, the Forum has been structured to address all these topics and provide valuable learning for the industry to take forward.
Large-scale exhibition
In conjunction with the programme, a large-scale exhibition will be hosted at the Superbowl. Multi-national exhibitors will include feed companies, feed additive companies, feed milling equipment manufacturers, agricultural commodity trades, laboratory service providers, and manufacturers of animal health solutions.
Visitors will be able to interact with experts in a variety of fields associated with animal feed production.
Student outreach programme
This year, emphasis will be placed on students in the field of animal production and nutrition. A structured programme for students will introduce students to the industry and give them the opportunity to interact with industry role-players.
Whether you are the owner of a feed company, milling operator, nutritionist, supplier, student, or an interested member of the public, the AFMA Forum 2023 is the place to be. The conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend. – Chantelle Fryer, chairperson of the Forum Programme Committee
Click the button for more information on the registration process.
