BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat 2007

They are a successful double and a well-established team: BioFach América Latina and the parallel sustainability exhibition Expo Sustentat. BioFach América Latina, which has taken place annually since 2002, is a permanent part of the Latin American organic sector. 

Picture: Many vistors at the BioFach América Latina

After the number of exhibitors and trade visitors had almost doubled last year, this year’s event in São Paulo from 16-18 October 2007 was geared to organic growth: The number of exhibitors rose to 276 (2006: 235) and the number of visitors to 6,449 (2006: 6,212). Expo Sustentat is also improving its profile. 130 exhibitors were present at this year’s exhibition parallel to BioFach América Latina. The exhibitors travelled from 14 countries and the visitors from 28 countries to the Latin American industry occasion in Brazil. The decisive factors for the success of both events and the exhibitors’ satisfaction this year were again the visitors’ high qualifications and their definite interest in doing business. 94 % of the exhibitors looked back on three successful days of exhibiting. The varied range of products from the exhibitors and the extensive supporting programme in the Transamerica Expo Centre once again guaranteed a worthwhile visit to the exhibition in São Paulo.
 
Exhibiting at Expo Sustentat makes access to the market easier for small farmers. Besides the large variety of products and services from the segments of fair trade, natural production and collection from the wild, the Sala Andes-Amazônia pavilion decisively contributed to the attractiveness of this year’s edition of the sustainability exhibition. The stand attracted a lot of attention and was designed as a multinational concept. Six Latin American states presented their products in the Sala Andes-Amazônia pavilion. Qualified producers from Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela presented their ready-for-market products, invited visitors to a voyage of discovery through their product world and enriched the exhibition duo with an extra portion of Latin American colour. The Sala Andes-Amazônia pavilion is an exemplary model of cooperation between various partners at Expo Sustentat: The ambitious project has been implemented in a Private-Public Partnership project through cooperation between the German development finance institution (DEG), the German Association for Technical Co-operation (GTZ), Nürnberg Global Fairs, the Brazilian partner Planeta Orgânico, and other partners.

The conference and event programme for the two exhibitions was particularly comprehensive this year. The series of presentations, panel discussions and cookery shows were sometimes held three at a time. The organizers of the exhibition duo, Nürnberg Global Fairs and Planeta Orgânico, had produced a top-flight programme with the support of the Munich corporate consultant Organic Services: Some 30 speakers reported on the development of organic markets worldwide and quenched their audiences’ thirst for knowledge with presentations and examples of best practice. The BioTrade Forum, a cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), made its debut at BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat. The aim was to link economic investment with the interests of biodiversity and environmental protection.

Claus Rättich (picture), Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse and also responsible for BioFach and Vivaness, was impressed by the Brazilian daughter of BioFach in Nürnberg: “Here you can see that all concerned are really putting their hearts into developing the Latin American organic market and the success of the BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat duo. The dynamic that meanwhile grips the Brazilian market is clearly noticeable – also as far as natural personal care is concerned.” In his presentation on Vivaness, the Trade Fair for Natural Personal Care and Wellness in Nürnberg, Claus Rättich talked about the brilliant prospects of the international natural personal care market. This was certainly not only interesting for the visitors, but also for the natural personal care producers present from Latin America, a region rich in exotic plants. And this is precisely where the enormous potential exists for the manufacturers of natural personal care products: in new rich sources of raw materials that are waiting to be discovered worldwide. The customers, for example, for the treasures of the Amazon, are not only overseas. Manufacturers of high-quality herbal cosmetic products on the Latin American continent are also increasingly interested in capturing export markets with their certified natural personal care products.

Observers were impressed with the large number of representatives from internationally renowned companies. Representatives from Hain Celestial, General Mills, Walmart, Lehmann Natur and Rapunzel and from the hotel and catering trade visited BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat. “It is fantastic to see how dynamically BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustenat are developing. The Brazilian organic market is growing and the change is particularly clear here. We are experiencing lots of very encouraging business activity at this exhibition,” says Eduardo de F. Caldas, Project Manager at the foreign trade organization APEX Brazil. The two ministries responsible for agriculture and rural development were traditionally presented on large stands. New in 2007 was the Ministry of Fisheries. The official small farmers organization SEBRAE, Banco do Brasil and many other partners from industry and politics were also represented as every year.

IFOAM president Gerald A. Herrmann (picture) gave the opening speech at this year’s edition of BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustenat. The president of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and patron of BioFach especially stressed the importance of a holistic view of the organic market. It is important, for example, to also set up a link to the textile sector. Overall, the market must be placed on a broad-based and stable foundation – including relevant legislation.  Herrmann had already emphasized the social significance of organic elsewhere. The organic industry contributes towards maintaining a living planet. The farmers use the sale of their products to farm more land organically and this also benefits the environment.

BioFach América Latina and Expo Sustentat give exhibitors and trade visitors another comprehensive survey of organic products, market prospects and sustainable projects in Latin America in 2008. The Brazilian sisters then line up in São Paulo from 23-25 October.

Other BioFach global events: 

BioFach and Vivaness, Nürnberg 21-24 February 2008
BioFach China, Shanghai 29-31 May 2008
BioFach Japan, Tokyo 24-26 September 2008
BioFach America, Boston 16-18 October 2008