Première in São Paulo: Two trade fairs for organic and sustainability in one place

Summer 2006 in Germany: Brazil has expanded its fan community once again. The close economic relationships between the Federal Republic of Germany and Brazil already have a long tradition. The co-operation between Nürnberg Global Fairs and the Brazilian organization Planeta Orgânico in the organic segment has also been very successful for five years now. The two partners together with Organic Services present BioFach América Latina for the fourth time from 25-27 October 2006. After three years in Rio de Janeiro, the international trade fair for organic food moves to the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.

Picture: BioFach América Latina 2005

The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection is sponsoring a pavilion again. The second ExpoSustentat, the trade fair for sustainable and fairtraded products, takes place at the same time following its successful première last year. The good economic co-operation between Brazil and Germany is cultivated intensively. Joint economic conferences take place regularly. For the meeting in Berlin at the beginning of July, the Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Luiz Fernando Furlan, Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues, other high-ranking government representatives and Federal Minister of Economics Michael Glos have confirmed their attendance. An agro-business meeting at this year’s event focuses on organic. Representatives from Planeta Orgânico will speak in Berlin on the organic market in Brazil and the concepts of BioFach América Latina and ExpoSustentat. The two trade fairs scored a great success in November 2005 with some 200 exhibitors (+ 42 %) and over 4000 visitors (+ 70 %). The organizers expect 20 % more space, 250 exhibitors and 6000 visitors in October this year. 70 % of the stand space for BioFach América Latina and 50 % for ExpoSustentat are already allocated.

The Brazilian government is making great efforts to develop the market for organic food. Foreign Trade Minister Luis Furlan has initiated a decree to ensure that organic products receive an extra code for world trade in future. The system is intended to control exports and obtain exact data on the type and volume of organic export articles. Udo Censkowsky, Latin America expert at Organic Services, rates the impacts of the decree very positively: “Recording organic food exports brings more market transparency for all concerned. It forms the basis for programmes for more market development and offers the possibility of giving tax preference to organic products in the trade.” The Organics Brazil programme also officially supported by the export agency APEX already promotes Brazilian organic raw materials and finished products at exhibitions in Europe, Asia and the USA.

The Brazilian domestic market is also becoming increasingly interesting for German organic food companies, some of which already cultivate good contacts with Latin America and import raw goods. The demand for healthy food is especially growing in the conurbations in the south-eastern states, so that many supermarket and health food chains have adjusted their ranges accordingly. The domestic demand is favoured by the currently weak dollar and the comparatively strong reais. The increased spending power of the Brazilians is shown by their consumer behaviour: the domestic market has grown strongly. Organic processors report up to 30 % more sales on the domestic market compared with the same period of the previous year. In addition to raw materials, the export market is tending towards more finished goods. An official organic label similar to the German organic label is expected by the end of the year, which should give another distinct boost to the organic sector.

The two trade fairs BioFach América Latina and ExpoSustentat offer a platform for the whole product and services spectrum of the Latin American market, with raw materials and processed organic food as well as companies and action groups committed to sustainability and fair trade. This creates a synergy effect for exhibitors and trade visitors. The 1st Sustainable Leadership Forum and an extensive accompanying conference for both events offer additional valuable information about markets and trends.

Other BioFach global events:
BioFach Japan: 21-23 September 2006
BioFach America: 5-7 October 2006

Contact for exhibitors: 
Till Ahnert
Nürnberg Global Fairs
Messezentrum
90471 Nürnberg
Germany
Tel +49 (0) 9 11. 86 06-86 92
 till.ahnert@nuernbergglobalfairs.com

Latin America consultant:
Udo Censkowsky
Landsberger Str. 527
82141 München
Germany
Tel  +49 (0) 89. 82 07 59 02
 u.censkowsky@organic-services.com
 
Press and media contact:
Karin Heinze
Auguste-Viktoria-Straße 4
61231 Bad Nauheim
Germany
Tel  +49 (0) 60 32. 91 86 17
 kh@bio-markt.info