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| A Taste of New Food and Beverage Trends Africa’s Big Seven Expo The solid growth in the primary agricultural sector over the past four decades has brought with it both challenges and opportunities. Agriculture has grown by an average of 11.8% per annum since 1970, with the value of commercial agricultural production in South Africa estimated at R98 billion in 2007. As the food and beverage sectors continue to grow, so to do the issues around food and beverages, in particular safety and quality. A number of these issues will be highlighted at the Food and Beverage Conference which takes place as part of Africa's Big Seven from 19 to 21 July 2009 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Genetically Modified Organisms Despite the current downturn in the economy, the volume of food and drink sales remain stable – and this is unlikely to change. But newer technologies and developments such as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), food safety and food quality are becoming increasingly important. The Food & Beverage Conference will address a number of trends, technologies and challenges. The term genetic modification is described as a set of technologies designed to alter the genetic make-up of organisms such as plants to increase maturation rates and quality of nutrition. South Africa has become a leader in the use of GMO technology, and in 2004 passed legislation to regulate GMO use. But while a handful of other African countries - including Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania - are looking at creating new laws to allow planting of GMO crops, many others ban or strictly control imports. Traders say South Africa's GMO status has made it more difficult to shift products – for example its three million tonne maize surplus. Food Safety As we approach the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup, the safety and quality of food is rising in importance. Lynn la Grange, Manager: Food and Health Certification at SABS Commercial will be talking on "Critically analysing the potential benefits of the process-based approach to conducting audits in your organisation". Lynn highlights a number of food scares in recent years that South Africa has had to deal with. 600 children were poisoned in 1999 at the opening of the All Africa Games. In March 2002 the Gauteng Health Department urgently recalled the Budget Beater (pilchards in tomato) from the market. The Sudan Red food scare story broke on 20 March 2005. Immediately after the news was published, all major supermarket chains removed foods that tested positive. South Africa cannot afford to be lax on food safety and quality. During the 64 scheduled matches with an average of 42, 500 spectators per match, 14 million litres of beverages will be consumed. In addition the fans will consume 116.5 tons of cereals, 93.2 tons of bread, 69.9 tons of bacon, 4.7 million eggs, 311 777 litres of milk – not to mention burgers, pies and snacks. She asks: "Will local producers be able to cope with the demand? Will the suppliers manage to keep these vast amounts of food safe and free from spoiling?" Lynn advocates a process-based approach to conducting audits within organisations. By conducting regular audits and focusing on the manufacturing process, organisations can ensure the highest quality products and provide a means for measuring the losses occurred. The latest technological developments and how they can assist in improving the safety and quality of all products will be addressed by Andrew Murray of Andrew Murray Consulting. A food processing consulting engineer, Murray has been outspoken about the low standard of equipment used in many South African food-processing factories. Putting more strain on the industry are recent developments such as increased globalisation and the consumer lifestyle move to eating away from home, as well as the increase in food-borne diseases. Consequently, engineers are having to pay more attention to hygiene design. Africa's Big Seven (AB7) Expo is the largest event of its kind in Africa. It's the only expo on the continent that provides a platform and facilitates wide-ranging business opportunities, networking possibilities and the chance to gain international recognition for your goods and services", says John Thomson, Managing Director of EMS. The event showcases products and services from fresh and produced foods to speciality foods and beverages, from export to import, as well as retail manufacturing processes. The seven co-located events to be found at AB7 are Agri-Food - Manufacturers & Producers Expo; Pan Africa Retail Trade exhibition; FoodTech Africa - International Food & Beverage Trade Fair; Interbake Africa – Baking Ingredients, Processes and Equipment; IFMA - International Fair for the Meat Industries of Africa, FoodBiz – Food, Service & Equipment; and, and Retail Solutions. The event is supported and endorsed by the South African National Halaal Authority and Halaal World. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page |