The Port of Tarragona consolidates its leadership in the agri-food sector with the organisation of the second International Agri-food Congress

The congress, which will be held on 10 and 11 May in Tinglado 1 on the Costa Wharf, is led by the Port and the State Ports Authority

Port of Tarragona president, Josep Andreu, and the president of the State Ports Authority, José Llorca, have today announced the second edition of the International Agri-food Congress, a biannual event organised by the two institutions to be held on 10 and 11 May in Tinglado 1 on the Costa Wharf. It is a benchmark international event that was first organised in response to the demand from the sector for a meeting-forum in which to exchange knowledge and information, without losing sight of its commercial nature.

This biannual congress serves as a forum in which to debate different subjects, ranging from the production of raw materials to their supply, transport, logistics, livestock production and the end consumer. One of the objectives of the congress is to foster networking among all the relevant actors in the sector to reinforce commercial relations.

This new edition maintains the same format as the first, with a day and a half of talks on subjects of concern to the sector. The programme will deal with world agricultural production and stockbreeding as the first link in the food chain, including the new CAP, the markets and the competitiveness of our livestock. It will also devote special attention to animal nutrition and its strategies to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production in the circular economy of the agri-food sector.

The organisers consider it important to place special emphasis on the tendencies of the end consumer and the new forms of communication, as well as efficient and sustainable logistics.

Work is currently ongoing to finalise all the speakers, experts in each of the subjects to be debated who will share their theories with the whole sector during the congress. The programme will be complemented with time for exchanging information and networking among all the actors.

This meeting will bring together the most important businesses in the agri-food sector (stevedoring companies, shipping agents, importers, feed manufacturers, shippers, etc.).

Tarragona, leader in the agri-food sector

The Port of Tarragona is the leader in agri-food products in the Mediterranean, handling nearly 5 million tons annually, as well as the leading port in Spain in handling cereals, flours and animal feed. That makes it the best setting for this congress. According to the Port president, Josep Andreu, “in every logistics chain, the supply of agri-food raw materials is a decisive factor for the competitiveness of the sector and the Port of Tarragona has become a strategic link in that chain”.

The president of the State Ports Authority, José Llorca, noted that “as well as the importance of the Port of Tarragona in terms of the volume of agri-food products it handles, it can be emphasised that it is the top port in the country in the number of cattle exported. That is why we believe the best place to hold the Agri-Food Congress is Tarragona”.

During the presentation of the congress, the Port of Tarragona’s marketing director, Genoveva Climent, presented the Agri-Food 2018 website.

Data from Catalonia and Spain

The meat-producing sector, especially swine production, is one of the most important in the EU. In world swine production terms, Spain is in fourth position, after China, the United States and Germany.

In terms of meat exports, Spain is in second place in the EU. Catalonia leads the Spanish production, accounting for more than 42% of the total production and, together with Aragón, produces on average more than 8 million animals for meat every year.

To supply the whole livestock industry, a total of 31 million tons of feed is produced annually and Spain is the second largest producer of compound animal feed in the EU. Catalonia, together with Aragon, leads the national production in this sector.