Only two weeks to go before VIV Europe opens its doors from 20 to 22 April at the Jaarbeurs Exhibition Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands. Over 570 exhibitors from 39 countries covering 25,187 square metres booked their stand at the international platform for innovations in the animal protein industry. This means over 25,000 square metres full of innovations!

Exhibitor Innovations presented at VIV Europe

Many companies have chosen VIV Europe as the international platform to introduce their innovations to the world. A small selection of innovations that will be presented during VIV Europe have been listed here below.

Intracare has obtained a full biocidal product registration from the CTGB for its drinking system cleaner Intra Hydrocare. The product is now registered for use in all categories: PT2 (private or medical sector), PT3 (veterinary sector) and PT4 (feed sector). Intra Hydrocare easily cleans the complete watering system, both during and after the production period. The unique extensive registration makes Intra Hydrocare a novelty on VIV Europe.

Dutch company, ITB Companies, will launch its new GETS-System at VIV Europe. The system is especially designed for use in combination with heat pumps for an even better performance. Combining both technologies will give a significant reduction (52%) of the energy consumption in most livestock buildings and contributes to an improved animal health.

Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP), Ukraine's leading agro-industrial company, and HatchTech Incubation Technology, have signed an agreement for the installation of the world's largest hatchery operation. The project is a part of the company's expansion project called Vinnytsya Poultry Farm. The new hatchery will hatch approximately six million day-old chicks per week.

Visitor registration is in full swing

Background information of the pre-registered visitors points out that more than 40 per cent of the visitors are decision-makers. According to interest, pre-registered visitors are interested in all parts of the animal supply chain although a great amount of visitors has an interest in feed ingredients, additives, raw materials, animal health and farm equipment. More than 14 per cent of the respondents has the intention to invest between €100,000 and €500,000, more then 11 per cent have the intention to invest between €500,000 and €1 million, and more than 10 per cent intend to invest even more.

Visitors are mainly interested in the following segments: roughage/forage: harvesting/storage/handling; industrial feed processing equipment and supplies; feed ingredients, additives, raw materials; animal health; feed; animal breeding; farm equipment; slaughter equipment/egg handling/milking equipment; meat/egg/dairy/fish processing/packing/handling; meat/dairy/egg, fish ingredients; and meat/egg/dairy/fish products.

Innovative content

Among the many activities taking place at VIV Europe, the high quality Conference programme takes a central role.

The Opening Ceremony, led by chairman Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen (chairman of the executive board of Wageningen UR) will contain three lectures. Professor John Hodges, animal geneticist, will give a lecture on 'Sustainable Agriculture and Food: The Foundation of Quality Life'. This will be followed by a lecture on 'Global investments in the animal protein sector' by Dirk Jan Kennes, Director Research, Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory at the Rabobank. The third lecture will be given by Gerda Verburg, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands.

The opening ceremony will include the Personality Awards. The International Pig Topics/VIV European Pig Personality Award will be presented to an individual who is a personality that has given 'over and above the call of duty' to the European pig sector. The International Poultry Production/VIV European Poultry Personality and the International Hatchery Practice/VIV Poultry Breeder Personality Awards are presented to individuals who are personalities that have given similar exceptional service to the European poultry sector.

The Meat Safety Conference, made possible by Positive Action Publications and VIV, will be held in the Irene Conference Room on Tuesday 20 April and Wednesday 21 April. The topics that will be discussed in the six lectures on Tuesday from 13.00–16.30 hrs. are on farming, breeding and nutrition. On Wednesday, the conference will commence at 10.00 hrs, carrying on until 17.30 hrs and cover the topics of slaughter & processing, retailing/consumer, measuring & monitoring, and opportunities & threats.

The Eggs! Conference, a collaboration between Watt Publishing and VIV, will take place at the Eggs! Pavilion in hall 7 on Tuesday 20 April and Wednesday 21 April. The Conference, led by chairman Dr Simon Shane of the North Carolina State University, will start on Tuesday 13.00 hrs. with presentations on breeder management and incubation & hatching. On the second day, the conference will continue with incubation & hatching, followed by day-old chicks/rearing, laying, egg handling, egg processing and the conference will end with a summary and future vision by Dr Shane.

In addition, technical sessions will be given by exhibiting companies. These technical sessions cover topics such as feed ingredients, animal health, farm equipment and other parts of the meat supply chain. The technical sessions take place on 20 and 21 April.

Matchmaking

New at VIV Europe is the matchmaking event. Enterprise Europe Network Nederland offers a unique platform for companies to meet new business and co-operation partners and share innovative technologies. Companies can request pre-arranged B2B-meetings according to their time schedule and co-operation interests. This matchmaking event will take place on 20 and 21 April at VIV Europe. Participation is free of charge.

International delegations present at VIV Europe

For three days, the innovative platform VIV Europe will be the meeting place for nationalities from all over the world. Delegations from countries including Mexico, Russia, Korea and Iran will visit VIV Europe. Spain, France and China have created special country pavilions.

A winning element

At VIV Europe, attendees will have the chance to win a free flight or hotel accommodation for VIV China 2010. VIV China and Orient Explorer Group have joined together to make a visit to VIV China 2010 trouble-free. VIV China 2010 takes place in Beijing on 6 to 8 September 2010.

The Internet Cafe at VIV Europe is being sponsored by AnimalProtein.net. Registering for the monthly E-newsletter at the Internet cafe will give you the chance to win an iPod touch. At the same location, you will be guided through AnimalProtein.net, the online match-making tool for the worldwide markets for animal production and processing.

For more information on VIV Europe 2010, click here.