Utrecht in the Netherlands boasts a proud history of hosting exhibitions to welcome and inform feed industry executives from around the world. The sequence has been broken in recent years, but now Utrecht is preparing to take on the role once again - when the VIV Europe 2014 world expo for poultry and livestock husbandry and processing takes place in the city between Tuesday 20 May and Thursday 22 May.

Feed forms a focal point of VIV Europe 2014, exhibition manager, Ruwan Berculo, has confirmed. International developments in the composition and manufacturing of feeds will feature strongly on the agenda.

Mr Berculo said: “We always cover the agribusiness spectrum from feed to meat in every VIV event. But Utrecht in May will underline the feed aspect in several ways. For example, when our visitors arrive at the show they will find that a hall near to the main entrance contains displays by all the leading suppliers of feed manufacturing technology as well as for companies marketing ingredients and additives. A second hall only about a minute away on foot will have more nutritional products on show."

“By our preliminary calculation there will be more than 40 exhibitors with machinery or equipment for feed mills. In addition to that, about 15 companies supplying feed manufacturing systems will be represented on the stands forming a special CropTech-FeedTech pavilion.”

He also explains that a debate on digital engineering at the heart of feed production has been arranged for the CropTech-FeedTech conference taking place on Wednesday 21 May. Before the conference launches, an open discussion involving all of the participants, it will begin with short presentations on the digital engineering theme by six global suppliers who will address automation in all parts of the feed manufacturing chain, from mixing and conveying to pelleting and extrusion.

“Their comments are sure to be highly relevant to the profitability and competitiveness of every feed manufacturer, by offering a view of how automation can be extended further into the processes of the mill,” Mr Berculo continued. “Everyone in the feed business can gain from the knowledge transfer sessions available to our visitors as well as from seeing the displays of our exhibitors.

“It is something that we have emphasised repeatedly in the series of VIV Europe Roadshows which we have been taking around the world to promote the 2014 event. The people attending these Roadshows have included the directors and managers of feed manufacturing companies. They have made clear that they plan to attend the show in May because of its strong feed 'flavour' and it is being held in Utrecht, their favourite place for a professional business show!”