Agenda
08:30
08:30 | Women in Food & Agriculture: Europe
Through dynamic panels, inspiring speakers, and interactive sessions, our attendees delve into key issues facing the agri-food supply chain and empower attendees to drive meaningful progress within their organizations and communities.
Whether you’re a seasoned industry leader, a rising professional, or an enthusiastic student, WFA: Europe offers unparalleled opportunities to network, learn, and collaborate. From thought-provoking discussions on a sustainable workforce to practical workshops on leadership and career development, there’s something for everyone at this WFA.
Currently, we are providing Agri-Food Europe attendees with a complimentary ticket to attend WFA in Amsterdam for themselves or a colleague. For more information on this year’s Women in Food & Agriculture event, please visit our website.
16:00
16:00 | Expana price reporting methodologies workshop
Join us for this interactive workshop to hear about the IOSCO complaint, Expana on their price reporting methodologies. Learn from the analysts tracking commodity pricing, about what their process entails and better understand how prices are changing.
16:00 | Evolving challenges in animal production and the critical role of feed
Animal protein producers are currently facing mounting challenges, including new cases of livestock diseases, increasing production costs, and growing consumer demand for sustainable practices.
In this interactive, hour-long session led by EW Nutrition, attendees will explore these pressing issues, discuss practical solutions to apply to their own operations, and gain insights into the current state of the industry and ideas to optimise livestock production.
17:00
17:00 | Opening networking party
Meet your fellow attendees and speakers at this opening event. Join suppliers, producers, buyers and sellers to develop existing relationships and meet new contacts your next business contact could be a handshake away.
08:30
08:30 | Registration opens
09:30
09:30 | Chair’s opening remarks
09:40
09:40 | Major trends in agrifood: What lies ahead for the food industry?
Gain in-depth insight into new trends in the food and agriculture sector and what we can expect next. With a growing population and sector disruptors on the horizon, this session will provide information you can use to prepare for the next decade and beyond.
- Potential disruptors set to impact the food industry
- Advancing technology – its uses and threats
- Emerging consumer markets and demands
- Innovative agri-food products we could see growing in reach
10:15
10:15 | Fireside chat: Driving innovation today: Strategies from a leading restaurant CEO
In this session, a CEO of a leading restaurant chain will share insights into the challenges faced by the food industry today.
From navigating inflation and supply chain disruptions to embracing sustainability and tech innovation, this conversation will give attendees a glimpse into what it takes to lead a company in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, as well as insight into their career challenges and advice to progress. The session will also look forward, discussing trends and disruptions that are poised to shape the future of the food and agriculture sector.
10:45
10:45 | Macroeconomic forecasting: What will happen to the global economy?
With war in Europe, inflation across the globe and many major political elections in 2024, there was no shortage of global economic factors that have left those in the food and agriculture sector wondering how that will affect their day-to-day business. Featuring an Expana economist and forecaster, this presentation will offer you information on what we can expect next in the global macroeconomy so you can prepare for the market disruptors on the horizon.
- How the state of the economy has affected food buyers and sellers
- Rising inflation and what this means for the business of food
- Fluctuating interest rates and the impact of this
- Currency exchange rates and their effect on purchasing
- Utilising the PMI insight for decision-making
11:20
11:20 | Networking break
12:00
12:00 | Geopolitical scenario planning roundtables: : The ‘What if…’ sessions
Choose one of the below topics to discuss as part of this interactive roundtable session focused on potential world events and how these could impact your role in the food industry. Share ideas and network with others while developing your planning skills to manage challenging scenarios that could occur. Session topics to include:
- What would happen to agri-food markets if China no longer needed European imports?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if Russia’s war in Ukraine lasts another 2 years?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if the global temperature increases 3 degrees?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if the EU were to be dissolved?
- What would happen to agri-food markets if war spreads across the middle east?
Session titles subject to change to reflect the shifting geopolitical situation
13:15
13:15 | Networking Lunch
14:20
14:20 | Consumer analysis: What will people want?
This presentation from a consumer expert will showcase the trends that consumers are following at the grocery store and restaurant counter. Topics to be touched on include:
- Consumer trends and how they are changing.
- What are the major factors consumers consider when shopping?
- What items are trending upwards and why?
- Analysis for different demographics.
- Shifts we could see emerging over the coming months
14:20 | Global markets and stressors: How will these affect the food sector?
Factors including weather, energy costs and freight expenses are dramatically influencing agri-food prices around the world. This session will offer market analysis and forecasting for a number of key market stressors to provide you with insight into how agri-food prices and availability could change in 2025/26. Factors to be addressed include:
- Energy and gas markets
- Freight costs
- Packaging costs
- Weather
14:50
14:50 | Fireside chat: The supplier management hot seat
This on-stage interview with an industry stakeholder and an independent supplier management expert in the industry, will pull back the curtain on the secrets to building and maintaining strong supplier relationships that drive mutual success.
Topics include:
- Best practices to transform supplier relationships.
- How to get the most out of your supplier.
- What suppliers need the most from their buyers to forge good business relations.
- Common pitfalls suppliers encounter and how buyers can bridge gaps for smoother collaborations
- The future of supplier management
14:50 | Restaurant, retailer & food service buyers panel: What food buyers need from suppliers
Bringing together views of senior procurement professionals from different food organisations, gain a picture of what buyers are currently facing and what they require from suppliers, to develop and future-proof your own strategies. Topics to be discussed include:
- The biggest challenges facing procurement professionals in the food industry
- What senior procurement experts need most from their suppliers
- How best to develop healthy relationships with suppliers
15:30
15:30 | Networking break
16:00
16:00 | Megatrends in Agri-Food Procurement: Are You Ready for What’s Coming?
The agri-food sector is facing an unprecedented storm. Spiraling prices, supply shortages, and shifting consumer expectations are forcing buyers and sellers to rethink their short and long term strategies.
From the rise of AI to the growing demand for ethical sourcing, these megatrends are reshaping our sector. Learn how to navigate the turbulence and secure your place in this rapidly evolving landscape.
16:30
16:30 | Leadership in the agrifood industry: Tips from the top
This session will feature a candid interview with a food industry leader, offering attendees the opportunity to learn from their wealth of experience and apply lessons to their own roles.
Through reflection on past challenges, attendees will hear how the leader navigated industry transformations, managed crises, and predicted market disruptors, as well as their views on what is to come next from the agri-food sector. The session will focus on timeless leadership qualities, strategic foresight, and lessons that still hold value in today’s rapidly evolving food and agriculture sector.
18:00
18:00 | The Agri-Food Europe networking party
After a day of educational market intel, relax with a night of networking with colleagues from across the supply chain.
08:00
08:00 | Registration opens
08:45
08:45 | Animal product markets- Chair’s opening remarks
08:45 | Tropical softs markets- Chair’s opening remarks
08:45 | Grains, oilseeds & animal feed markets- Chair’s opening remarks
08:55
08:55 | Panel: Overcoming animal product supply chain challenges
- How leaders approached the biggest challenges in 2024.
- How to tackle sustainability issues in supply chains.
- Strategies to create more robust value chains.
- How to best navigate supply chain disruptions.
08:55 | Panel: Building resilience in softs markets
- How stakeholders overcame the biggest challenges in 2024.
- Strategies for dealing with fluctuating markets.
- Sustainability pressures and how to best address these.
- Creating more resilient supply chains.
- How to work-around market disruption.
08:55 | Panel: Supply chain challenges in grains, oilseed and feed markets
- The biggest challenges in 2024 and how these were tackled.
- Strategies to mitigate effects of geopolitical events.
- Implementing sustainability legislation including incoming anti-deforestation regulations.
- How to develop robust supply chains.
- Overcoming market disruption challenges.
09:40
09:40 | Egg market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- The impact of avian diseases on the sector.
- Sustainability and welfare legislation: what that means for supply chains.
09:40 | Cocoa market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- How global weather patterns are impacting production.
- Import and export data.
- The effects of sustainability and ethical sourcing legislation on the supply chain.
09:40 | Grains market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Import and export data.
- Production figures for key regions.
- How weather patterns may impact production over the coming months.
09:40 | Unlocking the future of agrifood insights – Expana product update
Join us for an exclusive deep dive into the next evolution of the Expana platform. This session is designed to give a first look at the latest platform, providing you with the tools and insights to stay ahead of market trends and make smarter commercial decisions.
Whether you’re a long-time Expana user or just curious about the future of data-driven decision-making in the agri-food sector, attend to to elevate your strategy and discover how Expana can help transform your approach to market insights.
10:15
10:15 | Networking break
10:45
10:45 | Dairy market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Environmental and welfare regulation and their impact on the sector.
- Analysis of dairy alternatives – do they pose a threat?
10:45 | Coffee market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Global import and export figures.
- Weather insight and how this could affect production.
- How ethical sourcing and sustainability commitments are affecting value chains.
10:45 | Amino acids, vitamins and minerals analysis
This session will address events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, global supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for.
11:20
11:20 | Poultry, beef and pork market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Livestock diseases and how they are disrupting the sector.
- The impact of sustainability and welfare legislation.
- Global poultry, pork and beef production.
- Import and export data.
11:20 | Sugar market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Global weather patterns and their effect on sugar production.
- Import and export figures.
- The impact of sustainability legislation and ethical sourcing.
11:20 | Oilseeds and oils market analysis
Aside from events and disruptors affecting the market, in depth pricing analysis, supply and demand figures and key factors to watch out for the session will include:
- Weather data and the impact of this on production.
- Import and export data for different commodities.
- Production intelligence across different regions.
12:00
12:00 | Networking Lunch
13:15
13:15 | Forecasting session: Where can we expect prices to go next?
Part 1: How to forecast food commodity prices
- Understanding how to price forecast.
- Forecasting different commodity prices for the upcoming months – reviewing key markets.
- Market events could cause shifts in the future.
Part 2: Ask me anything – A dive into Expana forecasting
Driven by audience questions and interests the forecasting team will talk through what to expect from commodity markets that are of interest to attendees.
14:00
14:00 | Financial risk management panel: Best practices in agrifood
Identifying risk and making educated transaction decisions is a key principle in the food industry. This panel featuring risk management experts who will analyse:
- Best practices when applying risk management principles.
- Optimal tools and resources.
- How to best manage market position and build futures contracts.
- Case studies on effective decision making.
14:40
14:40 | Artificial intelligence: Will we still have jobs in 10 Years?
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic across the food and agriculture sector because of its ability to enhance our everyday duties while als6o potentially offering ethical and legislative challenges. Many in the buying and selling space are curious as to how this could affect their decisions and jobs over the coming years and this presentation will offer opinions on this. Questions to be answered include:
- How will buying and selling benefit from AI?
- Are there AI tools currently available that enhance buying and selling?
- Could these tools replace procurement and supplier teams?
- What conflicts could arise from the use of AI when purchasing?
15:15
15:15 | Chair’s closing remarks and end of event
08:30
08:30 | Registration & networking
09:15
09:15 | Chair’s opening remarks
09:30
09:30 | Opening keynote address
Overcoming adversity – Stories from an inspirational leader in food and ag
Listen to a motivating speech from an inspiring leader from the food and agriculture sector to gain a different perspective into their career and how they have tackled challenges. Be entertained and gain learnings to apply to your own work and home life.
10:15
10:15 | Panel discussion: The future of work and how we adapt to this
- What will a job and career in food and agriculture look like in the future? What will future generations want from their careers?
- Preparing for upcoming shifts in the professional sphere and the changing nature of the workplace
- The importance of considering diverse age groups in the workforce
- Moving towards an ageing workforce and how we adopt strategies to support them
- Discussing successful case studies including apprenticeship programs, and international recruitment efforts to address workforce gaps
11:05
11:05 | Networking break
11:35
11:35 | How to communicate effectively: Storytelling, persuasion and negotiation
- Communication and storytelling as leadership tools in the food and ag sector
- Adopting communication strategies and storytelling methods to successfully convey your message
- Tailoring your communication style to meet the needs of the situation to build rapport and trust
- Developing compelling writing and speaking skills to be more persuasive and engage key stakeholders
- Improving negotiation skills and create a foundation for strong professional relationships
- Resolving conflicts and achieving win-win solutions
12:10
12:10 | Best practice panel: Driving inclusivity through successful leadership
- Case studies on effective inclusive leadership in the food and agriculture sector
- How to build up the next generation of female leaders
- How to demonstrate ROI and convince your senior leadership that D&I pays
- Being a successful mentor to others, officially and unofficially
- How to build stronger emotional connections
- Successful initiatives to champion internal talent development and support long-term employee growth and satisfaction
01:00
01:00 | Networking lunch
02:00
02:00 | Interactive skills workshops- Managing difficult conversations
Examine the dynamics of effective problem-solving, one-on-one interviews, and advocating for yourself.
Learn how to initiate and have tricky conversations that lead to resolutions and behavioral change.
02:00 | Interactive skills workshops- How to build your executive presence and personal brand
Reflect on your passions and contributions to your business to develop an authentic brand.
Understand your strengths to inspire confidence, engage with your team, and demonstrate competence as a leader
02:00 | Interactive skills workshops- Navigating new connections with confidence
Practice networking to establish strong communities to support yourself, your peers, and the next generation of women in food and agriculture.
Gain personal confidence networking to achieve your personal or business goals
02:00 | Interactive skills workshops- Strategies to combat burnout, support mental health, and improve your work-life balance
Hear best practices and personal experiences to combat burnout and navigate a better work life balance.
Learn how to better manage stress and create sustained personal growth
02:00 | Interactive skills workshops- Overcoming barriers as women in buying, selling and supply chain roles
Discussing barriers to career progression and sharing experiences and advice as female executives in supply chain, procurement, and commercial roles.
Gain tools unique to this career path to empower your career in sales and logistics
03:15
03:15 | Networking break
03:35
03:35 | Early careers- Leadership coaching: Navigating the paths to becoming an effective leader in food and ag
- The challenges for women to overcome developing their careers in a male dominated environment
- Assessing different leadership styles
- How women can rise to leadership roles while staying true to themselves
- Building alliances and managing up to increase your visibility within the organization for future career progression
- Proactive engagement and goalsetting strategies for your personal development
03:35 | Senior Careers- Leadership coaching: Navigating the paths to becoming an effective leader in food and ag
- The challenges for women to overcome developing their careers in a male dominated environment
- Assessing different leadership styles
- Leading authentically in a professional setting
- Effective leadership in turbulent times
- Learn how to develop creative and sustainable strategies to support your teams
04:20
04:20 | Looking ahead to 2035: The future of food and agriculture
- How the landscape of food and ag will change over the next 10 years
- How are companies integrating sustainability objectives and climate resilience into their long-term strategic planning?
- Women-led initiatives in sustainable agriculture from across the world
- Implementing a future-proofed social impact and equity strategy
- Preparing for 2026 and beyond