First published in International Aquafeed, May-June 2015
Aquatic was one of the Special Events at VIV Asia 2015, held from March 11 – 13 2015, in Bangkok, Thailand. This was a special event for the aquaculture sector and featured several companies at the forefront of sustainable fish and shrimp farming.
The dedicated pavilion in the Welcome Hall of the BITEC exhibition venue, put companies active in aquaculture in the spotlight.
The co-organised conference featured topical presentations from parties like Bayer, Addcon and Blue Aqua.
The commitment demonstrated by VIV to aquaculture is a timely one. Aquaculture is now the fastest growing animal based food industry and over half of the seafood eaten in the US is farmed.
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Blue Aqua International sponsored a one-day conference entitled ‘Advanced Shrimp Farming’ which was held on March 11, 2015. Dr Farshad Shishehchian (President, Blue Aqua International and World Aquaculture Society – APC President) gave a presentation and chaired the event’s final closing remarks.
Vincent Veelbehr (Sales Manager, VIV) was responsible for organising the Aquatic Pavilion that focussed upon how consumer demand drives sustainable aquaculture. Following the event we spoke with him about his role at VIV and how he envisages aquaculture growing at future VIV worldwide events.
Tell us a little bit about your background in organising exhibitions and how your previous roles have helped you?
My first experience with organising exhibitions has been at VIV Worldwide. I started working at VIV in 2013. Since then, I have been involved in several VIV exhibitions: VIV Asia, VIV China and VIV Europe.
My focus has always been very international. For that reason, I studied Economics and International Management in Utrecht. After graduation, I started an MBA study in Buenos Aires. I returned to the Netherlands to work as a sales manager in the international recruitment market, after which I started working for VIV Worldwide. My international background gives me the ability to connect businesses with markets.
Given the success of Aquatic Asia at the show in Bangkok, does this mean VIV have a firm commitment to aquaculture in the future?
VIV is the global brand of trade shows, conferences and events based on the 'Feed to Meat' supply chain. The multi-specie event includes the sectors of Poultry, Pig, Cattle and Calves and Aquaculture. VIV is set up according to the Feed to Meat concept, which involves all sectors in the animal protein production chain.
As a result, VIV events are platforms where all participants in meat production can work together to provide the guarantees consumers are demanding.
Aquaculture is becoming a more and more important part of our exhibitions. Aquatic Asia started in 2011. It has grown to become one of the main sectors of VIV Asia 2015. Our Aquatic events emphasise on the potential for aquaculture to continue to grow regionally and globally in supplying protein to feed the world’s growing human population. Therefore, I can certainly confirm we have a firm commitment to aquaculture.
We know that VIV Asia has traditionally focused on intensive livestock production (pigs, poultry, ruminants), specifically for aquaculture, how many participants were there, and from how many countries?
VIV Asia 2015 counted over 860 exhibitors, from which 65 exhibitors stated they were active in the Aquaculture sector. Of these 65 exhibitors 21 were positioned in the Aquatic Pavilion located in the Welcome Hall. During VIV Asia we welcomed 38,422 visitors from 124 different countries. 19.2 percent indicated that they were interested in Aquatic.
At this year’s Aquatic Asia a one-day seminar was held by the company Addcon regarding the topic, 'Safe Fish'. Blue Aqua held a conference regarding 'Advanced shrimp farming'. Do you plan to have an independent conference as was held in Aquatic China?
After the success of the Aquatic China 2014 and Asia 2015 conferences, we will organise an Aquatic China conference during VIV China 2016. This conference will be organised in cooperation with Perendale’s International Aqua Feed specialists (publishers of International Aquafeed Magazine). At the moment we are working on the program.
How do you envisage Aquatic Asia will grow when VIV Asia is held again in Bangkok in 2017?
In 2015, the demand for exhibition space in the Aquatic Pavilion exceeded the available space. Therefore, in 2017 the Aquatic pavilion will be located in one of the main halls instead of a separate hall. I also expect more multi-specie companies to focus on Aquatic in the next event. During VIV Asia 2015, there was great interest in aquatic conferences, not only the ones we organised ourselves, but also for the aquatic conferences organised by companies. We will develop a new and even broader conference program for 2017.
Read the magazine HERE.
Aquatic was one of the Special Events at VIV Asia 2015, held from March 11 – 13 2015, in Bangkok, Thailand. This was a special event for the aquaculture sector and featured several companies at the forefront of sustainable fish and shrimp farming.
The dedicated pavilion in the Welcome Hall of the BITEC exhibition venue, put companies active in aquaculture in the spotlight.
The co-organised conference featured topical presentations from parties like Bayer, Addcon and Blue Aqua.
The commitment demonstrated by VIV to aquaculture is a timely one. Aquaculture is now the fastest growing animal based food industry and over half of the seafood eaten in the US is farmed.
Blue Aqua International sponsored a one-day conference entitled ‘Advanced Shrimp Farming’ which was held on March 11, 2015. Dr Farshad Shishehchian (President, Blue Aqua International and World Aquaculture Society – APC President) gave a presentation and chaired the event’s final closing remarks.
Vincent Veelbehr (Sales Manager, VIV) was responsible for organising the Aquatic Pavilion that focussed upon how consumer demand drives sustainable aquaculture. Following the event we spoke with him about his role at VIV and how he envisages aquaculture growing at future VIV worldwide events.
Tell us a little bit about your background in organising exhibitions and how your previous roles have helped you?
My first experience with organising exhibitions has been at VIV Worldwide. I started working at VIV in 2013. Since then, I have been involved in several VIV exhibitions: VIV Asia, VIV China and VIV Europe.
My focus has always been very international. For that reason, I studied Economics and International Management in Utrecht. After graduation, I started an MBA study in Buenos Aires. I returned to the Netherlands to work as a sales manager in the international recruitment market, after which I started working for VIV Worldwide. My international background gives me the ability to connect businesses with markets.
Given the success of Aquatic Asia at the show in Bangkok, does this mean VIV have a firm commitment to aquaculture in the future?
VIV is the global brand of trade shows, conferences and events based on the 'Feed to Meat' supply chain. The multi-specie event includes the sectors of Poultry, Pig, Cattle and Calves and Aquaculture. VIV is set up according to the Feed to Meat concept, which involves all sectors in the animal protein production chain.
As a result, VIV events are platforms where all participants in meat production can work together to provide the guarantees consumers are demanding.
Aquaculture is becoming a more and more important part of our exhibitions. Aquatic Asia started in 2011. It has grown to become one of the main sectors of VIV Asia 2015. Our Aquatic events emphasise on the potential for aquaculture to continue to grow regionally and globally in supplying protein to feed the world’s growing human population. Therefore, I can certainly confirm we have a firm commitment to aquaculture.
We know that VIV Asia has traditionally focused on intensive livestock production (pigs, poultry, ruminants), specifically for aquaculture, how many participants were there, and from how many countries?
VIV Asia 2015 counted over 860 exhibitors, from which 65 exhibitors stated they were active in the Aquaculture sector. Of these 65 exhibitors 21 were positioned in the Aquatic Pavilion located in the Welcome Hall. During VIV Asia we welcomed 38,422 visitors from 124 different countries. 19.2 percent indicated that they were interested in Aquatic.
At this year’s Aquatic Asia a one-day seminar was held by the company Addcon regarding the topic, 'Safe Fish'. Blue Aqua held a conference regarding 'Advanced shrimp farming'. Do you plan to have an independent conference as was held in Aquatic China?
After the success of the Aquatic China 2014 and Asia 2015 conferences, we will organise an Aquatic China conference during VIV China 2016. This conference will be organised in cooperation with Perendale’s International Aqua Feed specialists (publishers of International Aquafeed Magazine). At the moment we are working on the program.
How do you envisage Aquatic Asia will grow when VIV Asia is held again in Bangkok in 2017?
In 2015, the demand for exhibition space in the Aquatic Pavilion exceeded the available space. Therefore, in 2017 the Aquatic pavilion will be located in one of the main halls instead of a separate hall. I also expect more multi-specie companies to focus on Aquatic in the next event. During VIV Asia 2015, there was great interest in aquatic conferences, not only the ones we organised ourselves, but also for the aquatic conferences organised by companies. We will develop a new and even broader conference program for 2017.
Read the magazine HERE.
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This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd
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