AGRIBEX exceeds expectations

AGRIBEX 2023 has come to an end. The 72nd edition, which took place again at Brussels Expo after being canceled in 2021 due to Covid, exceeded the organizers' expectations. That is the unanimous opinion. Fedagrim chairman Johan Colpaert indicates that the federation had started this edition with some concern. "We were coming out of a very difficult period with the cancellation of the previous fair and organized this edition during particularly uncertain times for agriculture. But now, on the last day, we can safely say that our concerns were not entirely justified. AGRIBEX is here to stay. The fair is of great value and deserves its place in the landscape. It is also clear that, unlike large public fairs, the agricultural fair remains a must for visitors and exhibitors as a trade fair. What we are seeing today is that AGRIBEX has become even more professional. The quality of the visitors was particularly high, as was their interest. Whether this will actually lead to sales remains to be seen in the coming months."

The sector that has been most affected is livestock farming. Frederick Audenaert, responsible for stable construction and stable equipment at Fedagrim, indicates that the uncertainty has certainly had an impact. "You can feel it in the atmosphere at the fair. But I must admit that there was a slightly positive atmosphere. The fair was dominated by hope, and you could feel that. People are asking questions, but they are not giving up immediately. There is and remains an ambition to push agriculture in a new direction, but to do so, we want to be able to influence policy. At the opening, our chairman called for a stable legal framework. That is what we need to achieve. It is important that we get clarity about the limits that are imposed. Then we can research, invest, and take on the challenges that lie ahead. Today, that is difficult. As a federation, we therefore want to enter into dialogue with policymakers, as our chairman has also indicated."

The dealers are pleasantly surprised. Jos Lowette: "The visitors are much more professional and have very specific questions. What strikes us is that viticulture is on the rise. You can sense that farmers are also reorienting themselves." Joost Vandesteene shares this positive experience but also wants to wait for the sales figures. The days when contractors or farmers shopped around between exhibitors to get the cheapest quote are over. AGRIBEX is a sales fair, but we are not writing any concrete receipts today. We are making agreements and we now have to follow up on them. But it is clear to me that agriculture fulfills a primary task, namely food supply. Without agriculture, there would be no food on the table. And without machines, agriculture would no longer be possible."

The fact that the fair has been shortened by one day has had an impact on visitor numbers. According to fair chairman Tim Aerts, AGRIBEX will attract around 75,000 visitors. "That is perfectly in line with previous years. We are losing one day, and each day attracted around 15,000 visitors. However, we do not want to be rushed by trade fair figures. We are not questioning AGRIBEX because of this figure. As chairman Colpaert said, AGRIBEX has its value. Friends and foes alike will agree. And today we are committing ourselves to organizing another trade fair in the first week of December within two years. In this way, we want to put an end to the rumor mill. AGRIBEX has become shorter but also slightly more compact. This has mainly benefited the atmosphere at the fair. The fair was warmer and more welcoming, despite the uncertain future prospects.”

Garden, Green Areas and Brussels Livestock Show

The garden and green areas sector also looks back with satisfaction, according to Gracienne Geenens. "I admit that we also looked at this edition with some trepidation, but we too have to admit that everything turned out better than expected. That is, of course, nice to see. We are satisfied with this edition. And as coordinator of Ladies' Day, I am also very pleased with this edition. It was more playful. We sought a different angle, but the core remains the same, namely to encourage the women who are active in our sector and thank them for their unbridled commitment to the company. People sometimes say: without agriculture, there would be no food. Well, we dare to say that without women, there would be no agriculture. So in 2025, we will be back with this initiative."

For Jean Devillers, chairman of the Brussels Livestock Show, AGRIBEX was also a success. "Our competitions and exhibition continue to attract crowds. Proof of this was provided at the Belgian White-Blue Championship on Thursday, December 7. You could have walked on your head in Hall 1. We feel less of the uncertainty that hung over the rest of the exhibition floor. I understand that this can often be a problem in Flanders. In Wallonia, we have a different problem, which is the involvement of young people. We are seeing young people dropping out of livestock farming. I am proud to say that we have tried to get young people interested in our profession with our ovinpiades, and we have been very successful in this. Four Walloon and four Flemish schools took part in this competition, with a total of 54 students. From these, we selected two winners who will represent our country at the world sheep farming championships in France next May. This is another way we try to improve the image of our sector. And a trade fair like AGRIBEX can help in that regard. It is our window on the world. But above all, it gives the world an insight into our sector, which is necessary for better mutual understanding."

The next edition of AGRIBEX will take place from December 3 to 7, 2025, at Brussels Expo.