The Brazilian capacity for food and beverages production was showcased to the world during the first edition of ANUFOOD Brazil 2019 - Exclusive International Fair for Food and Beverages which took place from March 12 to 14 at the São Paulo Expo.

During the opening ceremony of ANUFOOD, the former Minister of Agriculture and Coordinator of the FGV Agribusiness Center Roberto Rodrigues, an ambassador of the event, recalled that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have defined that, in order to guarantee world food security, food supply will need to grow 20% in ten years. "For this to be possible, Brazil should have an increase in production of 41%. We have the technology and people capable of achieving this goal”, Rodrigues stated. “For this reason, FGV joined Koelnmesse to show the world, through ANUFOOD, our capacity and expertise.”

Cesar Cunha Campos, director of FGV Europe and FGV Projetos, agreed: "It was four years of planning, we went through three Brazilian presidents and made ANUFOOD a reality," he said.

According to Cassiano Facchinetti, CEO of Koelnmesse in Brazil, the food industry has great potential to contribute to a new cycle of growth in the country. "As everyone probably knows, the eyes of the world are increasingly focused on Brazil when it comes to food production and agribusiness," he said.

According to Facchinetti, ANUFOOD brings great business opportunities to the sector. "We have more than 200 brands from more than 30 countries at the fair," he said. "In addition, we will have debates of the highest level during the Congress ANUFOOD, which happens in parallel during the three days of the fair".

Herbert Marner, CFO of Koelnmesse, is supporting the promotion of Brazilian food and beverage business worldwide. "One sentence we hear is that Brazil feeds the world. With Anufood, want to make it a reality" he said in his speech.

Wilson Mello, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Brazilian Association of the Food Industry (ABIA), recalled that the country now has more than 35,000 companies in the food segment that account for more than 10% of national GDP and 50% of the trade balance. "This fair is a unique opportunity to show our ability," said Mello. "The food industry has been unfairly attacked by critics of processed foods and we now have to show that we have quality."

Georg Witschel, Germany's ambassador to Brasil, said that today the world recognizes Brazil as an important player in the production and supply of food. "Therefore, we are pleased to be able to perform ANUFOOD here."

Gustavo Junqueira, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Supply of São Paulo, who represented Governor João Doria at the opening ceremony, acknowledged that "Brazil has succeeded in producing high-level, high-efficiency agriculture." "This fair shows the world that we have not only food but also technology."

Finally, the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Livestock and Food Supply reaffirmed the government's support for the initiative and assured that she will be at the end of the year at ANUGA, the world's largest food and beverage fair in Cologne, to stimulate international entrepreneurs to be in the next edition of the Brazilian fair.