The world we now live in is going through unprecedented evolution. Everywhere you look, you’ll see that change is the only constant. Sometimes change is hardly noticeable, while at other times it is so overwhelming that it seems like every routine, practice and decision that would have been taken easily as an afterthought yesterday have become strategic dilemmas today.

 

Today's changes go beyond traditional business cycles. What we see happening on a global level is the backdrop against which companies operate has fundamentally changed, with the emergence of a new economy, one with characteristics we have not seen in an entire century.

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With this year’s FAAB event being held in Shanghai, China, it forms the perfect backdrop against which we can take a deep dive into today’s global economic dynamic, and how these dynamics impact China’s path of economic development. As the US withdraws its economy behind a wall of tariffs, can China possibly take over the role of consumer of last resort from the US? Does it have the ingredients and the incentive to charge ahead to become the world’s leading economy, particularly as its domestic market of 1.4 billion consumers presents growth opportunities for food companies to meaningfully attempt to segment and integrate into this massive market?

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As the transition towards a value-added food economy in China gathers momentum, food companies will need to review and potentially overhaul their strategies entirely. Competitiveness in vying for market share will shift from supply chain management to value chain management, and the way companies allocate their capital and make strategic investment decisions will depend on a whole bevy of new factors, if they want to surge ahead of the rest of the pack.

 

During the conference, we’ll also be taking a look at the evolving connective chains within the food & agriculture realm. Against the current economic backdrop – characterised by structural change, uncertainty and trade barriers resulting from US Preident Trump’s trade war and tariff plans – the potential impact of value chain investment decisions is now much bigger than in the decades prior. Whether a company should continue to invest in countries that pose increased risks for foreign investment or if it should accept losing access to a lucrative value pocket is a dilemma that more and more market players will need to face in the coming days.

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Besides potential price increases as a result of the trade wars that prelude a new global economic era, the greening of that new economy might be impacted too. Today, policymakers are more concerned with national security, inflation and supply chain resilience challenges, and might need to shift their focus and resources away from supporting sustainable growth. How will this play out in the longer term and will we see a trend of companies relentlessly focusing only on boosting productivity?

 

So much food for discussion, so we hope you come hungry for a most fruitful discussion! Together with a powerful suite of content and a strong line-up of speakers, we look forward to a great exchange of insights and ideas, and most of all, to welcoming you to FAAB 2025 in Shanghai!