Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) announced that the largest edition of Gulfood in nearly three decades since it started will focus on the future of the food industry. A record number of more than 5,500 exhibitors from over 190 countries are expected to attend Gulfood from February 19 to 23.
“Gulfood will be the first opportunity in 2024 for the global F&B industry to convene, and gain insight from some of the world’s leading food futurists into where the global food industry goes next. Gulfood will be the only platform to identify the business opportunities and forge the business partnerships brought about as the industry enters a new era, defined by paradigm-shifting technology such as AI”, commented Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre.
“By accelerating innovation and speeding the spread of trends, technology has transformed the food market from end-to-end. The next decade will see this transformation continue. Technologies like AI will accelerate our understanding of human health, and influence consumer behavior, and shifting demographic patterns will create new centers of cultural power. It’s a fascinating time to look to the future of food,” said Tom Cheesewright, Applied Futurist and Inspire Conference Speaker.
‘Real Food, Real Business’
Under the theme ‘Real Food, Real Business’, Gulfood 2024 will bring together thousands of new exhibitors – to showcase authentic food products, ingredients, and culinary practices, Commercial deals worth over USD 12 billion should be made this year. New country pavilions include Armenia, Azerbaijan and Venezuela.
The Gulfood Inspire Conference will dive into a range of trending topics, including the tech-powered future of digitalization, new innovations, the shift from linear to circular food systems, capitalizing on investment and funding opportunities, and reimagining a global food system centered on food safety, security and transparency.
Over 200 ministers, global F&B leaders, entrepreneurs, futurists, chefs, scientists and academia from all facets of the industry will lead a series of engaging keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, showcases and workshops, providing insights into the future of the F&B industry and unlocking new opportunities for growth and competitiveness.
Confirmed speakers in the five-day agenda include Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Denmark; Gary Urteaga, Founder and President of Jenesiz Capital, and first investor in Nutrishake Andino (now Nutri.co), a food-tech startup specializing in R&D of nutritional snacks using Andean cereals and superfoods like quinoa and amaranth; CTO & Founding Director of Nourish Ingredients – Dr. Anna El Tahchy; Global Food Futurist and Food Scientist – Tony Hunter; Innovation Trends Futurist – Daniel Levine; Food Futurologist – Dr. Morgaine Gaye; Applied Futurist – Tom Cheesewright; Bill McDowell, VP of the Institute of Food Technologists; Dr. Miray Zaki, MD and Head of Sustainability Investments at Gulf Capital, Supply Chain Technology Expert – Erin Grover, Raymond Tham K W, Founder and MD of Mycrocell and more.
Michelin star chefs demonstrate cooking skills
Popular feature Top Table returns to Gulfood 2024, with a star-studded line-up of internationally renowned chefs showcasing traditional cooking methods, elevating authentic ingredients, and revealing the stories behind the world’s most beloved dishes.
Over 100 chefs will present various cuisines across a series of masterclasses and chef talks. This year’s theme highlights the union of heritage and traditional culinary practices with modern, innovative techniques. For the first time, Top Table will host chefs with over 21 Michelin stars between them.
The Dubai World Cuisine movement, launched during the last edition of Gulfood, will also be back, with a series of city-wide dinner collaborations.
The YouthX Chef Challenge, a launchpad for empowering promising F&B talent with a career-changing experience, will also be back in an expanded, international format for its third edition at Gulfood 2024.
Photo: Gulfood 2018. Credit: Gulfood social media
