The new CropWorld 2010 congress and exhibition opened yesterday at the ExCel Centre in London. The event, which builds on the foundations of the BCPC Congress and Exhibition, has broadened its scope of crop production issues from ‘seed to market’ in what is now a truly global event.

In a briefing to the press, Claire Tulloch, Event Director, CropWorld said, “It has been a great benefit to us to have the support and alliance of BCPC. In Glasgow we researched a move to London that offered a hub with easier access for delegates and exhibitors and are delighted with the growth of the exhibition this year. There has been a 31% increase in exhibition stands and hospitality suites plus more countries represented in the exhibition hall. There is also a 74% increase in the size of the exhibition area, which is due to an increase in the number of stands and also the introduction of a new innovative feature – a Speakers Corner – which enables sponsors and exhibitors to make 20 minute presentations in an open forum situation.”

“As well as a growth in the size of the exhibition we have, this year, found a change in the mix of exhibitors with more European companies participating and a broader spectrum of companies including a precision farming technology company, a packaging company and greater university representation in the science zone,” said Ms Tulloch.

“Advanced registration figures show visitor numbers are up 100% on 2009 with a 10% increase in visitors from outside Europe particularly from the USA and the Middle East. In 2009, the types of visitors focussed on the crop protection sector
built on by the BCPC event, these visitors have not only been maintained but the broader scope of the event has attracted visitors from: finance, food buyers and retailers and the sprayer technology sector. We are also delighted at having far more interest from the Big Six agrochemical companies both at the conference and exhibition,” explained Ms Tulloch.

Programme development
Key to the success of the event must be the programme, and with 120 international speakers spread across the two and a half days there is an array of exciting, topical and a few somewhat controversial range of topics planned.

“On day one the plenary session offers an unparalleled line-up of keynote speakers including: Maive Rute, Director of Biotechnologies, Food and Agriculture Research from the European Commission and Katherine Smith from the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),” said Ms Tulloch. “We then have a ‘My Big Idea’
session with speakers including Dr Mike Bushnell,’ Principal Scientific Adviser, Syngenta and James Townsend, Chief Executive, Velcourt, debating how they would tackle the issue of feeding the world. This will then be followed by a session on the
global understanding of science and research.”
The structure of running streams concurrently as in previous years as been further expanded to four streams on days two and three which will offer a total of 24 modules covering: Science and Technology; Applied Research; Business and Farm Business Management and Trade and Marketing.
“There are certainly some sessions we would recommend which are likely to generate some newsworthy stories,” advised Ms Tulloch. “These include the: Land use availability issues around the world; Food retailers and producers; Biotechnology and GM and Developing World Farmers. And the high point will be having Professor Sir John Beddington, giving the closing address on the Wednesday afternoon.”

Future CropWorld
With worldwide opportunities in the crop arena, CropWorld has spread its wings and launched regional events that have already taken place in India and South America. It now plans to launch into the US with an event in February 2011 and a further event in Asia Pacific in the third quarter of 2011. “This CropWorld event in London is the flagship event and to give this a more global feel and appeal we are rebranding this as CropWorld Global in 2011,” announced Ms Tulloch.

The event will be held again at the ExCel Centre from 31 October to 2 November 2011.