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SPACE, a leading global expo
The 29th SPACE expo, to be held from September 15 to 18 at the Rennes Exhibition Centre, will confirm its status as a leading global expo for the livestock industry.
Despite the fact that times are difficult for the industry, and downright challenging for certain sectors, livestock farmers and industry vendors are demonstrating their dedication and strength. Many are continuing to invest, and the number of young farmers setting up operations has remained at a good level in Western France, particularly in dairy production.
In the past three years, SPACE has seen steady growth, each year surpassing the previous year in terms of total number of exhibitors, number of foreign exhibitors, rented space, total number of visitors and number of foreign visitors.
SPACE clearly continues to enjoy strong appeal. In fact, exhibitor interest is growing in all sectors, even those experiencing a downturn like the pig industry.
Strong, quality and international visitorship
SPACE 2014 welcomed 114,718 visitors, including 101,368 French, slightly down from 2013, but more than offset by the increase in foreign visitors (13,350 from 118 countries, a thousand more than the previous year).
The continued large French visitorship and the steady increase in foreign visitors demonstrate the value of SPACE for livestock professionals. They know they will find a comprehensive offering of equipment and services for all sectors, ranging from genetics to farm waste to buildings, equipment, feed and animal health.
This has led to steady growth in international visitors (10,045 in 2011, 11,080 in 2012, 12,298 in 2013, 13,350 in 2014). The diverse backgrounds of foreign visitors (118 countries compared to 110 in 2013) is one of the exciting features of SPACE: people come here from every continent.
The ability to attract new international visitors is another feature of our Expo, with 65% coming to SPACE for the first time in 2014. SPACE attracts large numbers of foreign visitors each year, ensuring an influx of new visitors for an even greater impact.
Crossroads of innovation, dialogue and debate
As a global forum for the livestock industry, Space is also a crossroads of innovation, dialogue and debate on animal production and related issues.
The INNOV'SPACE event allows exhibitors to promote their new products and services presented for the first time at a French Expo. Again this year, many will be submitting their applications to the multidisciplinary jury (engineers from technical institutes and Chambers of Agriculture, trade journalists), who examine the submissions carefully to ensure that the products benefiting from the INNOV'SPACE label are true innovations on the market.
The Research and Development Village will also again be at the forefront of innovation. This year's theme is "My Connected Farm - Performance at my fingertips", presenting all ways digital tech can be used in the livestock industry. The target objectives are to improve farm performance, working conditions for farmers and employees and animal welfare while reducing the use of inputs.
The ongoing search for ways to improve farm management is also the topic of many seminars and conferences organized during SPACE.
Space 2015.
