How the coronavirus is affecting global ag events

04-03-2020 | |
Photo: kShutterstock
Photo: kShutterstock

The spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) has impacted the organisation of several international agricultural events, while others are following the situation carefully.

An event staged for late March 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand, ’Victam and Animal Health and Nutrition Asia 2020’, has been postponed to July 9-11 because of the virus. The event’s organisers based their decision on the latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO), in which the risk assessment for the regional level as well as the global level changed from high to very high.

In a press release, Victam and VIV Worldwide, indicate that the decision has been taken after careful consideration and in the interest of exhibitors and visitors and, above all, to protect the health of all attendees. They wrote: “The organisers assessed that the actual situation will not guarantee the quality of the exhibition and will not create enough business opportunities for our exhibitors and visitors under the current circumstances.”

Photo: Shutterstock

Photo: Shutterstock

The organisations wrote that 80% of the exhibitors also agreed that postponement of the event would be the best solution and confirmed the decision to move their participation to July 2020, hoping that the situation will improve over the next few months.

The postponement also means that the event’s side symposiums for sister publications Pig Progress and All About Feed will be postponed until July 2020. Another event that might feel the effect of Covid-19 is the 12th edition of the European Symposium on Porcine Health Management (ESPHM), to be held in Bern, Switzerland in May 2020. In a press release, the organisers communicate that they are carefully observing the situation.

VIV MEA 2020 is also postponed

Another event organised by VIV Worldwide, VIV MEA 2020 in Abu Dhabi, was also postponed. This event, mostly focused on poultry and dairy production, was rescheduled to take place August 31 until September 2 instead of mid-March 2020.

Several other company-related events in Europe have also been cancelled in the light of the spread of Covid-19. Even when disease pressure may not be high, the events could be cancelled due to a lack of delegates being present.

ter Beek
Vincent ter Beek Editor pig progress
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