Co-president of non-profit to give keynote speech for the opening of Anuga FoodTec 2024

Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the non-profit organisation, The Club of Rome, is giving the keynote speech for the opening of Anuga FoodTec 2024.

At 9.15am, on 19 March 2024, Sandrine Dixson-Declève’s keynote speech on the Main Stage Responsibility (Hall 9, B080/C081) will address the polycrises we currently face.

She will stress the need for a systems approach, in which we cannot combat climate change without considering the energy sector, resource consumption and food production, Dixson-Declève will say.

“These areas, which are causing the lion’s share of the problems, need to shift investments into low-CO₂ production methods. When we advance in these areas, we can reduce their massive effects on climate and biodiversity,” comments the co-president of The Club of Rome.

Over 50 years ago, ‘The Limits to Growth’, a report to The Club of Rome, was a wake-up call, but the world continues to conduct business as usual. Now, Dixson-Declève, together with leading scientists and economic thinkers, has published an update titled ‘Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity’, which details how we can upgrade our economic systems and ensure wellbeing for all within the limits of our planet.

This is achieved through five extraordinary turnarounds – inequality, poverty, empowerment, energy and food. At Anuga FoodTec 2024, the internationally renowned expert for energy policy and sustainability reflects on what the sustainable transformation in the food industry means.

The background to the speech stems from recognition that in 2050, between nine and ten billion people will live on the Earth, most of them in urban spaces. Around 80 per cent of food will be consumed in the cities, which will cause pressure on limited resources of land, water and energy to increase. Global food systems must change fundamentally to avoid further advancing climate change.

“This requires new growth indicators that take the protection of our foundations for life into account. The food industry must adapt to this,” says Dixson-Declève.

Describing the future role of a climate-neutral food system in all its facets is a central concern of this year’s Anuga FoodTec. With its main theme of ‘Responsibility’, the international information and business platform from 19 to 22 March in Cologne is placing the spotlight on the many energy and resource-efficient approaches to solutions and measures, and this along the entire supply chain.

The four core messages of the trade fair

1. Setting the right course for tomorrow.
2. On the way to climate neutrality: Where do the biggest challenges lie?
3. Value creation in the F&B industries: How can we make a positive contribution together?
4. For worldwide food security: What possibilities do technical innovations offer?

Dixson-Declève has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of climate change, sustainability, innovation and energy.

Until recently, she was chair for the European Commission Expert Group on Economic and Societal Impact of Research & Innovation (ESIR). She has also sat on the European Commission’s Mission on Climate Change & Adaptation. She was recognised by Reuters as one of 25 global female trailblazers and by GreenBiz as one of the 30 most influential women across the globe driving change in the low carbon economy and promoting green business. Sandrine is co-president of The Club of Rome and executive chair of Earth4All, in addition to advising, lecturing and facilitating difficult conversations.

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