Why you should attend
The 2nd Annual Food Connect Forum is a critical two-day event meticulously designed to empower every link in the food value chain, from farm to consumer, within South Africa's dynamic food industry. This forum boldly confronts the most pressing challenges of our time, including the complexities of South Africa's 2025 food additive regulations and FSSC 22000 v6 updates, the critical need for on-farm foodborne illness prevention, and the escalating threats of food fraud and intentional contamination. It delves into harnessing cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain for enhanced food safety and efficiency, while also addressing the vital balance between sustainability goals and stringent food safety requirements in a changing climate.
Attending this forum offers unparalleled benefits, including gaining comprehensive insights into regulatory clarity, mastering advanced risk mitigation strategies, and acquiring crucial technological acumen to transform operations. Delegates will learn best practices for audit readiness and crisis management, providing strategic foresight into future trends in nutrition, beverages, and climate impact. This forum is a strategic imperative for all food professionals, offering a unique, integrated perspective rooted in South African realities, providing actionable solutions, and fostering essential networking opportunities to shape a safer, more sustainable, and trustworthy food future.
I think it's one of the most important battles for consumers to fight: the right to know what's in their food,
and how it was grown.
and how it was grown.
Joel Salatin
Key benefits for attending
• Mastering Evolving Regulations: Gain critical insights into South Africa's 2025 food additive regulations and the latest FSSC 22000 v6 updates, ensuring your business stays ahead of compliance curves.
• End-to-End Food Safety: Learn to implement robust prevention strategies against foodborne illnesses from the farm to the consumer, covering Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Handling Practices (GHPs), and comprehensive food defence and fraud prevention plans.
• Harnessing Advanced Technology: Discover how cutting-edge innovations like AI, automation, IoT, and blockchain are transforming food safety, quality assurance, efficiency, and sustainability across manufacturing and agriculture.
• Strategic Audit & Crisis Preparedness: Equip yourself with best practices for navigating evolving food safety audits, understanding local regulatory frameworks, and developing effective food recall and crisis management strategies.
• Navigating Health & Sustainability Trends: Understand how to align food safety with critical sustainability goals, consumer health demands, and the latest innovations in nutritional value and beverage development.
Agenda Day 1
The forum will provide valuable insights and networking opportunities for these groups, contributing to the advancement of Africa’s food systems through compliance and innovation.
Session one: Keynote
Creating the “Recipe for Success” by innovating nutrition for consumer health & market growth products for all
Session two
Countdown to compliance: Navigating South Africa’s upcoming food additive regulations
Session three
How Smart Tech & AI meet trust: Building agile systems for the future of compliance
Session four
Minimising threats by building a resilient food defence framework
Session five
Raising the bar: Food safety in the food service industry
Session six
Inventing and investing in smarter food systems: Where technology, sustainability, and intellectual property protection meet
Agenda Day 2
Session seven
Balancing climate change and sustainability goals with food safety requirements
Session eight
FSSC 22000 v6: Mastering the transition & new requirements
Session nine
Risk Management in Food Security
Session ten
Allergen management & labelling compliance: Avoiding risks of mislabelling and undeclared allergens
Session eleven
Best practices for food recall & crisis management: Effective response strategies
Session twelve
Navigating the complex regulatory landscape around nutritional labelling and health claims for beverages, especially with a growing focus on transparency.
Who should attend?
-Government Officials and Policymakers: Those involved in food security, agriculture, and public health policy to stay updated on regulations and innovations.
-Industry Professionals: C-suite executives, Heads, GMs, managers, and staff from the food and beverage sector, including production, compliance, QA, food technology, processors, marketing, distributors, and retailers.
-Agricultural Experts: Professionals involved in farming, food production, and sustainable agriculture practices.
-Researchers and Academics: Individuals conducting research in food science, nutrition, agriculture, and related fields.
-Technology Providers: Companies and startups specialising in food tech, biotechnology, and innovations in food processing and packaging.
-Regulators and Compliance Officers: Professionals responsible for ensuring adherence to food safety regulations and standards.
-Consumer Advocates: Representatives from organisations focused on consumer rights, nutrition, and public health.
-Investors and Financial Institutions: Investors interested in funding food and agriculture innovations and projects.
-Supply Chain and Logistics Professionals: Experts involved in managing the flow of goods and services within the food industry.
-NGOs and Nonprofits: Organisations working on food security, nutrition, and sustainable development projects.
-Media and Analysts: Journalists and industry analysts covering food trends, policy changes, and innovations.
Elevate Your Brand: Partner with Food Connect Forum 2025
The Food Connect Forum offers unparalleled opportunities for valuable business connections with key decision-makers and top-tier stakeholders across Africa's diverse food and beverage industry.
Through collaborations with esteemed media and host partners, as well as crucial endorsements and robust vendor partnerships, you can elevate your brand to new heights. Our diverse range of partnership options accommodates various budgets, offering exclusive packages tailored to deliver targeted, innovative, and impactful exposure. This ensures maximum engagement with your specific target audience, helping you connect with industry leaders, innovators, producers, and policy shapers.
Join us in November 2025 to be part of the transformation of Africa's food systems.
Through collaborations with esteemed media and host partners, as well as crucial endorsements and robust vendor partnerships, you can elevate your brand to new heights. Our diverse range of partnership options accommodates various budgets, offering exclusive packages tailored to deliver targeted, innovative, and impactful exposure. This ensures maximum engagement with your specific target audience, helping you connect with industry leaders, innovators, producers, and policy shapers.
Join us in November 2025 to be part of the transformation of Africa's food systems.
SPEAKERS
Dharmarai Naicker
Health and Nutrition
Business Manager for Southern Africa
SGS South Africa
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SGS South Africa
Isabella Mazzone
Associate Attorney
Department of Food & Consumer Law
Hahn & Hahn Attorneys
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Department of Food & Consumer Law
Hahn & Hahn Attorneys
Mpumelelo Mahlangu
Market Food Safety Manager & Digital Champion
Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region (ESAR)
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Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region (ESAR)
vendor partner
Vendor Partner
Connect directly with Africa's leading food and beverage industry professionals and elevate your brand's presence in a thriving market.
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Endorsement & Media Partner
Gain exposure to a highly targeted audience of food and beverage industry decision-makers across Africa.
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Speaking Partner
Drive crucial conversations and contribute to the strategic direction of food systems on the continent.
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PARTICIPATE AS A DELEGATE
Register now to book your seat
Event Highlights
Delegate reviews
"The Food Connect Forum was a game-changer for us. The sessions on food security and sustainability were incredibly insightful, providing us with innovative strategies to implement in our operations. The networking opportunities were unparalleled, allowing us to connect with key industry players and explore potential partnerships. We left the event with a wealth of knowledge and actionable insights that are already making a difference in our approach to food systems."
"Attending the Food Connect Forum was one of the best decisions our team made this year. The comprehensive agenda covered everything from regulatory changes to the latest in food technology, making it essential for anyone in the food and beverage industry. The discussions on compliance and innovation were particularly beneficial, providing us with the tools to stay ahead in a competitive market. We highly recommend this forum to anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and network with industry leaders." combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable.
"The Food Connect Forum exceeded our expectations in every way. The caliber of speakers and the depth of content provided a rich learning experience. We gained valuable insights into the latest trends in food safety, labeling regulations, and sustainable practices. The event also offered unmatched networking opportunities, helping us forge important connections with other professionals and potential partners. This forum is a must-attend for anyone committed to improving Africa's food systems."
