After a stop in China’s Guangzhou Province in 2016, the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has decided to take its premier aquaculture event, GOAL, to the seaport capital of Dublin, Ireland, to discuss the current state of global seafood farming with the industry’s leaders, movers, and shakers.
More than 60 speakers and experts will present at this year’s pre-competitive GOAL 2017 event, with more than 400 aquaculture industry enthusiasts expected to attend. The theme for GOAL 2017, “The Next 20: From Promise To Delivery,” considers the role that sustainability has played in the seafood industry since its infancy some 20 years ago to present day, and beyond.
GAA, which is celebrating its 20th year anniversary in 2017, aims to “address the reality of delivering on [the] industry’s sustainability commitments over the next 20 years,” via GOAL 2017’s extensive program, which includes updates on the current state of global shrimp and finfish farming, as well as a series of marketplace panel discussions chaired by key buyers and business leaders from around the world. Buyers expected to present at the event and attend in the GOAL audience include: Ahold Delhaize, Bidfood Australia, The Big Prawn Co., BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bon Appétit Management Co., Brakes, Brinker International, Captain D’s, Darden Restaurants, Davigel, Direct Seafoods, Disney, Dublin Institute of Technology’s School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology, Gfresh, Giant Eagle, Harvest Meat Co., JD.com, Johnson & Wales University, Lyons Seafood Co., Nestle Purina, Sam’s Club, Schnucks, Sysco Corp., Tesco, US Foods, Waitrose, and Walmart.
Presenters will also tackle topics such as social responsibility, animal welfare, sustainability certification schemes (including GAA’s own Best Aquaculture Certification program), responsible aquafeed practices, consumer engagement strategies and more during GOAL’s primary conference track, taking place from 4 to 6 October. Michael Creed T.D., Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will assist GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens welcome the industry to Ireland on Wednesday, 4 October, with Alltech Founder and President Pearse Lyons scheduled to deliver his keynote soon after. Lyons' talk will approach a “vision of the future of food production, particularly aquaculture, and technology’s role in disrupting traditional business practices,” according to the GAA
Specifics about the conference agenda and schedule can be found via the GOAL webpage and the 2017 GOAL app available for iOS and Android platforms.
The conference, including its welcome reception on 3 October, will takes place in Dublin’s historic Croke Park, which is the current home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Attendees will move to the legendary Guinness Storehouse on Thursday, 5 October, for the event’s gala reception and dinner.
SeafoodSource, which is an official sponsor of GOAL 2017 alongside parent company Diversified Communications, will be providing timely coverage of the event from 3 to 6 October, on its conference landing page as well as in its daily newsletters and on Twitter. Follow the conference's official hashtag, #GOALconf17, for more coverage from the conference.
