Organizers of SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE have expressed delight in the international appeal of their summit as the numbers of international visitors continue to soar with the passing of each event.
This year’s edition which happened to be the 28th edition saw the summit record 96 000 visitors, with 5 000 of those being international visitors. The total number of visitors is a thousand rise from the previous edition.
SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE is a three-day Livestock summit which showcased the excellence of breeding in Europe, in France and of course in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes from 2-4 October.
The Livestock Summit took over the Grande Halle d’Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand with around 1,560 exhibitors and 2,000 hand-picked animals on show.
“The number of visitors continues to increase, and the international focus continues to progress with a total of 96,000 visitors, including 5,000 international visitors, the SOMMET welcomed a further thousand people to the show compared to 2018, half of whom coming from overseas.
“The International Lounge proved very popular and many trade contacts were made during the 3 days of the exhibition. With Africa as guest of honour, many delegations, including the farm ministers of Niger and Burkina Faso, made the journey from West Africa to the SOMMET and its showground at Clermont-Ferrand,” wrote Benoît Delaloy, the summit’s International Manager, in a press statement.
The Summit brought together professionals in animal production and did a lot to showcase SOMMET as a veritable European reference show, an excellence of breeding internationally.
“A truly magnificent show to attend, the breed’s farmers were delighted to return to the SOMMET at Clermont for their National Championships and they clearly brought their very best cattle with them.
“It was the perfect occasion for them to make new contacts with the show’s international visitors, many of whom came to see the livestock in their stalls. Apart from the commercial angle, the SOMMET enabled them to discuss with other farmers.
“This show is not just an undeniable farm business event, it’s also the festive atmosphere that everybody, visitors, and exhibitors alike, appreciate. And what can I say of the judging that took place in the heart of the Zenith concert hall? It’s quite simply an incredible setting that enables farmers to show off their livestock in the very best conditions,” summarised Lionel Giraudeau, Director of the French Blonded’Aquitaine Selection Organisation.
With the summit claiming an international status it then came as no surprise when the French President Emmanuel Macron also made effort to attend this showcase.
Delaloy also said the President’s visit was not just recognition for the show, but also for the farmers and their work, despite the difficult economic context.
He said President Macron was warmly welcomed by the farming industry and his exchanges with farmers created optimism as he also mentioned that he will be back in the next edition.
Not only is the summit attracting a great number of visitors, there was also an increase in the number of exhibitors, with the summit recording 1,560 exhibitors this year as compared to 1,510 in 2018.
The summit also showcased the inaugural “Start-up village”; a section set aside for agricultural start-ups located in Halls 3 and 6 and named “The Innovation Barns”. The organizers believe that next year this section will be even bigger.
The next year’s edition is set to take place from 7-9 October 2020.
