Conference & Speakers

Arnaud Bouxin

Arnaud Bouxin is agronomist by education and graduated from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon. He started his carrier as policy advisor in the French Association of feed manufacturers, SNIA, in 1990 and joined FEFAC in 1998 where he holds the position of Director for feed safety and regulatory affairs. He is busy primarily with feed legislation and the drafting of tools to support its implementation, such as Codes of Good Practice. He is also the manager of the EU register of feed materials and coordinator of the Circular Feed Platform gathering 7 EU organisations of the feed chain.

Abstract: “Circular Feed Platform: a disruptive promoter of new feed potentials”, Arnaud Bouxin, Director FEFAC, Belgium

Circular bioeconomy is among the top priorities of the EU Commission for the next 4 years. One of the strategic sectors to make circular economy operational is the feed sector providing an outlet for 80 mio. T of co-products. Still the feed sector is asked to be even more circular, meaning less in competition with food for resources. At the same time, the feed sector is put in competition with the non-food/feed sector, including bioenergy. Increasing the contribution to circular bioeconomy therefore means looking at untapped resources and access to most of them is today restricted or prohibited. Several EU organisations of the feed chain and nutrient recovery industry have joint forces to map these inaccessible resources and qualify their circularity, with a view to encourage the legislator to reconsider the relevance of the existing prohibitions/restrictions and stimulate the recovery of nutrients from waste streams.

Luciano Pinotti

Prof. Luciano Pinotti is Full Professor in animal nutrition at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS) of the University of Milan. In his carrier, Prof. Pinotti has spent one year at the Animal Nutrition Group in Lelystad, The Netherlands. Nowadays he conducts research in Feed quality and safety/ feed evaluation with emphasis on alternative feed ingredients and sustainable animal nutrition. He is coordinator or partner in several national international and European projects. Prof. Pinotti is Member Sci. Com. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e Dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini”; From 2019- President of Animal Nutrition Study Commission (N) of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP), and from 2023 he has been appointed Director of the Doctorate School of the University of Milan.

Abstract: “Potential use of rendered proteins in feed for farmed animals and alternative protein sources”,

Luciano Pinotti, Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.

Feed is defined as edible material, consumed by animals, that contributes to the energy and/or nutrient requirement of the animals. To produce feed, various ingredients can be used. However, feed production has an environmental impact; thus, the use of natural resources needs to be reduced by increasing their reuse and using “circular” feed sources. Animal by-products (ABPs) can be part of this scenario as alternative protein sources (and not only) for feed. Thus, a renewed role for ABPs in farm and farmed fish nutrition cannot be excluded, especially when supply chain and proteins stocks of other alternative sources are not so well established. However,this approach faces challenges, including consumer perception of ABPs, their use in food-producing animals and competition with related sectors.

Hans Boon

Hans Boon is managing consultant at Aquaculture Experience. Until 2008 he has been working in the Provimi Aquafeed division and established consulting company “Aquaculture Experience” in 2008. Aquaculture Experience offers independent aquafeed consultancy services in the broadest sense such as:

1. Aquafeed formulation and product management
2. Market studies, ingredients sourcing and product management
3. Ingredient and additive business development
4. Due diligence
5. R&D projects
6. Feed sourcing

Abstract: “The changing landscape of aquafeed composition”,

Hans Boon, Aquaculture Experience – Aquafeed Consultancy, The Netherlands

The global Aquaculture sector has expanded rapidly as the fastest growing animal food

producing segment. Alongside this expansion the increasing need for feed ingredients and scarcity of the traditional protein and oil sources (fish meal and oil) has been challenging the feed sector at the same time. In this presentation the global trends and shifts in aquafeed composition will be highlighted and include the latest developments with regards to “new ingredients”.

Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano

Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano heads since 1987 the Brussels-based leather industry association COTANCE, the sector’s EU umbrella organisation gathering the National Tanners’ Associations of 10 European countries and representing over 90% of the continent’s leather production.

His functions include:

1. Representative of the employers of the EU tanning industry in the Social Sector Dialogue
2. Chairman of the CEN TC 289 “Leather” (Standardisation)
3. Co-founder in the TCLF Pact for Skills “TCLF Skills Alliance”
4. Expert for the UNIDO Leather Unit, the FAO Sub-Group on Hides & Skins and ILO

Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano is a lawyer by training specialised in European Law.

Abstract: “Status quo and future outlook of the European leather industry”, Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary General, Cotance, Brussels, Belgium

Activist groups have put leather on the spotlight with accusations of cruelty to animals, deforestation, climate change or unsafe working conditions. Burdened with a high and unfair environmental footprint score, challenged by alternative materials and fakes grabbing its name and good image, leather has been heavily under pressure lately. Reputational damage has even affected the European leather industry, and, with misled consumers, leather has lost market shares. The number of hides & skins that have not made it to a tannery have reached record levels and observers wonder what the future of the leather industry could be in such a context. Yet, the leather industry ticks all the boxes for becoming the fashion material of the future. As a natural, renewable, durable and biodegradable material it is the perfect circular economy product. The European leather industry is getting on the starting blocks for making the most of the upcoming EU regulatory landscape.

Kevin McGeeney

Biography for Kevin McGeeney – CEO of SCB Group

Kevin McGeeney is CEO and one of the founders of SCB Group in 2006. SCB is an environmental markets business with a mission to promote a low carbon future. SCB looks to profit from transactions as arranger or principal in scaled environmental markets with qualified corporate customers.

SCB has won many awards including Environmental Markets House of the Year 2024 from Energy Risk Magazine. CarbonAI which brings data and analytics on the price of carbon is a newly launched tool for SCB customers and has won research awards on Climate Transition, Alternative Fuels and Emissions.

Kevin McGeeney is a well-known commentator on environmental markets issues and regularly speaks at international conferences all over the globe, on CNBC television and in print media, such as the Wall Street Journal.

Prior to the establishment of SCB Group, Mr. McGeeney spent 15 years as an investment banker for Mitsubishi Bank, GenRe and ABN AMRO in London, New York and Tokyo. He also was COO and Director at Enviego Limited in London. Kevin holds Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Economic Science degrees from University College Dublin.

Dr. Martin Alm

Dr. Martin Alm studied chemistry at the Technical University of Braunschweig. In 1998 he started his career at SARIA Bio-Industries, one of the leading rendering companies in Europe, responsible for “Research and Development” and “Regulatory Affairs” representing SARIA and Germany in different national and international interest groups and research committees.

Since 2009 Dr. Alm is director of “Dr. Alm Research and Consulting GmbH” and Technical Director of EFPRA, European Fat Processors and Renderers Association. Today he is also consultant member of the board of the German rendering association STN, member of the scientific advisory panel of the World Renderers Organisation (WRO) whose president he was from 2019 to 2021 and member of the research committee of FPRF, the US based “Fat and Protein Research Foundation”.

Dr Francisco Javier REVIRIEGO GORDEJO

Dr Francisco Javier REVIRIEGO GORDEJO obtained his PhD (1999) in Veterinary Epidemiology and his degree (1988) in Veterinary Science from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He holds a postgraduate diploma (2000) in Statistics and Design in Health Sciences from Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.

He worked as Official vet for the Autonomous Region of Castilla y Leon (1990-2001) implementing eradication programmes, heading the Animal Health Laboratory of Avila and before worked as a veterinarian for pig farmers.

He joined the European Commission in 2001 as a Legislative Veterinary Officer. In 2005 was Head of Sector Epidemiology and Eradication, since 2008 to 2016 was as Head of the Sector Disease Control and Identification, later Adviser to the Director on Crisis management in Food, Animals and Plants and since2021 is Head of Unit for Animal Health in DG SANTE.

In addition to his work at DG SANTE, Dr Reviriego Gordejo participated in a number of World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) ad hoc groups.

Dirk Dobbelaere

Dirk Dobbelaere grew up on a pig farm near Ghent in Belgium. He studied Agricultural Engineer in Ghent and obtained a degree in Marketing as well. After having worked in the Danish food industry and a Belgian slaughterhouse, hearrived in the world of lobbying in Brussels in the late nineties. Dirk was appointed Secretary General of EFPRA in2000. Besides EFPRA, Dirk is also the Head of the EuropeanMeat Manufacturing Industry Association and of theEuropean Blood Products Industry Association.

DR. ROBERT FIGGENER

Robert is Director Public & Governmental Affairs at SARIA. He joined SARIA as Commercial Director of ecoMotion – the biodiesel segment of SARIA – in 2007. In the subsequent years he also took responsibility for the rendering activities of SARIA in Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and Romania. Since 2008 Robert is Vice-President of the Association of the German Biofuels Industry (President from 2013 – 2015). In 2018 he joined the EFPRA Council as Vice-President and in 2024 was formally sworn in as the new EFPRA President. Before he joined SARIA, Robert was Director of the German Meat Association (VDF) in Bonn (1999 – 2007). Robert obtained a PhD in Law after studies at the Universities of Münster/Germany, Leuven/Belgium and Sydney/Australia.

Zita Barānova

Zita Barānova is the Head of Sustainability at airBaltic, where she holds a crucial role in leading the company’s initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint and attain carbon neutrality by 2050. Her expertise not only encompasses sustainability, but also boasts a deep understanding of specifically aviation sustainability, forestry, manufacturing, as well as diverse business and economic processes. Zita holds a degree in Business and IT from the BA School of Business and Finance, one of the leading business schools in Latvia.

Viktors Valainis

Viktors Valainis is the Minister for Economics of Latvia, appointed in September 2023.

His vision focuses on strengthening Latvia’s economy through long-term growth strategies, increasing productivity, attracting foreign investment, and fostering innovation. Valainis is committed to creating a fair and competitive business environment, supporting digital transformation, and ensuring stable and affordable conditions for consumers in key sectors such as energy, food, and housing.

Education

• Riga Technical University, professional master’s degree in construction business and real estate management (2011)
• Riga Technical University, professional bachelor’s degree in real estate management and real estate economist qualification (2009)

Experience

• Elected member of the Latvian Parliament since 2011
• Executive Director, Association of Large Cities of Latvia (2016–2023)
• Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Transport (2013–2014)
• Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Economics (2016)
• Member of the Board, Foundation of Latvian House Managers’ Guild (2010–2011)

Raphaël Wolfgang Chaise

Export of European Rendered Products to Asia: Challenges & Opportunities, Raphaël Chaise, Regional Director South-East Asia, SARIA International.

Prior to his 8-year tenure as SARIA’s Regional Director South-East Asia, he has been involved since 2008 with the Food & Feed industry in South-East Asia as Country Manager Thailand & Vietnam for Bureau Veritas (Laboratories and Quality), and Thailand for bioMerieux Industries (Pathogens Detection).

He is French, born in Nice and holds a Master in Management from Nice Business School (now Skema) obtained in 1999. His first mission was Commercial Attache at the French Trade Commission in Hanoi, Vietnam from 2000 to 2001.