The 28th SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE will be held from 2 to 4 October 2019 at Clermont-Ferrand in France.Once again, over 1,500 exhibitors, 2,000 animals and 95,000 farm-industry visitors will converge on this big-ticket event that counts among the world’s biggest livestock shows.

2019 SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGESTILL GROWING STRONG!

W ith 4 months to go until gates open, the organizers are calmly confident. As General Manager

Fabrice Berthon explains, “The business side is right on track. The proof is there, date-for-date, we have already beaten last year’s SOMMET record for number of exhibitors registered. In fact our objective is to host 1,550 exhibitors this year vs 1,510 in 2018. Our only constraint is the size of the showground that puts a squeeze on further expansion, but a constraint set to be lifted in 2021 as we take delivery of a new 10,000 m² floorspace building alongside an extra 25,000 m² of hardscaped outdoor exhibition space.”

Another high point of satisfaction, the conference centre is already fully booked up with a packed programme of over 70 conferences and seminars.

The next 2019 SOMMET is looking once again extremely promising.

The figures• 95,000 visitors in 2018, including 4,500 international

visitors from 85 countries

• 1,550 exhibitors, including 300 international exhibitors from 32 countries

• 180,000 m² of show space

• 82,000 m² of net stand space

• 2,000 elite animals and 70 breeds in attendance

• 1 venue arena (the Zénith d’Auvergne) hosting the beef cattle competitions

• A varied and complete range of products and services covering every need of the livestock industry

• 70 seminars and conferences

• International Business Club services for foreign visitors

• 35 tours out to livestock farms and agro-industry facilities

• 4 gourmet restaurants

Press release | June 2019 OCTOBER 20192 3 4CLERMONT-FERRAND

FRANCE

What’s new in 2019?THE BLONDE D’AQUITAINE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Blonde d’Aquitaine -the 3rd biggest French beef-breed herd, counting 530,000 heads of cattle- is back to headline the 2019 SOMMET for a national best-of-breed competition featuring 400 elite specimens. This will be the second time the ‘Blonde’ has starred at the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE, after its inaugural national competition here in 2012.

Blonde breeders have this golden opportunity to reap the rewards of their work and showcase the many assets of a breed farmed in over thirty-odd countries where it is ideally adapted to hotter climates.

This year again, the celebrated arena at the Zénith d’Auvergne will play host to the main-event show of over 400 of the very best ‘Blondes’ in France.

HALL 6 GROWS BIGGERBiomethanation, photovoltaics, wind power, biogas… As priorities turn to new technologies, the SOMMET is expanding its Hall 6 space dedicated to sustainable development renewable energies and farm buildings. Consequently, this year, nearly 2,000 m² will be dedicated to exhibitors showcasing ecologically-friendly, economically-sound farm solutions, up from 1,600 m² in 2018.

START-UPS AT THE SOMMETThis year’s public will be the first to get the opportunity to check out a brand new space dedicated exclusively to farming-sector start-ups. This new space, located in Hall 3, offers a demonstration of how farming is going digital.

BRITISH BREEDS DESCEND ON THE SOMMETIn another first this year, the SOMMET will host 3 British breeds in hall 3 (beef cattle): the Hereford, native from Southwest England, the Highland, an ancient, robust and storied breed from the Scottish Highlands, and the Angus. This will mark the very first appearance of the Angus, which originates from the Scottish Highlands but has gained worldwide renown for its farmability and fabulous quality meat.

Note that the Hereford will be using the SOMMET to hold its national competition with the best 24 specimens in France.

ANIMAL WELFARE AND ORGANIC - 2 NEW AWARDS AT THE SOMMETS D’ORThe Sommets d’Or competition for exhibitors awards the best technical innovations in farming to emerge over the year, under four categories: agricultural machinery, livestock facility equipment, livestock farming supplies, and digital/multimedia services.

This time around, to tune into 2019’s defining new societal trends, the SOMMET has created two new categories: animal welfare and organic farming. Animal welfare and organic farming are increasingly central consumer concerns, and demand-conscious farmers are increasingly integrating these new market pulls into their daily practice, prompting the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE to reward their efforts with a prize for innovation.

The international angle, driving development

AFRICA IS SPECIAL GUEST AT THE 2019 SOMMET

To continue to help build trade channels for its exhibitors, the SOMMET works to forge ties with certain target-market nations. This year, the focus turns to West Africa (led by Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Cameroon) with a specific programme of cooperative action initiatives.

Alongside a promotional hub and information stand in the main reception hall, a conference will be organized by COFENABVI-AO (the council of national West-African meat and livestock federations). The West African representatives get this prime opportunity to brief attendees on the subregion-wide structure, trends, opportunities and challenges of a livestock sector where demand for meat products is projected to explode in the coming years.

However, further sector development is squeezed by a number of bottlenecks - bottlenecks that could find solutions through North-South cooperation with technical authorities and international investors engaged in the sector. This is the kind of partnership the show’s organizers hope to foster by inviting West Africa on board at the SOMMET.

AFRICAN SUMMITAs part of the agenda to promote Africa at the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE, Business France will be mobilizing his teams of agricultural advisors and organizing a special forum on ‘Africa & Livestock Farming’, scheduled for Thursday 3 October.

This event, held in collaboration with the SOMMET, will bring together Business France’s expert agricultural advisors posted in Africa, their partners and their networks for a series of round-table discussions, technical conferences and B2B meet-ups with African decisionmakers. Topics tackled head-on will include the various types of livestock farming in Africa, public/private-sector financing, African markets for meat and dairy, and more.

A VIP WELCOME FOR FOREIGN VISITORS!International Business ClubThe SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE pulls out all the stops to offer foreign attendees a real VIP experience-starting with the International Business Club. Now located in the prestigious main reception hall at the Zénith, this space manned by the ADEPTA is dedicated exclusively to the international visitor community. This hospitality, catering and workspace hub provides a host of services tailored to foreign delegations: interpreters, guided tours of the show, B2B meetings with exhibitors, conference space, free shuttle links into town...

35 farm tours and 4 pre-toursEvery year, over 35 field tours are programmed during the SOMMET to give foreign delegations first-hand experience of the outstanding research and farming science found in France. In 2018, these tours counted 830 international visitors.

Alongside these visits, several ‘pre-tours’ are proposed the day before doors open, on Tuesday 1st October. The programme line-up features 4 circuits:

- Beef cattle sector - Sheep sector- Dairy cattle sector - Blonde d’Aquitaine breed

A world-beating tour programme!

International Livestock EveningYet again, foreign delegations are invited to attend the big International Livestock Evening co-organized in partnership with FRANCE GÉNÉTIQUE ÉLEVAGE, featuring an hour-long private showing of all the breeds on show at the SOMMET, all under one roof at the Zénith d’Auvergne ring.

A free cocktail snacks and drinks get-together has been arranged for the delegations to round off the evening.

Wednesday 2 October • 7.00pm > 8.00pm • Zénith arena

Sheep breeds go on show just for international visitorsThere will also be a private showing just for foreign visitors (delivered in French with English translation) of all the French sheep breeds at this year’s SOMMET, hosted at the sheep ring.

Thursday 3 October • 4:30pm > 5:30pm • Hall 5 

Lining up for this next edition, the very best in French-bred livestock and pedigreed genetics will be on show for buyers from across the globe. With the number of international visitors last year topping 4,500 people from 85 countries, the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE has anchored its status in the international arena as one of the world’s biggest professional trade shows dedicated to livestock production. This massive influx pushes the SOMMET to step up its efforts to steadily grow the number of foreign delegations attending every year. The potential for the SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGE to grow further undoubtedly hinges on reaching out into the global marketplace.

5HALLESPLANADE 1

ESPLANADE 2

ZÉNITH

CLUB D’AFFAIRES INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLUB

CENTRE DE CONFÉRENCESCONFERENCES CENTRE

HALL D’ACCUEILENTRANCE HALL

ENTRÉE 4ENTRANCE 4

ENTRÉE 3ENTRANCE 3

ENTRÉE 1ENTRANCE 1

ENTRÉE 2ENTRANCE 2

ESPACE ÉQUINSHORSE AREA

12HALL 3HALL

HALL

ESPLANADE 3

6HALL

SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGEGrande Halle d’Auvergne fairgroundsClermont-Ferrand | France

SOMMET DE L’ÉLEVAGEClermont-Ferrand, FranceGrande Halle d’Auvergne fairgroundsTel. (+33) (0)4 73 28 95 10info@sommet-elevage.frThe SOMMET is online:www.sommet-elevage.fr

PRESS CONTACTS

Véronique Tixier +33 (0)6 43 11 59 12veronique.tixier@comrp.fr

Qui Plus Est Press AgencyTel : +33 (0)4 73 74 62 35Anne-Cécile Runavot +33 (0)6 34 87 35 87anne-cecile.runavot@quiplusest.com

www.sommet-elevage.fr

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LIVESTOCK SHOWINGS - THE PROGRAMME

BEEF CATTLE (750 specimens)- NATIONAL BLONDE D’AQUITAINE COMPETITION

(400 animals) + cattle auction

- Charolais, Limousin, Salers, Aubrac, Gascon, Parthenais, Bazadais, Belgian Blue and Hereford competitions

- Maine Anjou, Ferrandais, Angus and Highland breed shows

DAIRY CATTLE (550 specimens)- Holstein, Montbéliard, Normande, French Brown, Simmental,

Abondance, Tarentaise and Jersey competitions

- Auctions held for selected French Brown heifers

SHEEP & GOAT (400 specimens)- National Ile-de-France competition

- Suffolk, Texel and Charollais sheep breed competitions

- Massif Central hardy sheep breeds competitions

- Lacaune, Romane, Vendéen, Berrichon du Cher, Bleu du Maine, Bizet, Charmoise and Dorset breed shows

- Hampshire and Suffolk rams on auction

- Alpine and Saanen goat breed shows

- Sheepdog breed shows

- Demonstrations showing herding dogs at work plus innovative sheep handling equipment

- Sheep-shearing competition and wool-spinning competition

HORSES (300 specimens)- Ardennais, Comtois, Breton and Percheron competitions

- Auxois breed show

- Demonstrations of equestrianism gear plus horses and donkeys at work

- Équidé Cup : pairwork and solo horse driving competition

- Pleasure-riding horse show competition

- Équid’Export horse sale

THE SOMMET’S WEB TV CHANNEL IS BACK AT WWW.SOMMET-ELEVAGE-TV.FR Don’t miss this year’s SOMMET highlights - all live-streamed or VOD-replayable!

ZENITH ARENA- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CLUB- Beef breeds championships- National BLONDE D’AQUITAINE championship

ESPLANADE 1- Tractors- Tillage- Sowing, crop spraying- Trailers

ESPLANADE 2- Feed distribution- Fodder harvesting- Handling and lifting materials- Foresty equipment

ESPLANADE 3- Livestock trailers- Livestock equipment- Farm buildings- Farm buildings equipment

ENTRANCE HALL- Education, professional training- Local authorities and administration

HALL 2DAIRY CATTLE- Dairy genetics- Dairy equipment- Milk process and storage- Animal health and hygiene- Animal feed- Farm building equipment- Animal farming services

HALL 3BEEF CATTLE- Beef breeds genetics- Animal health and hygiene- Animal feed- Farm building equipment- Animal farming services

HALL 5SHEEP AND GOATS- Sheep and goats genetics- Sheep and goats farming equipment

HALL 6- Farm buildings- Energies

HALL 1- Animal health and hygiene- Animal feed- Fodder seeds- Farm building equipment- Animal farming services- Pig, poultry and rabbit breeding