Schedule of events
Please note this programme will be regularly updated, you will receive the final version via mail
- 23 April
- 24 April CONFERENCE DAY & GALA DINNER
- 25 April SESSIONS & GENERAL ASSEMBLY
- 25 - 26 April FIELD VISITS
Pre-Conference Activities (SAI Platform Members Only)
13:00 – 17:30 | Trip to the Forbidden City
19:00 – 22:00 | Informal buffet dinner at the Kempinski Hotel kindly sponsored by 
Conference day: Feeding the World’s Rapidly Growing Urban Population
Time | Content | Speakers | ||||
7:20 – 8:00 (Optional) |
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8:00 – 8:10 | Welcome and setting the scene | Peter Erik Ywema, Director Strategy & Engagement, SAI Platform | ||||
8:10 – 8:40 | Keynote address |
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8:40 – 10:30 |
SESSION 1 – BUSINESS STRATEGY TO DELIVER IMPACTRoles and opportunities for the food sector in supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) |
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8:40 – 9:00 | The Sustainable Development Goals – Shaping business strategy through to 2030 – The roadmap for delivery and business solutions related to the agri-food sector | Carolyn Opio, Livestock Policy Officer, FAO | ||||
9:00 – 9:25 | Meeting the sustainability challenges of the food and agriculture sectors – Unlocking significant business opportunities | Jason Clay, Senior Vice-President of Markets, WWF | ||||
9:25 – 9:50 | China’s 13th five-year strategic plan for the agri-food sector; Sustainability – core to delivering the food supply for China’s future | Martin Ma, Managing Director, Solidaridad | ||||
9:50 – 10:15 | A practical approach to embedding the SDGs into corporate strategy | Adrian Greet, Global Sustainability Programme Director, Mars | ||||
10:15 – 10:30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Can the agriculture and food sectors play the role required of them in delivery of the SDGs – Wrap up | Moderator: Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries, Marks & Spencer | ||||
OBJECTIVES SESSION 1: This session will explore the SDGs and how they apply to both developed and emerging markets. It will explore the role of the food industry in supporting the delivery of the SDGs, appreciating which of the 17 are most relevant to the sector. | ||||||
10:30 – 11:00 | SDGs networking coffee break | |||||
11:00 – 13:00 |
SESSION 2 – TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION IN ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE |
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11:00 – 11:20 | Embedding a circular economy in the food industry | James Pennington, Project Specialist, Circular Economy, World Economic Forum | ||||
11:20 – 11:40 | The opportunities for farmers to raise capital going forward (farmer engagement technology) and the role of technology in farm investment in agriculture and food production | Dirk Jan Kennes, Global Strategy Farm Inputs, Rabobank | ||||
11:40 – 12:00 | The development of the Chinese potato industry as a staple food source and for its nutritional health value | Mr Zhang Hong, Research Fellow, Institute of Food Science Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science | ||||
12:00 – 12:15 | Latest trends in sustainable water management, a key priority in the future of global agriculture | Naty Barak, Chief Sustainability Officer, Netafim | ||||
12:15 – 13:00 | Discussion session | Moderator: Brian Lindsay, SAI Platform | ||||
OBJECTIVES SESSION 2: What innovation and technologies are required to feed the fast-growing urban population? To apply these technologies, what skills are required from our future workforce and how will we ensure agriculture attracts the technical expertise to operate this technologically advanced sector? | ||||||
13:00 – 14:00 | Networking lunch | |||||
14:00 – 15:00 |
SESSION 3 – LEARNINGS & SUCCESS STORIES AT FARM LEVEL |
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14:00 – 14:15 | Nestlé Dairy Farming Institute in Shuangcheng and Nescafé Coffee Center in Pu’er, China | Jonathan Dong, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, Nestlé China | ||||
14:15 – 14:30 | The sustainability approach to increasing output from the dairy perspective |
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14:30 – 14:45 | “+ Sustainable Soy” initiative, Cargill and The Nature Conservancy, Brazil and China | Giovana Baggio, Sustainable Agriculture Manager, The Nature Conservancy Brazil | ||||
14:45 – 15:00 |
Open Q&A session |
Moderator: Paul Gardner, Vice President Direct Materials, Danone | ||||
OBJECTIVES SESSION 3: This session will highlight a number of success stories where food industry players have implemented innovative initiatives as they strive to increase their efficiency and outputs in a sustainable manner. | ||||||
15:00 – 15:30 | Networking Coffee break kindly sponsored by ![]() |
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15:30 – 16:30 | Panel discussion and wrap up: Feeding the world’s rapidly growing urban population
Forum on urbanization, rural transformation and implications for food industry and security |
Moderator: Ulrike Sapiro, Director of Sustainability & Stakeholders, Coca-Cola & SAI Platform President |
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OBJECTIVES PANEL DISCUSSION: This session will bring together the findings of the earlier sessions and debate the key priorities for the food sector in the future to ensure that the SDGs are at the forefront when feeding the fast-growing urban population. This provoking panel debate will draw on knowledge and expertise from many different angles to show how a collaborative approach to sustainable agriculture can achieve the desired outputs. |
20:00-22:15 – Gala dinner 15th Anniversary Celebration kindly sponsored by 
Keynote speech:
Hans Jöhr, Corporate Head of Agriculture, Nestlé and SAI Platform Honorary President
Venue gala dinner: The Bai family mansion restaurant
AM: SAI PLATFORM ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS (OPEN TO ALL)
Time | Content | |
07:15 – 08:00 (optional) |
Tai Chi session | |
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration and coffee | |
09:00 – 09:30 | SAI Platform – meeting sustainable agriculture objectives through collaboration SAI Platform’s unique role in promoting sustainable agriculture: Insights on SAI Platform’s work now and in the future to drive change in food production worldwide |
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09:30 – 10:30 | Crop production (Arable, Vegetable, Fruit & Nuts) Discussion on sustainability challenges, opportunities and common practices. Case studies and learnings from China and other countries |
Livestock Discussion on sustainability challenges, opportunities and common practices in the livestock sector. Case studies and learnings from China and other countries |
10:30 – 11:15 | FSA Programme: Panel discussion on SAI Platform’s flagship programme on facilitating improved sustainability performance at the farm level | |
11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee Break | |
11:30 – 12:30 | Technology and Innovation for small holder farmers in China and Asia: discussion of key findings from collaborative SAI Platform & GIZ research | |
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch and networking | Working lunch for the Executive Committee & the Advisory Council |
PM: GENERAL ASSEMBLY (SAI PLATFORM MEMBERS ONLY)
Please note that the domestic flight taking you to the field visits will depart on the evening of April 25th, returning to Beijing on the evening of the 26th.
Time | Content |
13:30 – 13:45 | Welcome, anti-trust statement and roundtable of the participants:
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13:45 – 15:00 | Progress updates:
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15:00 – 15:45 | President and Treasurer Reports, Work Plan and Budget 2017
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15:45 – 16:00 | Closing remarks from SAI Platform President |
16:00 – 16:30 | Networking coffee break |
FIELD VISITS
For more information on the schedule of field visits go to the ‘Field Visits’ section.
Please note that the domestic flight taking you to some field visits will depart on the evening of April 25th, returning to Beijing on the evening of the 26th.
Please note that the deadline to register for the field visits, or change your choice of field visit, is March 25th.