The 12th edition of Food Chain is an opportunity to hear from FSQA and cold chain-related engineering teams at food production, food processing and food supply (wholesale and retail) organisations in the GCC region. Presenting in tandem, they bring a unique synthesis of food safety and refrigeration best practices in their respective organisations and map out further areas of possible improvement, which is an opportunity for the cold chain industry to respond through a granular presentation of technological solutions that enable greater reliability, and energy efficiency – for reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

Food Chain remains the only events in the GCC region that connects the food industry with the cold chain industry. Produced by CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Middle East magazine on the air conditioning and refrigeration industry for 20 years, the food industry-dedicated conference fosters discussions on policy, regulation, enforcement, business and technology (hardware as well as software – digitalisation), and provides a precious opportunistic platform for focused and dedicated buyer-seller interaction relating to critical food-specific cold chain infrastructure.

Digital cold chain

The digital transformation of the food cold chain, including retail aspects, is one of the key talking points of the 12th edition of Food Chain. Digital technologies are blowing significant changes into all aspects of the cold chain, and the benefits, in the form of improvements in food safety & quality assurance (FSQA) and food security, are palpable. From optimising cold chain-related operations to predictive maintenance, digitalisation has an increasingly significant role to play, drawing on such tools as IoT, blockchain and AI/ML.

Food Chain is a coming together of all food and agri-cold chain disciplines, including post-harvest, 3PL cold storage warehousing companies, dedicated warehouses (large, medium and small), transport refrigeration (body-building, condensing unit and fleet management) experts, government regulators, contractors, consultants, technology solutions providers, supermarkets, hypermarkets and other sectoral end-users for macro- and micro-discussions.

• Legacy cold chain systems and areas of improvement for better reliability and energy efficiency (towards lowering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and meeting ESG goals). Scope includes compressors, insulation, etc.
• How is regulation keeping pace?
• The compliance and enforcement ecosystem
• Sector update: Cold chain logistics (warehousing and transport refrigeration)
• The GCC region’s digital transformation
• The progress of AI- and IoT-based solutions in building performance: Drawing parallels with the food industry
• Incorporating Digital Twin in the food cold chain and the whole gamut of predictive maintenance and self-optimisation solutions: Opportunities and challenges; the role of AI, IoT and BMS in realtime monitoring of the temperature and relative humidity in all food production and processing facilities and warehouses
• Financial planning, budgeting and leeway for new technologies and pace of transformation
• The current state of health of large, medium and small cold storage warehouses in terms of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) performance – the quality of specialised refrigerationrelated consultancy and contracting services, plus operations and maintenance; The compulsions and constraints faced by specialised refrigeration consultants and contractors – the larger picture – and how they are possibly affecting or impairing their ability to deliver optimum solutions with an eye on energy efficiency and reliability
• The integrity of cold storage warehouses, and the burden of liability: A close look at the current scenario, and the responsibility of the owner of the food business, landlord of the property, consultant and contractor
• A role for regulators in enhancing the quality of cold storage construction through specific building codes for greater reliability and for conserving energy
• The role of Warehouse Management Systems, and the importance of training and capacity-building of warehouse personnel, including managers and food handlers
• International transport refrigeration standards, codes and best practices: What aspects in them can the region look to adopt?
• Fleet health: Examining the condition of transport refrigeration vehicles plying on the roads of the GCC region, in terms of hygiene (seamless flooring, handling practices, maintenance), insulation (construction and assembly of panels, including proper interlocking) and air flow
• The business model of relying on leasing and rental companies for transport refrigeration vehicles

Key Sectors

• Food production houses (meat, dairy, seafood, poultry, fruits & vegetables)
• Food processing businesses
• Post-harvest facilities, cold chain hubs, ultra-low oxygen centres, etc.
• Supermarkets and hypermarkets
• Fulfilment centres
• All-pervasive MNCs, and homegrown restaurant and fast-food chains (standalone and as integrated outlets in five star hotels)

Why attend?

• Gain Actionable Insights: Access advanced strategies for addressing IAQ challenges in the built environment.
• Network & Collaborate: Connect with regulators, manufacturers, and suppliers to optimise decision-making.
• Experience Live Solutions: Participate in live demonstrations and explore innovative exhibits showcasing real-world solutions.