SPACE 2024: THE WORLD’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR SHINES IN RENNES
SPACE 2024 took place from Tuesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 19 at the Parc-Expo in Rennes, France. With its 38th worldwide edition, SPACE was a great success, under a splendid sun and in an extremely constructive atmosphere.
The 1210 exhibitors, including 370 from 37 countries, welcomed 101,757 visitors (12% more than in 2023), including 12,534 international visitors from 120 countries. This is a record number of visitors for a three-day fair and reflects the exceptional density of this edition.
SPACE 2024 provided an opportunity for high-quality discussions, thanks to a favorable economic climate for the livestock sectors in Western France. According to the general opinion of the exhibitors, visitors came to their stands with very diverse projects. They all emphasized the high quality of the debates and the prospects for agricultural development that they made it possible to plan. Many visitors, French and foreign, came to SPACE in search of suppliers and advice to help them make our agriculture increasingly efficient and sustainable to meet the global food challenge.
A STRONG POLITICAL PRESENCE AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
For the first time since 1995, due to the political context in France, SPACE did not host a sitting Minister of Agriculture. However, a large number of French and international policy makers, close to the field and to the concerns of farmers, came to meet the participants of the Fair.
Continue after advertising.
Among the various visits from national organizations, about twenty representatives of the National Commission for Organic Agriculture of the French Chambers of Agriculture were interested in discovering the range of products and services on offer at the Fair.
The theme of this year's “Space for the Future” was “Generation Livestock: Let's invent the future”. This theme perfectly reflects the overall spirit of the event. Numerous debates, well-attended round tables, practical solutions on display... a whole range of topics covering the transfer of ownership, financing, organization and reorganization of working time... to answer the crucial questions for the future: how to attract and pass on, how to retain employees, how to understand each other between generations, how to chart your own course... so many issues that, once again, made the Space for the Future a real melting pot for the future of livestock farming in Western France.
INNOVATION AND YOUTH AT THE HEART OF THE FAIR
SPACE successfully engaged young people with various initiatives. Two years ago, they launched the “Youth Space” to provide a platform for young generations to express their professional aspirations. This was complemented by the Tech’Agri Challenge by Innov’Space, showcasing innovative student projects aimed at helping farmers. This year, SPACE introduced the Farming Simulator, which was a hit and attracted many participants. They also welcomed social media influencers who share their experiences as young farmers, with their signing sessions being a highlight of the week.
A RECORD YEAR FOR THE INNOV'SPACE
Another highlight of the fair was the presentation of the Innov’Space trophies and the eight special mentions. This year, Innov’Space had a record number of stars, with 48 awardees. All these innovations, reflecting the remarkable expertise of the awarded companies, are highly sought after by visitors. This year’s innovations focused particularly on improving working conditions for farmers, animal welfare, and health and safety.
A GLOBAL SHOWCASE OF GENETIC EXCELLENCE
The animal presentations and competitions at SPACE showcased exceptional genetic quality. The strict health measures and official exemptions allowed these events to proceed almost as planned despite the uncertain health context caused by EHE and Bluetongue epidemics. The competitions featured high-quality animals, and the “Excelencia Carne” and “Genómic Élite” auctions, now international references, were also of a high standard. This year’s Supreme Championship, unique in the world of fairs, awarded a Pie Rouge cow, highlighting the diversity and excellence of SPACE’s animal presentations. The featured breeds, Limousin and Prim’Holstein, provided exceptional moments of professionalism and quality for genetics enthusiasts.
A WINNING BET FOR THE FUTURE!
Visitors to the SPACE Fair highly appreciated the new products and services offered, as well as the overall organization of the event. They enjoyed the new dedicated spaces, such as the village of award-winning Breton products and the new “Terrace Space” with a variety of dining services. The return of the exhibitors’ breakfast on Thursday was also well-received. The evenings at SPACE, from the “Before” event to the closing night for Young Farmers, were filled with a great atmosphere of exchange and conviviality.
SPACE 2024 showcased the modernity of agriculture with open debates on the challenges of farm succession. Professionals found technical solutions, innovations, advice, and support to thrive in their profession and ensure a comfortable future. This event demonstrated the attractiveness and responsiveness of our agricultural models to the sector’s expectations, proving to be an inspiring and shining example.
We are pleased to welcome you to SPACE 2025, which will be held from Tuesday, September 16 to Thursday, September 18 at the Parc-Expo in Rennes, France.
