Utrecht, The Netherlands - 10 June 2026
From 2 to 4 June 2026, VICTAM International and GRAPAS Europe returned to Jaarbeurs Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together 7,038 industry professionals from 127 countries for three days of trade, technology launches, knowledge exchange and international business meetings across the feed, grain handling, flour milling, pet food, aquafeed and related processing industries.
The event connected technology suppliers, producers, millers, processors, nutrition specialists, ingredient companies, associations, researchers and decision-makers from across the animal feed and grain processing value chain. Across the exhibition floor and conference programme, participants explored new machinery, processing technologies, ingredients, services and expertise, while exhibitors reported high-quality conversations, concrete commercial leads and valuable follow-up opportunities. This confirmed VICTAM International and GRAPAS Europe not only as a showcase for innovation, but as an active business platform for investment, collaboration and industry development.
Despite the difficult and disruptive situation in the Middle East, VICTAM was pleased to welcome a strong international audience to Utrecht. A notable development this year was the growth in visitors from Eastern Europe, representing 10% of total visitor attendance. This underlines the increasing relevance of VICTAM International for emerging and developing markets across the European animal feed and grain industries.
A sector-focused platform for trade and investment
VICTAM International and GRAPAS Europe served professionals across the full feed, grain and processing value chain. The exhibition floor brought together companies active in feed production, grain handling and storage, flour and rice milling, pet food production, aquafeed, nutrition, ingredients, biomass, automation, packaging, process control and related technologies.
The strong atmosphere on the exhibition floor reflected the purpose of the event: enabling companies to present solutions, meet qualified buyers, exchange technical knowledge and build new partnerships. Active stands, live demonstrations, international meetings and sector-specific conversations showed that the industry came to Utrecht not only to network, but to move business forward.
This was also reflected in feedback from exhibitors. Salmatec described the exhibition as 'an excellent platform to strengthen existing partnerships, establish new contacts and exchange ideas about current market developments and future projects.' 4B Group also highlighted the commercial relevance of the event, referring to 'productive few days, with great discussions around feed milling, process efficiency and plant performance, and the opportunity to connect with customers, partners and industry professionals from around the world.'
A strong programme connecting science and industry
One of the key highlights of VICTAM International 2026 was the extensive conference and seminar programme. The event provided a platform for both scientific insights and practical industry knowledge, addressing relevant challenges and opportunities in feed and grain processing.
A central part of the programme was the 3rd International Feed Technology Congress, IFTC 2026, organised by the VICTAM Foundation and Wageningen University & Research. Under the theme 'Animal Feed Technology: Science meets Industry', the congress brought together scientists, technologists and industry pioneers to discuss the interaction between feed materials and process technology.
Part 1 of IFTC focused on topics such as processing effects, decision support systems for pelleting, extrusion, microbial
protein, early detection methods, digital twin development and hammer mill performance. Part 2 continued with an industrial meeting and strategic workshop, covering subjects including maximum profit models, autonomous feed mill control, decarbonisation of the pet food drying process, feed processing intensity, ingredient development, electrostatic separation and future technology research. The congress concluded with a plenary discussion on technological priorities for the coming years.
Alongside IFTC, the wider programme included several highly relevant industry sessions and congresses. Feed Milling Maximised, organised by Perendale Publishers Ltd., highlighted core feed processing technologies and practical solutions that support efficiency, quality and sustainable production. ANDRITZ described the event as 'a strong few days shaped by conversations around efficiency, digitalization, and how producers are adapting to changing demands across feed and biofuel,' adding that four of its experts contributed to key industry topics on stage.
The fully attended GMP+ session focused on the role of feed safety, sustainability and value chain cooperation in meeting the changing requirements of the sector. Bringing together perspectives from feed, food and retail, the session underlined the importance of shared standards, reliable data, transparency and collaboration across the chain.
'The market is ready. That was one of the clearest takeaways from the GMP+ conference at VICTAM International 2026. Leaders from across feed, food and retail came together around one shared challenge: how to make sustainability work across the entire value chain. The discussion showed that progress does not require another new initiative, but alignment through shared standards, better data, greater transparency, less complexity and more collaboration. As with feed safety, progress happens faster when the industry moves together.' - GMP+ International
The Circular Feed Symposium organised together by FEFAC, NEVEDI and BFA, explored the next frontier of circular feed. The programme brought together industry and policy perspectives on sustainability, regulation, circular raw materials, alternative proteins and the role of innovation in future feed production.
The technical visit also formed part of the broader programme, offering participants an additional opportunity to connect practical industry experience with the themes discussed during the exhibition and conferences.
Technical tour: from exhibition floor to feed production in practice
As part of VICTAM International 2026, a technical tour was organised to give participants a closer look at feed production and innovation in practice. A group of interested visitors was taken beyond the exhibition floor to visit Feed Design Lab in Wanssum and the Fransen Gerrits feed production facilities.
At Feed Design Lab, participants were introduced to the role of practical research, training and trial feed production in the animal feed sector. Feed Design Lab brings together research, education and test feed production in one facility and operates a pilot plant that can be used for technological testing, demonstrations and the production of test and trial feeds. This gave participants a valuable insight into how new feed concepts, technologies and raw materials can be tested before being applied on a larger scale. The tour also included a visit to Fransen Gerrits, a Dutch family-owned feed company with a long history in the sector.
The company produces feed for pigs, cattle and goats at specialised production locations in the Netherlands and combines feed production with product development, laboratory work and practical innovation. During the visit, participants were able to see how a modern feed mill operates in practice and how knowledge, technology and production processes come together in daily feed manufacturing.
The technical tour was well received by participants. Marco Lara of FTI described the visit as highly valuable, saying that he had learned a great deal in a short period of time and that the tour had broadened his perspective on the industry. His response reflected the added value of connecting the international exhibition with real-life examples of feed production, research and innovation.
By offering this technical tour, VICTAM International 2026 gave participants the opportunity to experience the industry beyond the exhibition halls and to connect the technologies presented on the show floor with practical applications in feed production and product development.
Innovation at the heart of the exhibition floor
Innovation was at the heart of the exhibition floor at VICTAM International 2026. Exhibitors presented a wide range of new equipment, technologies and services, with several companies using the event as the stage for product launches and industry announcements. This strong focus on innovation was also reflected in the AFTaN Feed Technology Awards and the GRAPAS Innovation Awards, organised by Perendale Publishers Ltd. In total, 24 applications were submitted for the awards, underlining the high level of development across the feed, grain, flour milling and related processing industries. During the award programme, the shortlisted entries were presented to the jury and industry audience, showcasing forward-thinking solutions, technological progress and new approaches that contribute to the future of the industry. The winners were announced during the Exhibitor Cocktail on 2 June. The AFTaN Feed Technology Award was awarded to Tietjen Verfahrenstechnik GmbH for the Large Hammer Mill FD 32 Pro. The GRAPAS Innovation Award, recognising
innovation in the flour milling and grain processing industries, was awarded to STIF for the Compact Flameless Device VIGIFLAM VI. The AFTaN runner-up awards were presented to Ottevanger for the Progress Monoroll Pellet Mill and ZCME for the SZLH1208 Ring-Die Pellet Mill. The GRAPAS runner-up award was presented to Koch & Brook for the 3DPro2300. The highly commended innovations in the AFTaN category were Sustell by dsm-firmenich and the FAMSUN Unattended Pellet Mill Control System by FAMSUN. In the GRAPAS category, highly commended recognition was given to the Bühler Nutrex 7 Series by Bühler and Librixer Comminution Technology for Whole Grain Flour Processing by Librixer.
The full shortlist also reflected the broad scope of innovation presented at the event. In the GRAPAS category, shortlisted entries included Anton Paar Brabender with the ExtensoGraph [modular], Maxi-Lift with the Plastic Elevator Bucket, and TAPCO with the Tapco CCHD-LP Low Profile Elevator Bucket. In the AFTaN category, additional shortlisted entries included Aerox with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), AMABOX B.V. with The AMABOX System, Andritz with ECS V2.0, Expansion Control System, Dedoussis Engineering Limited with e-batch DE, Dr Eckel with Anta®Sync, FEEDTECH with IsDeCa Mixing Principle Technology, Lvlogics with SiloSpi™, and PLP Systems with Vertical MicroBlend.
Together, the winning, runner-up, highly commended and shortlisted entries demonstrated the creativity, safety improvements, process optimisation, digitalisation and engineering expertise currently shaping the future of feed, grain, flour milling and related processing industries. Among the innovations presented on the exhibition floor was also the launch by Van Mourik, further demonstrating how companies continue to use VICTAM International as a platform to introduce new solutions to an international audience.
VICTAM Africa officially launched
A special moment during VICTAM International 2026 was the official launch of VICTAM Africa, introducing the next step in VICTAM's international event portfolio. The new event will take place from 13 to 15 June 2028 in Cape Town, South Africa, and is being developed in cooperation with AFMA (Association of Feed Manufactures Association South Africa) and PFI (Pet Food Industry Association South Africa).
During the launch session, Sebas van den Ende, General Manager of VICTAM, introduced the new event and shared the vision behind VICTAM Africa. “VICTAM Africa is a natural next step in our international portfolio. We believe the African feed, grain, flour milling and processing industries hold significant growth potential, and that the region needs a
dedicated platform where knowledge, technology, investment and local market expertise can come together,” says Van den Ende. “Together with AFMA and PFI, we look forward to building an event that supports industry development and creates real value for companies active in, or looking towards, the African market.”
The session also featured Corné de Louw of Rabobank, who provided insights into the investment potential of the African market and the opportunities this creates for international technology suppliers, producers and industry partners. The launch of VICTAM Africa marks an important step in VICTAM's international growth strategy. It reflects the increasing relevance of the African market and the need for a dedicated meeting place where knowledge, technology, investment and industry development can come together.
Looking ahead to VICTAM International 2029
Following the successful 2026 edition in Utrecht, VICTAM is already looking ahead to the next European flagship edition.
VICTAM International 2029 will take place from 13 to 15 June 2029 in Amsterdam
The move to Amsterdam marks the next step for the event in Europe. With its international airport, strong transport connections and global appeal, Amsterdam makes the event even more accessible for visitors, exhibitors and industry professionals from across Europe and beyond.
According to Sebas van den Ende, General Manager of VICTAM, the move reflects VICTAM’s ambition to continue developing the event as the leading international platform for the feed, grain, flour milling and related processing industries. “Amsterdam offers excellent international accessibility and a strong business environment,” said Sebas van den Ende.
“By bringing VICTAM International to the capital of the Netherlands, we want to make it even easier for our global audience to connect, do business and experience the innovations shaping the future of our industry.” VICTAM looks forward to welcoming the international animal feed, grain, milling and processing industries again in Amsterdam in 2029.
Looking back on a successful edition
With 7,038 industry professionals, a strong international audience, a sector-focused conference programme, visible innovation and concrete business activity, VICTAM International 2026 strengthened its position as a global event for the feed, grain and processing industries.
Exhibitor feedback confirmed the value of the event as both a business platform and an industry meeting point. Ottevanger described the edition as 'a busy stand, many visitors, familiar faces, valuable conversations, a special gathering for guests and a great evening with customers, partners and colleagues.' Morillon Systems also looked back on 'an edition rich in meetings, discussions, and promising projects.'
VICTAM Corporation would like to thank all exhibitors, visitors, speakers, partners, sponsors and media representatives for their contribution to this edition. Their participation, knowledge and commitment made VICTAM International 2026 a valuable meeting point for the entire industry.
Source: Email/GFMM
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