Overview
- The 50th Alimentaria + Hostelco underway in Barcelona features about 3,300 exhibitors and a projected 110,000 professional visitors, with one in four coming from abroad.
- Spain’s agriculture minister said the EU‑Mercosur agreement is slated for provisional application from May 1 and pledged safeguards to protect livestock and farm producers.
- Startup exhibits focused on circular and alternative proteins, including cricket flour from Grillco, spent‑grain snacks by Regrain Co., algal‑based emulsifiers from Poseidona, and a fermentation‑driven clean‑label preservative from Noiet Foods.
- Hostelco expanded its hospitality‑equipment footprint by 40% to 20,000 square meters and showcased digital tools such as AI and robotics, including a fully automated coffee‑serving arm.
- Organizers reported only modest disruption from geopolitical tensions, noting seven exhibitor withdrawals and some travel hurdles but no broad impact on attendance or deal‑making.