Looking back on our event: cultivating international agri‑food opportunities together

On March 24, BIO had the pleasure of bringing together, alongside FIT, AWEX, hub.brussels and Beyond Chocolate, a wide range of actors from the Belgian agri‑food sector for an exchange focused on international opportunities. The late‑afternoon event was marked by collaboration, curiosity, and the shared ambition to build stronger, more sustainable, and better‑connected global value chains.

Opening Remarks: The Need for Collective Action

From the very first words of the opening speech by Joris Totté, CEO of BIO, the tone was set: in the face of profound transformations in the global agri‑food landscape, it has become essential to unite our expertise and tools to support Belgian companies at every stage of their international development.

Europe’s Vision: The Global Gateway Ambition

Bart Casier, from the European Commission, further illuminated this dynamic by highlighting the ambition of the Global Gateway: a Europe that goes beyond the role of donor to engage in genuine investment partnerships with Africa, Latin America and Asia. An approach built on cooperation, shared value creation, and next‑generation financing instruments that open markets, strengthen infrastructure and support high‑impact projects.

BIO’s Contribution: Financing, Partnerships and Local Impact

BIO then shared its vision and its role within this ecosystem. Through the presentation of Marie Watelet, the focus was placed on concrete ways of collaborating with Belgian companies: supporting local actors essential to supply chains, financing projects rooted in their territory, and co‑building solutions with Belgian companies whenever there is a relevant economic, social, or strategic link. The objective has remained the same from the beginning: helping companies grow where access to capital is limited, while generating lasting value for local communities.

Practical Inspiration: IDH Invest and the Power of Blended Finance

The testimony of Roel Messie, CEO of IDH Invest, offered a very concrete illustration of what innovative mechanisms such as the Farmfit Fund can achieve—from strengthening the capacity of agribusinesses to improving the incomes of hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers. A demonstration that when investment and technical assistance advance hand in hand, the transformation of entire sectors becomes possible.

Left to right : Roel Messie (IDH), Marie Watelet (BIO), Bart Casier (European Commission), Joris Totté (BIO)

An Engaging Dialogue: Questions That Drive the Sector Forward

The Q&A session confirmed the audience’s interest and engagement. Exchanges were direct and stimulating: how can export instruments be aligned with BIO’s financing? What role can countries like Ukraine or Botswana play within the current mandate? How can collaboration within “Team Belgium” be further strengthened to better prepare markets and companies? Discussions also addressed Global Gateway coordination, the interplay between national investors and European instruments, and the importance of preparing markets to ensure project success. These questions all reflect a Belgian sector that is attentive, ambitious, and ready to move forward.

Closing Thoughts: A Shared Commitment to Sustainable Global Value Chains

This event was an opportunity to reaffirm what unites us: the conviction that the Belgian agri‑food sector has a role to play in the transition toward more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable global value chains. And that this transition is built together—with companies, institutions, our European partners, and local actors in our countries of operation.

We warmly thank all participants for their presence and engagement.

We already look forward to the next steps, the projects to come and the collaborations that will undoubtedly take shape.