AquaFarm 2027 to mark 10 years in Pordenone as blue-food sector expands

AquaFarm will return to Pordenone, Italy, on Feb. 17-18, 2027 for its 10th edition as global aquaculture overtakes capture fisheries in production and Europe leans harder on imports. The event aims to become a broader European hub for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and related innovation.

Why it matters: - AquaFarm is positioning itself at the center of a supply chain that is becoming more important to food security, innovation and sustainability. - Global aquatic food production hit 235 million tonnes in 2024, with aquaculture accounting for 53% of aquatic animal production for the first time. - Europe’s dependence on imported fishery and aquaculture products, along with a widening trade deficit, raises the stakes for domestic production and supply-chain resilience. - The Mediterranean and Black Sea region remains strategically important for fishing, aquaculture and shellfish farming.

What happened: - AquaFarm announced its 10th edition will take place on Feb. 17-18, 2027, in Pordenone, Italy. - The event began in 2017 as an international exhibition and conference focused on sustainable aquatic food production. - The scope later expanded beyond aquaculture to include shellfish farming, seaweed farming and small-scale and commercial fishing. - The 2027 edition is backed by ICE Agenzia, the Italian Trade Agency.

The details: - AquaFarm has grown into a recurring gathering for operators, businesses, researchers and institutions across the aquatic-food supply chain. - The event draws about 3,000 professionals to Pordenone each year. - More than 25% of attendees come from outside Italy. - About one quarter of exhibitors come from EU and non-EU countries. - The program has included around 30 events, including conferences, technical workshops and industry forums. - Past editions have hosted institutional representatives from the European Commission and the FAO. - AquaFarm is organized with the Italian Fish Farmers Association (API) and the Mediterranean Aquaculture Association (AMA). - The event’s 2027 agenda will focus on technological innovation, animal health and well-being, product quality, climate adaptation, new farming models, greater use of algae, and sustainability in commercial and small-scale fishing. - The FAO said global fisheries and aquaculture production reached 235 million tonnes of aquatic animals and algae in 2024. - Aquatic animal production reached 195 million tonnes in 2024. - Aquaculture supplied 53% of aquatic animal production in 2024, overtaking capture fisheries. - In 2023, aquatic foods supplied at least 20% of the animal protein available to more than 40% of the world’s population. - The FAO’s Blue Transformation calls for sustainable aquaculture, responsible fisheries management and more efficient, inclusive and resilient value chains. - The European Union imported 5.9 million tonnes of fishery and aquaculture products in 2024. - Those imports were worth 29.9 billion euros. - The EU sector trade deficit stood at 21.61 billion euros in 2024. - European household spending on fishery and aquaculture products reached 62.8 billion euros in 2024, up 4% from 2023. - The sector still faces high prices and declining household consumption of fresh fish. - In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, combined marine fisheries and marine and brackish-water aquaculture production exceeds 2 million tonnes. - That regional supply chain generates 21.5 billion dollars. - Turkey and Greece are among the region’s leading aquaculture hubs. - Croatia, Slovenia and Italy are natural markets linked to the Pordenone platform.

Between the lines: - AquaFarm is trying to move from trade fair status to reference-point status for Europe’s sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector. - The timing reflects a broader shift: aquatic foods are no longer a niche category, but a growing part of the global food-security conversation. - Europe’s import reliance makes the region more sensitive to supply shocks, price pressure and competitiveness gaps. - The emphasis on climate adaptation, algae and new farming models suggests the sector is preparing for regulatory, environmental and production changes, not just market growth.

What's next: - AquaFarm will use the 2027 edition to deepen its international profile and expand its role as a forum for the blue-food economy. - Organizers are aiming to make sustainability measurable across the supply chain, not just discussed. - The Pordenone event is expected to bring together companies, researchers, institutions and operators around practical solutions for a changing sector.

The bottom line: - AquaFarm 2027 is betting that blue food is becoming central to Europe’s food system, and that Pordenone can become one of the sector’s key meeting points.