Conferenza 2025 – Presentazioni

“Sorghum has all the qualities needed to become a crop of the future in Europe.”

Pierre Pagès, President, Sorghum ID

Bringing together 200 participants from 27 countries, the 4th European Sorghum Congress, organized in Budapest by Sorghum ID and FNPSMS, illustrated the momentum and growing interest surrounding this crop of the future. Researchers, seed producers, manufacturers, cooperatives, processors, and public institutions came together, demonstrating the mobilization of the entire value chain, from research to marketing, in support of the development of sorghum in Europe and beyond.

 

Plenary session on Wednesday, October 8

Welcome speech
Pierre Pagès, President, Sorghum ID

Introduction, Sorghum sector overview and economic information
Sorghum world market
Arthur Boy, Economic affairs officer, AGPM
European sorghum market
Pierre Guillaumin, Economics & international services, FNPSMS

Round table: Success Story, Sorghum in Hungary
László Balogh, Crop manager, Lidea Seeds
Gábor Feczák, CEO, Agroszemek Kft.
Fazekas Miklós, Co-manager, Alfaseed Kft.
Dr István Dezső Kovács, Director crop trade Department, Kite

Testimony: Sorghum Checkoff: Association creation and relation with downstream of the sector
A U.S. case study of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program
John Duff, Founder, Serō Ag Strategies
Florentino Lopez, Agricultural Consultant, Creando Mañana

Conclusion and program of the day
Valérie Brochet, Delegate, Sorghum ID

Workshop 1: Animal feed

Clarifying common misconceptions about sorghum through a SWOT analysis, highlighting its resilience and alignment with European sustainability goals
Thierry Lecat, Business Manager Western Europe, Advanta seeds

Composition of the grain sorghum and its use in feeding industry
Markus Wiltafsky-Martin, Managing Director, Evonik Industries

Nutrition for poultry and swine: Sorghum as a feed ingredient for monogastrics
Dr Varga Orsolya, R&D Manager, Bonafarm-Bábolna Takarmány Kft.

Sorghum in pork feeding – the main plus and contra
Marcin Sońta, Assistant Professor Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Université des sciences de la vie de Varsovie

Introduction of sorghum feed, the Italian example of the Parmigiano Reggiano consortium
Gabriele Gasbarrini, Head of business development, RV Venturoli

Vertical integration of feed production with sorghum
Dr István Dezső Kovács, Director crop trade Department, Kite

Workshop 2: Animal food

Issues of sorghum cultivation and utilization in Hungary
Dr Zoltán Gergácz, Chairman of the Board / Agricultural Engineer, Kányai and Nágocsi Agricultural Ltd

Grain quality: Global approach to integrate new targets in breeding work
Jöel Alcouffe, Head of Sorghum Breeding, RAGT 2n

Gelatinization of sorghum starch: Technological and Nutritional Importance
Beatrice Saggiorato, Sales Account and Operations Manager, La Veronese Molino e Riseria Martini

How innovate with sorghum-based solutions: ORI SORGHO, incremental approach
Mohamed Zellama, Founder and CEO, ORI Sorgho Smartfood

 Sorghum food processing evidence that sorghum is a strategic ingredient for the food industry.
From breakfast to dinner, a huge variety of Sorghum food 
Monia Caramma, Sustainable Food Researcher, Monia Caramma

Innovating with sorghum: Building a market from (almost) scratch in France
Aurelien Amir, Co-founder, Vieille Graine

Workshop 3: Diversification

Feeding the future: A smart choice for a changing climate
Dr Jóvér János , Chief Plant Breeder, PhD, Alfaseed Kft.

Breeding for hybrids & perennial sorghum at ICRISAT
Ephrem Habyarimana, Principal scientist – Sorghum Breeding, ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

Bioenergy production, which variety to use? Varieties ideotypes and brazilian examples
Rafael Parrella, Researcher, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo

Biogas in Europe: focus on EU regulation
Tadeg Grall, Consultant, GRDF

Sorghum for anaerobic digestion
Bertrand Duprat, Farmer, Association des Agriculteurs Méthaniseurs de France

Role of Sorghum in biofuels
Francis Borges, Head of Sustainable Value Chain Projects, Advanta Seeds

Round table: Exchanges around global vision of sorghum development towards bioenergy production
John Duff, Founder, Serō Ag Strategies
Francis Borges, Head of Sustainable Value Chain Projects, Advanta Seeds
Rafael Parrella, Researcher, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo

Plenary session on Thursday, October 9

Poster session
Time for discussion and poster presentations by participants in the dining area

Introduction conference
Martin Gomez, Development Manager, FNPSMS

RiSorgo: from pitchfork to fork.
 A three-year project to go beyond agronomic characterization and create the link between food industry and farmers.
 Monia Caramma, Sustainable Food Researcher, Monia Caramma
Tiziana Vonlanthen, Scientific Technical Assistant, Agroscope

Round table: Feedback from the workshop sessions
Monia Caramma, Sustainable Food Researcher, Monia Caramma
Thierry Lecat, Business Manager Western Europe, Advanta seeds
Raphael Van Hyfte, Business Development and Marketing Manager, Semences de Provence

Sorghum lobbying to international institutions, testimony and perspectives
Nate Blum, Chief Executive Officer, Sorghum United Foundation

Closing remarks
Pierre Pagès, President, Sorghum ID

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