INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana farmers could reap benefits from a five-day event held in October in Pairs. Megan Bixler, International Trade Manager for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture attended “SIAL Paris,” billed as the world’s largest food innovation exhibition.

There was a lot of reaching out between food makers and prospective buyers from across the globe but it could take months to know if those efforts were profitable, said Bixler.

“I made some connections and those sales leads got passed on.  Export sales can take a long time, so, it’s hard to say right now if they’ve led to any business,” she said.

There were about 7,000 exhibitors from 200 countries along with 265,000 visitors under one roof. 

Bixler was also there on behalf of the Indiana Soybean Alliance to try and drum up additional business for things like high oleic soybean oil and soybean meal produced in the state. 

In addition, Bixler played a supporting role for Maple Leaf Farms, Weaver Popcorn Bulk, American Beverage Marketers and Golden Waffles, which were the companies from Indiana in attendance.

She said the next, most important step now is for producers wanting a contract to get back with prospective customers they met during the trade show to discuss specifics like pricing, logistics and shipping costs. 

“You’re getting so many business cards, shaking so many hands, meeting so many people and so are the customers.  It’s important you follow up with them,” she said.

SIAL Paris held every two years has grown considerably since 1964 when it first drew about 600 exhibitors, including 340 outside of France.

The event stems from a period when Western Europe in the 1950’s was restoring food production to levels prior to the shortages caused by World War II.

Eventually, the recoveries in food production and the economy there sparked interest in doing more importing and exporting to meet the needs of their consumers and those abroad.

Bixler said she was both stunned and excited to be part of what looked like a sea of humanity from all over the world focused strictly on promoting food and agriculture.

“I’ve definitely never been to one that large before.  It was incredible,” she said.

Bixler said the potential benefits from such a trip for Indiana are high because of agriculture being a major driver of the state’s economy along with the volume and variety of products offered here.

In addition to being one of the top producers of corn and soybeans, Indiana is a leading supplier of duck, turkey, chickens, eggs and pork.

Maple Leaf Farms headquarters at Leesburg, Ind., in the northern part of the state, for example, produces anywhere from 9 to 12 million ducks a year, according to the company’s webpage.

It’s products include whole duck, roast half-duck and duck breast. 

In 1958, the operation turned out 280,000 ducks in its first year. 

“A lot of countries when they think of Ag, they think of California. Just being there to promote what Indiana has to offer is just so important,” she said.

Bixler, who attended two other international food trade shows earlier this year in Indianapolis and Indonesia, said adding more of those venues to the calendar is a priority for ISDA.

“We’re hoping to get more involved in the future,” she said.