The Italian Food Lab hosts Michelin Starred Chefs’ Live Cooking shows at Gulfood 2022

With €200 Million worth of F&B products exported to the UAE, Italy will be represented by 180 companies at the fair.

Dubai, UAE; 13 February 2022: Italy will bring to Gulfood’s visitors an incredible gourmet experience with a packed programme of live cooking shows and tasting sessions at the Italian Food Lab. Located in Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, the open kitchen of the Italian Food Lab will host some of the most famous Italian Chefs working in the UAE who will prepare some traditional and modern Italian dishes using only authentic Italian ingredients.

Organized by the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in the UAE and the Consulate General in Dubai the Italian Food Lab will be part of the Italy Pavilion at Gulfood, the annual largest F&B exhibition that opened today and will run until 17 February at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Italian Food Lab initiative is part of “Italy is simply extraordinary #beIT” campaign, that encourages the conscious consumption of authentic Made in Italy products

During the 5 days event, Michelin Start Chefs like Heinz Beck will be showcasing their cooking skills and sharing their best tips to prepare some authentic Italian dishes. Visitors of Gulfood will discover the genuinity and authenticity of the Italian cuisine which harmoniously combine tasty and healthy food.

Italy is showcasing a large variety of Italian products such as bakery products, ice creams, canned fruits, preserves, gourmet and frozen foods, olive oils, coffee, juices, cereals and snacks, with 180 companies participating at Gulfood.

The Italian cuisine ranks no.1 favourite among UAE residents and this is reflected in the trade of F&B products between Italy and UAE;

Amedeo Scarpa, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, said: “With an average yearly F&B  export of 200 mln Euros, Italy continues to be one of the most important suppliers of the UAE the total amount of  agri-food exports to the UAE reaching euro 189 Million in 2021 an increase of +27% on the same period of 2020 and +4.5% on 2019

“The Italian food products are appreciated all around the world for their diversity, taste and quality.

Italy agrifood global export has reached the record of over 52 billion euro increased by 11% and the UAE is one of our most important trade partners. Italian beverages (€ 38 mln), flours and products for bakery (€ 33 mln) and cocoa and cocoa based products (€ 19.5 mln) are the categories more requested by UAE market. Animal and vegetables’ oils and fats have registered a spike in demand (+ 133 % from 2020) whereas the import of fish, crustaceans and molluscs have been constantly growing in the last 2 years with +106% variations in the value of imported goods from 2019”.

The success of Made in Italy also lies on green agriculture, the most organic in Europe with more than 80.000 employees, the largest numbers of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin  in EU countries and more than 5.000 traditional agri-food products.

The Italian Trade Agency has invited local and Italian experts to discuss about the future of the Food industry and Agribusiness during two Innovation Talks that will take place at Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020:

• Sunday 13^th February: “The Future of the Italian Food system between Innovation, Safety and Sustainability”
• Wednesday 16^th February: “Italian Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture and Circular Economy”

A full programme of the talks is available here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/122MUfCqxdjbB_dXUXZE9sEvHK7_zyJvx/view?usp=sharing

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