Introduction
Rabobank is delighted to have you join us for the Asia Food & Agribusiness Advisory Board (FAAB) Meeting 2025, bringing together key players from the food & agriculture sector in Asia.
This year we will be joined by Rabobank Chairman and CEO Stefaan Decraene, Vice Chair of Rabobank’s Supervisory Board Johan van Hall and Regional Head and CEO, Europe, Africa & Asia Karin van Selm.
Rabobank is delighted to have you join us for the Asia Food & Agribusiness Advisory Board (FAAB) Meeting 2025, bringing together key players from the food & agriculture sector in Asia. This year we will be joined by Rabobank Chairman and CEO Stefaan Decraene, Vice Chair of Rabobank’s Supervisory Board Johan van Hall and Regional Head and CEO, Europe, Africa & Asia Karin van Selm.
During the meeting, we will take a look at the ever-evolving global landscape, with its volatile markets and geopolitical challenges. With change being the only constant, companies are having to operate in an environment that is increasingly edging towards a new, unprecedented era. Suddenly, tactical decisions that would have been taken in an afterthought yesterday become strategic dilemmas today. High growth regions can become capital traps almost overnight. So many different factors, including an ever-changing value chain, can make traditional earning models obsolete in a matter of years.
Sound strategic decision-making during this period of great changes requires deep thinking about the evolution of the economic backdrop against which companies are operating. In the food and agriculture field, navigating these uncertain times and continuing to grow will depend strongly on astute capital allocation and cost management, as well as a keen understanding of how the value chain is evolving. FAAB 2025 aims to provide insights that meaningfully contribute to your company’s capital allocation decisions, and ultimately help you thrive and stay competitive amid these uncertain times.
Together with a powerful suite of content and a strong line-up of speakers, we look forward to a great exchange of insights and ideas, and most of all, to welcoming you to FAAB 2025 in Shanghai!
Welcome Address
Stefaan Decraene
Chairman and CEO
Karin van Selm
Regional Head and CEO, Europe, Africa & Asia
On behalf of our team at Rabobank, we would like to warmly welcome you to the 2025 Asia Food & Agribusiness Board (FAAB) meeting. We are thrilled you have made the time to join us at the iconic Waldorf Astoria on the Bund in Shanghai. Thank you for your support and participation in our flagship food & agriculture event, that gathers key players like yourself for a powerful exchange of insights and ideas.
Over the last few years, it has become increasingly clear that the global landscape and economy are rapidly evolving, with volatile markets and geopolitical challenges becoming the new normal. In other words, change is the only constant. Companies in the food & agri (F&A) realm are not exempt from having to figure out how to pivot and adapt to this new, never-been-seen era, and being able to astutely ride the waves of an ever-changing value chain will be key to succeeding in the years ahead.
Navigating these uncertain times will require making strong strategic decisions and a keen understanding of how the economic backdrop is evolving. Optimally allocating capital and making strong investment decisions, focusing on productivity and managing cost will all contribute to companies being able to tap on opportunities to grow and stay competitive amid such a challenging macroeconomic landscape.
Over the next two days, we encourage open dialogue, and the sharing of insights and experiences. This is the perfect opportunity not only to experience stand-out thought leadership; it is also a great place to forge new connections and strengthen existing ties.
Rabobank is a global F&A cooperative bank. We aim to add value and create impact to the F&A value chain, and for our clients by sharing our expertise, knowledge and networks. FAAB is one of the events we organise across all the continents around the world to bring together our most important clients. We are so pleased to welcome you and to wish you an inspiring FAAB session.