Benghazi Hosts International Agrifood Innovation Conference
The International Conference on Food Industry and Food Innovation is continuing in Benghazi, bringing together researchers, academics and experts from Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. According to the Libyan News Agency (LANA), the conference is being organized by the University of Benghazi and its Center for Leadership and Innovation in cooperation with MENA Food Expo 2026. The conference forms part of a wider programme running alongside the third edition of the MENA Food Expo, which is taking place in Benghazi from 21–24 September and brings together companies, manufacturers, suppliers, researchers and specialists from the food and related sectors. A call for academic participation published by Nalut University confirms that the scientific conference runs from 22–24 September and covers food-industry innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, investment, governance, food manufacturing, quality, food security, sustainability, trade and food supply chains.
A central paper presented during the conference examined “The Impact of the Quality of Accounting Disclosure in Sustainability Reports on the Financial Performance of Food Product Companies.” LANA reports that the research addressed the environmental, social and economic dimensions of food-industry activities and the growing demand from investors and other stakeholders for information beyond traditional corporate reporting. The paper argues that sustainability reports can provide a broader understanding of company activities, while the quality of accounting disclosure is linked to the quality and reliability of information presented in such reports. According to the conference report, stronger disclosure can help meet the information needs of investors and stakeholders and may have implications for corporate financial performance and reputation. The discussion places corporate accountability alongside wider questions of sustainability and development in the food industry.
The conference continues until 24 September as part of MENA Food Expo 2026, with discussions focused on food-industry development, food innovation and scientific research. The event also highlights the relationship between scientific institutions, productive industries and regional markets, with the wider MENA Food Expo bringing together food producers, suppliers, investors, researchers and technology providers. For countries seeking to strengthen domestic food production and reduce vulnerabilities in food supply chains, linking scientific research with industrial development and investment can provide an important avenue for building productive capacity. Benghazi’s conference therefore offers a current example of academic and professional cooperation around food manufacturing, innovation, sustainability and food security across North Africa and the wider Arab region.
