IFFI Strategy Summit 2027

Name: IFFI Strategy Summit 2027
Start: 2026-10-29T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-29T17:30:00+01:00
Location: De Groene Afslag

Once a year, the four IFFI committees — Markets, Operations, Innovation, and Human Capital — come together to define the key themes and priorities for the year ahead. In an inspiring setting and exclusive location, committee members will collaborate to identify emerging opportunities for the industry and explore how companies can best position themselves to capitalize on them.

29 October 2026 | 12:00 - 17:30

Which market developments are on the horizon, and how should we respond? What agenda is required to sustain production in an increasingly regulated environment? Which innovation domains deserve the greatest focus, and what capabilities are needed to succeed? And how can organizations continue to leverage their expertise and talent effectively in a world shaped by accelerating digitalization and AI?

The session will be launched with an inspiring keynote from an external speaker, providing fresh perspectives and setting the stage for a dynamic discussion. Together, the committees will create a strong foundation for a timely, relevant, and impactful IFFI program for 2027.

ABOUT

IFFI Strategy Summit 2027: Shaping the Industry Agenda for the Year Ahead

IFFI event - committee meeting 5 sep 2024 - 10

PROGRAM

Opening

12:00 – 13:00 hrs

Walk in & Lunch

13:00- 13:10 hrs
Opening by Dirk Lodewijk

IFFI event - committee meeting 5 sep 2024 - 06

Kees Huizinga, Kischenzi LLC – ‘Ukranian supply of raw materials’

13:05 – 13:35 hrs

Cyrille Filott, Rabobank – ‘The outlook on the raw materials markets’

13:35 – 14:05 hrs

Break

14:05 – 14:25 hrs

Feedback and Feed forward

14:25 – 14:40 hrs

Parallel sessions

14:40 – 16:00 hrs

Introduction to program 2027 & parallel sessions (per committee Markets, Innovation, Operations, Human Capital)

IFFI event - committee meeting 5 sep 2024 - 05

Wrap-up (plenary)

16:00 – 16:45 hrs

IFFI event - committee meeting 5 sep 2024 - 07

Drinks & Bites

16:45 – 17:30 hrs

SPEAKERS

Kees Huizinga, Kischenzi LLC

Kees Huizinga was born in the countryside of Groningen, Netherlands. As a young farmer, he quickly realized that opportunities for expansion in the Netherlands were limited due to scarce land and strict regulations. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he looked beyond national borders and moved to Ukraine in 2002. He was drawn by the famous chernozem, the extremely fertile black soil that earned the country its reputation as the “breadbasket of Europe.”

Together with a group of Dutch investors and local partners, he settled in the village of Kyschyntsi, about two hundred kilometers south of the capital, Kyiv. What started as a modest venture gradually grew under his leadership into the impressive agricultural enterprise TOV Kischintsi. Covering roughly fifteen thousand hectares, housing thousands of dairy cows, and producing a diverse array of crops such as wheat, corn, sunflowers, and vegetables, his farm developed into the primary economic engine of the region and one of the most modern agricultural operations in the country.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Dutch farmer’s life transformed overnight. While he had previously focused on sowing, harvesting, and managing his business, he suddenly became an international figurehead. Huizinga chose not to flee, but rather to use his voice. He traveled to meet policymakers in Brussels, Washington, and various European capitals to warn of the catastrophic impact the war would have on global food security.

Through appearances on international news outlets such as the BBC and CNN, as well as on Dutch talk shows, he clearly explained how the blockade of Ukrainian ports directly caused rising food prices and threatened famine in Africa and the Middle East. Despite the constant threat of air raids, severe logistical obstacles, and shortages of fuel and spare parts, Huizinga and his local team continued to farm. In doing so, he came to embody the resilience of the Ukrainian agricultural sector, which continues to feed the world even in the most challenging of times.

Cyrille Filott, Global Head Consumer – RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness

Cyrille Filott studied Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, specializing in financial analysis and earning his professional VBA designation. He began his career in fund management and equity research, working for firms such as ING Investment Management in The Hague and M&G Investments in London.

In 2008, Filott joined RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. Initially focusing on equity research within the agricultural sector, he gradually shifted his emphasis toward the broader Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market, analyzing the dynamics between producers, retailers, and end consumers.

By 2014, Filott was appointed Strategist and Global Head Consumer Foods at Rabobank. Operating from the Netherlands, he leads an international team of research analysts covering global supply chains, bakery trends, e-commerce developments, private label dynamics, and multinational food brands.

As food price inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and shifting consumer behavior continue to reshape global markets, Filott provides strategic analysis for multinational companies, industry organizations, and executive boards. He is also the creator and host of the podcast Consumer Foods-to-Go and a regular keynote speaker at global industry events, translating complex market data into actionable long-term strategy for the food value chain.