SPACE 2025, one of the world’s foremost livestock farming exhibitions, was held from Tuesday, September 16, to Thursday, September 18, at the Rennes Exhibition Centre. This 39th edition shattered all previous records, gathering 1,230 exhibitors from 40 countries and 102,528 visitors, which included 14,011 international attendees from 125 nations — an 11% rise compared to last year. Wednesday alone achieved a new milestone with 45,781 visitors, marking the highest daily attendance in the event’s history.
The impressive range of the 125 visiting nations showcased the genuinely international nature of the exhibition. Organisers noted the palpable enthusiasm even at registration, with requests for larger spaces or additional booths that could not always be accommodated. Over three days, Western France’s livestock sector demonstrated its strength and innovation within a global context, attracting international delegations and decision-makers.
A political showcase
SPACE 2025 reaffirmed its position as a political platform for the livestock sector. Annie Genevard, the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, officially opened the event and engaged with farmers and industry leaders. For the first time, an African minister, Mabouba Diagne from Senegal, participated in the opening ceremony. A delegation from the French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee, led by Aurélie Trouvé, also attended. Loïg Chesnais Girard, President of Brittany, and Arnaud Lécuyer, Vice-President responsible for Agriculture, facilitated a roundtable discussion on the future of the CAP and announced new measures for young farmers and suckler herds. Nathalie Appéré, Mayor of Rennes, took this opportunity to meet with stakeholders.
International presence and media impact
The exhibition once again established itself as a global hub for innovation and partnerships. In collaboration with Business France, the “Top Buyers” programme connected 25 major investors. Delegations from Senegal, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and others showcased tangible livestock development projects. Young Africans participated in the inaugural poultry training tailored for hot-climate countries.
A new agreement with the Maison de l’Europe aims to boost the involvement of European decision-makers. Media attendance also reached record levels: 70 international journalists from 30 countries, alongside extensive coverage by French media.
Youth and innovation in focus
SPACE 2025 centered young people as a key focus of the event. The Youth Forum facilitated debates and exchanges, while agricultural influencers interacted with attendees. The Tech’Agri Challenge inspired collaborative solutions for repetitive farm tasks. Agriculture students guided school pupils through the exhibition, sharing their enthusiasm for the field of farming.
Artificial intelligence emerged as the central theme of the “Espace for the Future”, highlighting innovations like a robot dog, a smartwatch for cows, and various innovative tools. The inaugural “Agreen Challenge” AI Hackathon produced prototypes aimed at predicting heat stress in cows, automating milk data, and creating multi-source agronomic dashboards.
Competitions and markets
Despite a rigorous health protocol, competitions and presentations proceeded smoothly. The Salers National Show generated a lively atmosphere, while Madison, a Prim’Holstein cow from Marne, was named Grand Champion. The overall Supreme Champion was Susette, a French Brown from Maine-et-Loire.
The genetic auctions set new records, with the Genomic Elite sale achieving an average of €6,470 per heifer. Three heifers sold for over €10,000, including a record price of €17,500.
Knowledge and responsibility
With more than 120 conferences and over 50 SPACE TV broadcasts, the event transformed into a unique hub for knowledge. Topics varied from farm succession and precision feeding to carbon footprint reduction and climate change adaptation.
The contributions of women in agriculture were highlighted through portraits and testimonies, while the “Pink October” initiative supported the French Cancer League.
SPACE 2025 will be remembered not just for its record-breaking numbers but for the energy and passion present in every hall. The next edition is scheduled for September 15 to 17, 2026, in Rennes.
More information is available at www.space.fr and on SPACE’s YouTube channel and social media.
