Global seafood supplier Thai Union Group has become the exclusive platinum sponsor of the 2019 SeaWeb Seafood Summit, event organizers Diversified Communications and SeaWeb announced on 3 April.
Taking place from 10 to 14 June at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, this year brings about the 15th edition of the summit, a premier seafood sustainability conference offering stakeholders from all facets of the movement an array of educational sessions and experiences, including breakout sessions, plenary talks, Q+A opportunities, and optional offsite field trips.
The opportunity afforded to summit attendees to meet with leaders from the seafood industry as well as conservation groups, academia, and government, has proven invaluable to Thai Union, said Dr. Darian McBain, the company’s global director of corporate affairs and sustainability.
“SeaWeb Seafood Summit is an incredible opportunity to meet with leaders from across the seafood industry, as well as conservation groups, academics and government,” McBain said. “The opportunity to be a part of the summit as its Platinum sponsor provides Thai Union with a platform to share our sustainability journey. It also allows us to look to the future, joining with other industry leaders so we can work together, using new technologies and pursuing innovative ways to achieve lasting change.”
Known as the largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products in the world, Thai Union has spearheaded many meaningful improvements across the entire seafood industry over the past several years. The company launched its SeaChange sustainability strategy in 2015, officially placing sustainability at the heart of its business, according to Thai Union. The SeaChange strategy has allowed the enterprise to partner with organizations around the world to improve seafood industry practices in four major areas: Safe and legal labor; responsible sourcing; responsible operations; and people and communities.
Last year, Thai Union was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth consecutive year. It also received the top rating in the Food Products Industry with a best-in-class 100th percentile total sustainability score in 2018. Additional accolades for the business’s sustainability efforts in recent years include being named to the FTSE4Good Emerging Index (2016-2018); coming highly recommended by judges of the Thomson Reuters Foundation Stop Slavery Award and being awarded the Gold Award for Best Sustainable Supply Chain by the Global Good Awards UK; receiving the Sustainability Leader of the Year award by the Business Intelligence Group; and winning the Best at Corporate Social Responsibility award from FinanceAsia.
Thai Union’s sponsorship of the SeaWeb Seafood Summit supports the event’s Seafood Champions Awards reception, mobile app, as well as other aspects of the event, and helps ensure that the annual gathering can continue to address and resolve critical seafood industry issues, both in Thailand and around the globe, organizer Diversified said in its announcement. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
“Thai Union’s generous sponsorship will help SeaWeb Seafood Summit grow in size, depth, and quality yet again this year,” said Brenna Hensley, event director for Diversified Communications. “They are an ideal partner not just because we will be in Thailand this year, but also because of the true leadership role this company plays in the global sustainable seafood movement.”
Prospective summit attendees can register now to gain access to the keynote, which will be delivered by Fair Trade USA founder and CEO Paul Rice, and all other Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday opportunities. The Friday post-conference field trip is not included with the purchase of a conference pass and requires an upgrade, Diversified confirmed.
The 17 finalists up for this year’s Seafood Champion Awards were revealed on 17 March, and reflect a broad spectrum of backgrounds and expertise.
“This year’s nominations demonstrate that change can come from anyone, anywhere, and reflect how collaborations across culture, gender and industry silos are critical to advancing the sustainable seafood movement,” said Meghan Jeans, who serves as the SeaWeb program director at The Ocean Foundation, of the 2019 finalists.
