Forum on Food Processing Machinery 2026
The Forum on Food Processing Machinery opened within Agroprodmash 2026. The event is organised by the Rosspetsmash Association with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Union of Machine Engineers of Russia, and EXPOCENTRE AO.
The forum annually brings together equipment manufacturers, industry experts, representatives of the food industry, and government authorities. It is a platform for an open professional dialogue about the state of the market, the problems of manufacturers, and practical measures necessary for the further development of Russian-made food machinery.
Key issues of industry development, such as government support measures, technological development, localization, main challenges of the industry, and much more, are discussed at the Plenary Session on Food Processing Machinery 2026: How Does the Industry Feel Now and What to Expect in the Future?
The thematic Session on Human Resources and Digital Recipes: Robots, AI and Automation as New Ingredients of the Industry is dedicated to AI, and digitalization and automation of production. The participants discuss the prospects for the introduction of new technologies, their impact on the efficiency of enterprises, and the possibilities of using domestic solutions.
Konstantin Babkin, President at the Rosspetsmash Association, moderated the forum. In his speech, he focused on the current state of the food machinery market. He noted that the forum is taking place at a dynamically developing trade show, which is a platform for negotiations, signing of deals, and discussions of the industry’s prospects.
“As the Rosspetsmash Association and as the food engineering forum, we are dedicated to analyzing what is happening and making our people's work more productive and our equipment more convenient and efficient. So that the food was delicious, people earned money, the economy developed, and we confidently moved forward together. Therefore, our task today is to discuss where we are and what awaits us, and formulate proposals to the government and society that will allow development to proceed even more confidently and dynamically,” said Konstantin Babkin.
According to the Association, the production of food processing machines in Russia grew from 2020 to 2025. Konstantin Babkin called this an outstanding result against the background of related industries such as road construction and agricultural engineering, where the growth of 2020-2023 was replaced by a noticeable decline. At the same time, a decline is also observed in the food machinery industry as in the first nine months of 2026, production decreased by about 10% compared to the same period last year, and exports decreased by 9%. “At the same time, the share of Russian equipment in the market remains at almost 52%. This is a serious success that inspires respect for those who work in the Russian production of food machinery,” said the head of Rosspetsmash.
Ilya Orsik, Deputy Head at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Road Construction Engineering at the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Ministry and noted that out of more than 700 exhibitors about 520 represent the Russian Federation.
“This shows that the potential that our machine builders have been accumulating for many years is already being realised in practice. Russian engineering, especially for food and processing industries, is the driver that we will continue to develop, because we see the effect. High-quality and affordable food products are produced using high-quality Russian equipment, and this trade show is proof of this,” said Ilya Orsik.
The representative of the ministry also noted that the share of Russian equipment in a number of sub-sectors was high. However, there are segments where foreign equipment has historically prevailed and where domestic manufacturers have yet to enter. The trend towards a change in the situation has been observed since 2022 as the production of Russian equipment is growing. “The year 2022 has cleared the market of so-called partners, and many holdings and enterprises that are fully focused on foreign equipment have turned to Russian machine builders. The trend of recent years shows that it was absolutely the right choice. The share of Russian equipment is adjusted in some periods, but it is growing in general, and this primarily indicates its quality and availability,” he stressed. According to Ilya Orsik, imports have recovered, and China's share in it is increasing, but in the niches occupied by Russian manufacturers after the departure of foreign brands, domestic equipment is already competitive, and the ministry is ready to support it with government support measures.
Ilya Orsik also said that in the three-year budget cycle, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had tried to maintain the amount of financing needed to increase production and create new types of equipment in the framework of R&D, as well as to equalize prices in the market through a programme subsidizing discounts on Russian equipment.
The forum has become a platform for discussing not only the current situation, but also the prospects for the development of food machinery in the coming years, from improving state support and localization mechanisms to introducing advanced technologies and increasing the competitiveness of Russian manufacturers.
Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO
