With an abundance of fresh seafood, deep roots in the fishing industry and unique farms, Maine is home to innovative food, beverage and seafood industries. The state’s fishing and farming heritage makes this bucket-list destination the place to host your aquaculture or agriculture meeting.

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Industry Accolades

Maine’s economy and culture are linked to fishing and farming, with the state exporting $700 million in food, beverages and seafood annually. And 76% of Maine’s food and beverage manufacturing sales are outside the seaside state. Maine also has an entrepreneurial spirit, leading the way in new sustainability initiatives.

Land

• Maine has renowned wild blueberries and potato crops.
• Grains are grown and processed in Maine for beer and bread.
• Maine boasts a booming craft brewing industry, ranking the state as one of the highest per capita in the country.
• With more than 200 downtown restaurants and breweries, Portland has one of the highest restaurants per capita among U.S. cities.

Sea

• Maine produces 90% of the nation’s lobster supply.
• The state has groundfish, crab, clam and other wild fisheries, as well as farmed oysters and mussels.
• The state’s waterfronts serve as sites for building boats and processing shellfish.
• Maine is at the forefront of seaweed and sea vegetable cultivation. In fact, 60% of farmed edible seaweed in the U.S. comes from Maine, and the global seaweed cultivation market is expected to reach $30.2 billion by 2027.
• Maine is leading the bluetech economy, a new technology focused on the ocean and sustainability

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Educational Meeting Facilities

Educational institutions focusing on marine science, aquaculture and environmentally sustainable industries are located in the Greater Portland meeting and can double as meeting venues.

University of New England

Situated along the coast, the University of New England School of Marine and Environmental Programs focuses on marine research, including working to discover new information in marine science, conservation, sustainable fisheries, ecological aquaculture and marine sustainability science. UNE houses some of the top marine science facilities in the country for research and education at its main campus in Biddeford, less than a half-hour from Portland.

UNE’s Biddeford and Portland campuses offer lecture halls, smaller meeting rooms and computer labs. Meeting spaces are equipped with audio-visual technology.

University of Southern Maine

The Maine Economic Improvement Fund at the University of Southern Maine promotes growth in the state’s industries, including aquaculture and marine technology, environmental technology and advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture. USM’s campuses in the Greater Portland area serve as ideal educational settings for meetings of any size and conferences.

University of New England   – Number of Function Rooms: 10 – Classroom Capacity: 150 – Theater Capacity: 1,500 – Banquet Capacity: 1,000 – Open Year-Round

University of Southern Maine   – Total Square Feet of Function Space: 18,391 -Square Footage of Largest Room: 7,500 – Number of Function Rooms: 10 – Reception Capacity: 500 – Theater Capacity: 500 – Catering, Registration Services, and Logistics

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More Meeting Resources

Need more help creating the perfect plans for your marine or food meeting in Greater Portland? Get inspiration:

• 9 Top Team-Building Group Activities in Portland
• 72 Hours in Greater Portland, Maine: A Sample Meetings Itinerary for Planners
• Create a ‘Small Town Takeover’ Experience for Your Maine Meetings
• The Ultimate Guide to Group Dining in Portland
• Group Accommodations in Greater Portland

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Plan Your Marine or Agriculture Meeting in Maine

Ready to host your aquaculture or agriculture meeting in Maine, where these industries’ roots run deep? Reach out or submit your RFP to start the planning process with our experienced team.

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References:

Blue Bioeconomy. (2023). Maine International Trade Center. Retrieved from https://www.mitc.com/business-support/industries/blue-bioeconomy/

Food & Beverage. (2023). Maine International Trade Center. Retrieved from https://www.mitc.com/business-support/industries/food-beverage/

Key Industries: Marine/Aquaculture. (2022). Maine Office of Business Development. Retrieved from https://www.maine.gov/decd/business-development/move/key-industries#marine

Key Industries: Food/Agriculture. (2022). Maine Office of Business Development. Retrieved from https://www.maine.gov/decd/business-development/move/key-industries#food

Maine’s Heritage Industries. (n.d.). Congressman Jared Golden. Retrieved from https://golden.house.gov/issues/maines-heritage-industries#:~:text=Maine%27s%20economy%20and%20culture%20are,Maine%2C%20particularly%20in%20rural%20areas.