The event, organised by Cooperativa La Palma and Caja Rural Granada, analysed current production issues
More than 250 industry professionals gathered in Granada this week for the 4th Congress on Purposeful Tropical Agriculture, organised by Cooperativa La Palma and Caja Rural Granada.
The event, held at La Palma’s headquarters, brought together researchers, producers, technology companies, academic institutions, and market analysts to address the main challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of tropical crops.
The meeting once again emphasized knowledge transfer as a key tool for ensuring more efficient, profitable, and sustainable agriculture. Throughout the day, participants analysed current issues related to the cultivation of avocados, mangoes, pitahaya, and other tropical fruits, as well as the application of new technologies, efficient water management, and consumption trends in European markets.
The programme brought together specialists from the scientific, technological, and business sectors, offering a comprehensive overview of the main challenges facing the tropical fruit industry. Alejandro Pérez Pastor, professor at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, addressed the role of precision agriculture in optimising water and energy resources.
Emilio Guirado, a specialist in subtropical fruit growing at the IHSM-CSIC-UMA, shared the latest experiences and advances in the agronomic management of tropical crops, while Fernando Chiamolera, a researcher at the University of Almería, discussed new strategies related to crop pruning to improve the productivity and sustainability of farms.
One of the sessions focused on technological innovation applied to agriculture. José Luis Gago, manager of Ibericadron, demonstrated the possibilities offered by drones for monitoring agricultural operations, optimising treatments, and making data-driven decisions.
In another session, Marta Blanco, new business manager at Worldpanel by Kantar, analysed the evolution of tropical fruit consumption in Europe and the growth opportunities for categories such as avocado and mango. During her presentation, she highlighted the importance of understanding the new purchasing motivations of a consumer increasingly focused on health, convenience, and sustainability.
Antonio Carpintero, general manager of the Spanish Interprofessional Organization for Avocado and Mango, Intertropic, addressed the challenges and opportunities for boosting tropical fruit consumption in the national market.
In closing, Pedro Ruiz, president of Cooperativa La Palma; Juan Antonio García, head of the technical department at Caja Rural Granada, and Evaristo Romero, director of the southern region of Caja Rural Granada, emphasized the need to strengthen the connection between research, innovation, and agricultural production to meet the challenges of an increasingly demanding sector, conditioned by factors such as climate change, water scarcity, and evolving consumption habits.
“The celebration of this fourth edition reaffirms Cooperativa La Palma’s commitment to agriculture based on innovation, sustainability, and knowledge transfer,” La Palma said. “This model seeks to generate value for farmers, consumers, and the region, promoting solutions that allow for greater and better production, using natural resources responsibly, and ensuring the sector’s future viability.
“With the support of Caja Rural Granada as the main sponsor, Agriculture with Purpose continues to consolidate its position as one of the leading spaces for reflection and technical dissemination in the Andalusian agri-food sector, bringing together each year professionals committed to building an agriculture capable of facing the challenges of the future through knowledge, technology, and collaboration.”
