Industry leaders from across the value chain will once again meet in Valencia for insight, innovation and high-level networking
Fruitnet Citrus Congress returns to Valencia on 24-25 November with a top line-up of speakers from across the citrus value chain. The event brings together key decision makers from the world’s biggest citrus producing countries to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the global citrus trade and look at some of the latest innovations that will shape its future.
The programme kicks off with Cindy van Rijswick of RaboResearch, Marks & Spencer’s Lloyd Thompson, David Alba of Citrus Genesis and Hugo A-Tjak of top importer Fruitful Ventures analysing the key trends shaping global supply, pricing and consumption.
An international panel made up of Hesham El Naggar of Daltex, Egypt; Akim Soleyim of Aksun (Turkey); Kacem Bennani-Smires of Delassus (Morocco); Quico Peiró of Spain’s Cañamas Hermanos and Jana Janse van Rensberg of the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa will explore how collaboration across the value chain, from production and innovation to marketing and market development, can create opportunities for the entire category.
Paco Borrás of Paco Borrás Consulting considers Spain’s evolving role in the international market and what the country must do to remain a leading force in global citrus.
Marketing expert Nuria Pizán of Nurbrands – one of the founding team that built SanLucar into a globally recognised premium fruit brand – will dissect what needs to be done to kickstart stagnant demand for citrus products, particularly amongst a new generation of consumers.
In a session on postharvest, we hear from the companies developing the next generation of greener postharvest solutions as the citrus industry looks to reduce chemical inputs without sacrificing shelf-life or quality.
And to round off the morning, Ailimpo’s José Antonio García; Nicci Stewart from South Africa’s SummerStar Ruby campaign and Peter Bouman of Sour Supplier by FMI shine a spotlight on the latest developments in lemons, grapefruit and limes.
The afternoon programme features a look at how to build more dependable supply chains. We hear from FreshRail’s Fred Lessing about the latest plans to develop a rail link from southern Spain to northern Europe; and from the Global Coalition of Fresh Produce and Supply Chain of the Future initiative about efforts underway to build a more collaborative supply chain.
In a session entitled New Frontiers for Citrus, the congress shines a spotlight on some of the new supply sources and technologies that are expanding the citrus category. Siebe van Wijk of The Fruit Republic outlines the potential of Vietnam, both as a source of premium citrus and a market. Isaac Mazor of agtech startup Nanovel shares his progress on bringing the company’s robotic citrus harvester a commercial reality after successful trials in California. Óscar Olivares of the Todolí Citrus Foundation discusses the vital work it doing to research, conserve and promote global citrus biodiversity. And Murcia-based Jayfer presents the company’s new citrus tree production model, designed to maximise efficiency and minimise the risk of disease.
The final session of Fruitnet Citrus Congress features a high-level panel discussion on the next chapter of global citrus production, involving leading producers, marketers and retailers.
Day two of the congress provides an opportunity to visit local production and distribution facilities on a first come, first served basis.
One of the biggest draws of Fruitnet Citrus Congress is the opportunity to connect. With dedicated networking breaks, a lunch session, and a second day of hosted study tours to logistics and distribution facilities, the event is structured to maximise interaction between attendees.
Taking place in Valencia, the heart of Spain’s citrus industry, the congress provides the ideal setting for building relationships and exploring new business opportunities in a relaxed but highly professional environment.
Click here to see the full programme.
