Acorbat/Corbana Banana Congress will address key issues for the sustainability and competitiveness of banana production
Leading players from across the banana supply chain will meet in Mérida, Mexico on 20-23 April for the 25th Acorbat International Meeting and the 10th Corbana International Banana Congress.
The event will feature internationally recognised professionals, selected by a specialised Scientific Committee, who will address key issues for the sustainability and competitiveness of banana production.
The opening ceremony will be followed by the keynote address, ‘Corbana Costa Rica: 45 Years of research and transfer’, delivered by Rafael Segura, director of research, and Erick Bolaños, director of technical assistance at Corbana.
During the three-day conference, 10 thematic sessions will be held, offering attendees access to 11 keynote lectures and 25 technical presentations. These sessions will combine scientific advancements, research findings, innovation, and concrete experiences from the productive and business sectors. Each session will include analysis and discussion forums, fostering direct exchange between specialists and participants.
“In a context full of production, phytosanitary, technological, and commercial challenges, it is essential to update knowledge and exchange experiences to allow for in-depth analysis and the development of concrete solutions to the sector’s main challenges,” said Segura.
The invited speakers include Rony Swennen, specialist in banana genetic improvement at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IIT); Luis Pocasangre, director general of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre; Carlos Urias, regional director of plant health at the International Regional Organisation for Agricultural Health; Altus Viljoen, researcher at the Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University; Gert Kema, professor emeritus of plant pathology at Wageningen University and Research Centre; Ronald Romero, former director of research at Corbana, Chiquita, and former global corporate director and CEO of research at Del Monte; and Mariano Jiménez, deputy manager of legal affairs at Corbana.
One of the main focuses of the congress will be a comprehensive approach to Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4), one of the greatest phytosanitary threats to the global banana industry. The program includes two specialized sessions dedicated exclusively to this topic.
This includes a roundtable discussion ‘TR4: Scientific advances, epidemiology, and global management strategies’, offering a global overview of scientific advancements, the pathogen’s behaviour, and international containment strategies, moderated by Miguel Ángel Dita, phytopathologist and member of the Acorbat International Scientific Committee.
The following day, the focus will shift to Latin America, with a discussion based on experiences and lessons learned since the arrival of Fusarium TR4 in the region, as well as key prevention strategies for countries where the pathogen is not yet present.
The presentations will be given in Spanish and English, with simultaneous translation to facilitate the participation of attendees from different countries and strengthen the international exchange of technical information.
Those interested can register online at: www.congresoscorbana.com
