Auckland: The world’s all-consuming love affair with avocados reveals no indicators of slowing down with document numbers set to attend a world business congress in Auckland subsequent week.
The tenth World Avocado Congress is anticipated to draw the only largest worldwide delegation to a horticulture occasion held in Aotearoa New Zealand with greater than 1,100 attendees from 32 international locations becoming a member of key representatives from our native avocado business for a packed programme of actions.
Jen Scoular, President of the World Avocado Congress Committee and CEO of New Zealand Avocado, says the Congress affords an unprecedented alternative to advertise our native avocado business to the world.
“Although we solely produce about 2 p.c of the worldwide avocado provide and we’re the ninth largest avocado exporter on the earth, avocados are Aotearoa’s third largest horticulture export behind kiwifruit and apples. We play a big half within the nation’s horticulture business, and we’re excited to have this showcased to a world viewers,” says Scoular.
Most of the numerous group of over 750 growers, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, retailers, tech innovators, and traders becoming a member of us from abroad will probably be visiting Aotearoa for the primary time she says.
“Whereas we’re trying ahead to our three-day congress programme, we’re thrilled to even be internet hosting over 760 delegates to the avocado rising areas on the Saturday and Sunday earlier than the Congress. Congress delegates from abroad will probably be transported to eight places together with websites in Glenbrook, Tapora, Whangarei and the Bay of Loads to expertise our lovely surroundings, our numerous avocado rising techniques and our modern provide chain processes,” says Scoular.
Following the fielddays, the three day educational programme will embrace periods with eight keynote audio system and greater than 130 displays overlaying subjects similar to the way forward for meals, sustainability, local weather change, meals traits, meals safety, agritech innovation, international provide chains and the lifecycle for avocado manufacturing.
“Given the unprecedented climate in Aotearoa, which has raised meals safety issues for elements of our primary-production sectors, the subjects being explored on the congress are related for all Kiwis. It’s extremely well timed to listen to consultants discuss the way forward for meals, local weather change and the worldwide impacts on horticulture proper now.
“It’s been a tricky few years for Kiwi growers and the entire business has confronted ongoing challenges with the availability chain and rising prices of manufacturing. On the congress we’ll dive deeper into the altering world of avocado manufacturing, analyzing the worldwide business’s responsiveness, the alternatives and dangers dealing with the way forward for the business and the way the worldwide avocado business can evolve extra sustainably and respectfully.”
The World Avocado Congress is held each 4 years with earlier occasions hosted in Colombia, Peru, Australia and Chile. Aotearoa New Zealand received the internet hosting rights for this yr’s occasion in Colombia in 2019, beating sturdy bids from Mexico, the most important avocado exporter on the earth, and Kenya, the sixth largest exporter of avocados globally.
The theme for the 2023 Congress is ‘Respectful: respect for folks, respect for the surroundings and respect for our future’.
“Respect for folks and land performs a particular half in Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural id and, as the worldwide avocado business continues to evolve, respect have to be on the coronary heart of this development,” says Scoular.
The World Avocado Congress is sponsored by worldwide sponsors Mission Produce, MAF RODA Agrobiotic, TOMRA Meals, and nationwide sponsors Darling Group, AVOCO, Radfords, Seeka, AgMardt and MPI. The occasion is supported by Plant & Meals Analysis, New Zealand Avocado, Tourism New Zealand, Tataki Auckland Limitless, the Hass Avocado Board, Horticulture NZ, Zespri, Mainfreight, and Oji.
Avocados in Aotearoa New Zealand by the numbers:
- 1400 growers
- 1800 orchards
- 5,000 hectares of manufacturing
- $234m business worth 2020-21
- 7.5 – 9 million 5.5kg trays each year
- 11.7 tonnes common yield per hectare
- 13 licenced exporters
- 12 packing services
- 14 worldwide markets