The event is scheduled for November 12 at the Palais des Congrès Les Dunes d’Or in Agadir. Its theme, “Scaling Berries with Fewer Hands,” will guide discussions among Moroccan and international growers, researchers, agronomists and industry professionals.
The program features four sessions and five roundtables covering market developments, crop protection, farm economics and new technologies. Speakers and participants are expected from Morocco, Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Spain and Peru.
Labor constraints will be addressed during the opening session, which will examine the global berry market and the growing importance of productivity. Diego Castagnasso of Argentina-based Drip Consulting will discuss why improving yields and efficiency may matter more than simply expanding production. Otman El Qacemi of the Moroccan Association for the Development of Human Resources in Agriculture will address the future of the agricultural workforce.
A roundtable will then look at ways to optimize labor on berry farms, with participants including El Qacemi, Joe De Ruse and Khalid Limourat.
Crop health and farm performance
The second session will turn to agronomy and crop protection, with presentations on nutritional monitoring, pest and disease data, and strategies to limit crop losses.
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Taoufiq Tagrourete of AGQ Labs will discuss how nutritional monitoring can help improve crop performance. François Gulu Bekker of Stellenbosch University in South Africa will examine the use of pest and disease data in crop protection decisions, while Angel Rebollar-Alviter of Mexico’s Chapingo Autonomous University will address major berry diseases and their management.
A separate roundtable will consider the impact of pests on yields and the relationship between biological performance and the financial results of farms.
AI, genetics and new uses for berry waste
Technology and farm economics will feature in the afternoon program. Presentations will examine how berry varieties can be adapted to local growing conditions, how artificial intelligence can help forecast harvests, and how producers can improve profitability through crop diversification.
Cesar Urrutia of Peru-based SpaceAG is scheduled to present on AI-based harvest forecasting, using field data to support operational decisions. Jorge Fernandez-Galarreta of Spain’s Margins will discuss the climate footprint of adapting berry genetics to growing conditions, while Aboutoufayl Abdessabour of Les Domaines Agricoles will examine crop combinations and their profitability.
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The program also includes a discussion on the role of plant genetics in reducing labor requirements during harvesting. Representatives from companies including BerryWorld, Fall Creek, BerrYum & Remo Varieties, Planasa, OZblu, Driscoll’s and Agrovision Maroc are listed among the participants.
The final roundtable will focus on ways to valorize berry by-products, bringing together industry representatives and researchers to discuss potential uses for materials left over from production.
The conference is organized by Green Smile. The official program is available.
