The agenda included industry events and meetings with key institutions
This November, as part of the INC’s ongoing Country Outreach Program, an INC delegation travelled to Brazil and Chile to take part in major industry events and meet with key national and international institutions. The trip underscored the INC’s focus on Latin America as a vital market for demand growth and strengthened ties with influential leaders in the region. INC Chairman Michael Waring, INC 2nd Vice Chairman and Co-founder Pino Calcagni, and INC Executive Director Goretti Guasch were joined by a local delegation consisting of Eduardo Camargo, INC Board of Trustees Member and INC Ambassador in Brazil; Oscar Vergara, INC Ambassador in Argentina, and INC Ambassadors in Chile, Rafael Bianchini and Sebastián Plaza.
On November 11, the INC delegation took part in the 11th Brazilian Nuts Meeting in São Paulo, an important industry event featuring prominent speakers from the private sector as well as key government officials. Topics covered included the current landscape of the nut and dried fruit sector in Brazil, the role of industrial integration in shaping agribusiness across Latin America, value addition through nuts in the baking industry, and new innovations and opportunities within the nut industry. Mr. Waring and Mrs. Guasch delivered a presentation highlighting global nut production and trade statistics, along with strategies to drive worldwide demand growth.
The delegation then travelled to Chile, where on November 13 they participated in Exponut, a prominent annual event organized by Chilenut. The program featured insights from industry experts, researchers, and key government officials, including the Chilean Minister of Agriculture. Speakers addressed topics such as climate analysis, soil management, the national and international economic landscape, and the commercial outlook for walnuts. Mrs. Guasch delivered a presentation on global trends in nut consumption and, before the event concluded, Mr. Waring, Mr. Calcagni, and Mrs. Guasch participated in an international roundtable discussion alongside representatives from the Chilean industry. On the sidelines of Exponut, the INC delegation also met with the General Director of ProChile, a government agency within Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to promoting the country’s exports.
While in Chile, the INC delegation is holding a private meeting with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Santiago. The delegation will also meet with several nut industry organizations and hold visits to walnut and prune orchards as well as hulling and drying facilities in order to gain a first-hand understanding of the country’s production practices.