1,300 Professionals from 65 Countries Met in London for the 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress
The 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, the flagship event of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), took place in London from May 22-24. Nearly 1,300 attendees from 65 countries gathered at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London to share ideas on market development, the latest findings in health and nut allergy research, and the sustainable growth of the industry. The key points relating to the congress are as follows:
- Gen Z was on the top of the agenda for many as the key target audience for the global promotion of nuts and dried fruits.
- Snacking was a key category of interest for this audience.
- The next INC Congress will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from May 8 to 10, 2024.
Congress Presentations: Nut and Dried Fruit Production Prospects and Expert Sessions
See the presentations from each session
As discussed by industry leaders during the round tables, world tree nut production for 2023/24 has been forecasted at 5.7 million metric tons (kernel basis, except pistachios in-shell), up by 5% from the previous season. Although it is still very early in the season to anticipate the final outcomes, almond, walnut, cashew, hazelnut and pecan crops are expected to remain mostly flat, or just slightly above the previous season. Pistachios and macadamias are projected to increase by 37% and 9% from 2022/23, respectively, whereas Amazonia (Brazil) nuts and pine nuts foresee lower crops this season.
According to early estimations, world peanut production in 2023/24 is expected to amount to 51 million MT (in-shell basis), up 4% from 2022/23.
Global dried fruit production in 2023/24 has been forecasted at 3.2 million MT, up 7% from 2022/23, as production is expected to increase for dates (22%), prunes (21%), and dried figs (14%). [Read More]
Take the chance now to see any session you missed, for congress participants only. [Congress presentations]
Relive the Highlights from London
The 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress was a massive success. The event brought together industry leaders and provided an exclusive experience for networking and meeting with business partners through wonderful social events and meeting areas at the conference center. Take a look at the official collection of images from London and remind the highlights from each day of the INC Congress in London. [See the Congress Photos]
INC Awards Give Recognition to the Best in the Industry
Good work deserves recognition
Mrs. Goretti Guasch
Golden Nut Award
Voicevale
Corporate Golden Nut Award
Prof. Gideon Lack
Excellence in Research
Chef Michel Albert Roux
Excellence in Gastronomy
ofi (Olam Food Ingredients), Creating Collaborative Trails to Sustainable Nuts
Excellence in Sustainability
VKC Nuts, Nutraj Bactopure
Innovation Award
INC Academia On-site Course in the United Kingdom
This year’s program focused on the industrial side of the nut and dried fruit sector
This year’s INC Academia On-site Course was held in the United Kingdom from May 18-20. From a strategic home base in Stratford, East London, students were treated to multiple visits to industrial facilities for a behind-the-scenes look at how the nut and dried fruit sector operates in this key market. The three-day program kicked off with a visit to the London-based industrial facilities of Bühler, where participants toured a state-of-the-art assembly line and learned first-hand about optical sorting technologies. After a tasty lunch in the Bühler canteen alongside our knowledgeable host… [Read more] [See photos]
INC Shares 2022/2023 Annual Report
The INC is pleased to share the 2022/2023 Annual Report. This year’s report provides a look at the key highlights from the past year’s activity until April 2023 with sections on Who We Are, What We Do, Industry Funding, Marketing and Communication, and Technical Projects. Each chapter of the report provides a snapshot of the INC’s activities and gives an exclusive overview of how, over the past year, the INC has redirected its mission, vision, value proposition, and goals for the period of 2022-2026 to address new challenges the industry is facing. [Read more]
The 2022/2023 Statistical Yearbook Is Now Available Online!
As you know, over the last ten years there has been an increase in global tree nut production. The total crop for the 2022/2023 season has been estimated at 5.3 million metric tons (kernel basis, except pistachios in-shell). And dried fruits saw an upward trend in production with the last six seasons surpassing the 3 million MT mark. If you want to find out more, enter the members areas of the INC website and view the Statistical Yearbook now! [View now]
INC Collaborates with Save the Children
From INC we have collaborated with Save the Children to enable all our partners, allies and friends to continue supporting the work of the NGO in Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake. Funding is needed more than ever to rebuild and continue to provide shelter, medical care and protection for children and their families. The INC encourages all its members to give a donation through the collaborative landing page with Save the Children. [I want to make a donation]
New Study Suggests Macadamia Consumption Does Not Lead to Weight Gain
The Journal of Nutritional Science has recently published a study that showed macadamia consumption does not lead to weight gain and may have other positive benefits on cardiometabolic risk factors for overweight and obese adults. The MAC (Macadamia Nut Effects on Adiposity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors) study was a randomized crossover trial led by Dr. Joan Sabaté and conducted by researchers from Loma Linda University in the USA that aimed to analyze how macadamia consumption affects body weight, waist circumference and other cardiometabolic risk factors… [Read more]
Nuts Are Associated with Overall Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction
A new study published in Advances in Nutrition set out to examine the relationship between tree nut and peanut consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It was the first systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to provide a comprehensive picture of whether all or some types of tree nuts and peanuts are preferential for improving CVD risk, and if there is a dose-response relationship. The authors searched the MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Central databases up to September 2021 and included all RCTs that assessed the effects of tree nut… [Read more]
Data Support the Use of Cranberry Products to Reduce UTI Risk
A new study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews assessed the effectiveness of cranberry products in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in susceptible populations. The study was the fifth update of a review first published in 1998 and updated in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2012. The authors searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register up to March 2023 and included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi‐RCTs of cranberry products compared with placebo, no specific treatment or other intervention (antibiotics, probiotics) for the prevention of UTIs… [Read more]
Sustainability News Shared by INC
The INC’s latest sustainability update covers new developments involving the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) proposal, the European Commission’s proposal to revise the existing marketing standards applicable to a number of agri-food products, including nuts and dried fruit, and a recent update to the Nutri-Score algorithm for beverages, which includes the “general foods” and “fats, oils, nuts and seeds” categories. [Read more]
INC Provides Updates on International Trade News
The latest INC trade update covers the new Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement, the agreement between the United States and the European Union concerning all the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a result of the UK’s departure from the EU, and the European Commission’s proposal to renew and broaden the suspension of import duties and quotas on exports from Moldova to the EU for one more year. [Read more]
INC Monitors Latest Food Safety News
In the INC’s latest installment of food safety news, you can read about the agreements reached during the 16th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods, the European Union’s vote to change controls for certain nut and dried fruit products and origins, the re-evaluation of Bisphenol A by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and much more. [Read more]
Labeling Update Shared by INC
The INC’s latest labeling update focuses on the decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the public comment period for guidance on plant-based “milk” labels. [Read more]