The blueberry industry is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Growth in global supply, advancements in genetics, increased climate variability, and consumers demanding increasingly consistent fruit quality are redefining how the crop is produced and marketed. These were precisely the main themes that dominated the first day of the XLII International Blueberry Seminar Trujillo 2026where researchers, consultants and industry representatives agreed that the future of the business will depend much less on volume and much more on efficiency, knowledge and adaptability.

From the initial presentations, it became clear that the 2026-2027 season could not be analyzed solely based on production figures. The discussion shifted towards a much broader perspective, where the market, climate, plant physiology, nutrition, and fruit quality appear increasingly interconnected.

A growing and changing market

The day began with the opening ceremony led by Jorge Esquivel, director of Blueberries Consulting, who highlighted the role that Peru has acquired within the global industry and the importance of generating spaces for technical analysis and quality information, based on evidence, for an activity that is evolving with enormous speed.

Then Pablo Cortes, from Agronometrics, opened the technical block by addressing the world of data and the close relationship that exists today between new varieties, climate variability and international price trends.

His presentation showed how genetic evolution and the increasing availability of market information are changing the way global supply is interpreted, while phenomena such as El Niño force the incorporation of climatic variables into any commercial analysis.

The market overview continued with one of the most anticipated conferences of the seminar, as every season, louis miguel vegas, general manager of Proarándanos, presented the most up-to-date overview of the Peruvian industry, providing first-hand information on planted area, varietal evolution, production, exports and projections for the 2026-2027 season.

His presentation reaffirmed the dynamism that characterizes the world's leading exporter of blueberries, but also highlighted the new challenges that accompany this growth, such as the impact of climate factors and increasingly demanding logistics, more selective consumers, and international competition that continues to intensify.

Luis Miguel Vegas International Seminar Blueberries Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

From the market to the field

After analyzing the commercial scenario for Peruvian blueberries and the global industry, the program turns the conversation towards the productive reality of the crop.

The presentations of Francisco Angulo, Daniel Manríquez y Jorge Retamales They allowed participants to explore different aspects of agronomic management, from precision fertigation to plant physiology and the response of plants to environmental stress. Angulo's lecture emphasized the importance of technologies capable of optimizing the dosage of fertilizers, agrochemicals, and water acidification processes—tools that are now part of an increasingly efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Later, Daniel Manríquez addressed cuticle strengthening as a strategy to reduce stress and improve productivity, highlighting that small physiological modifications can translate into significant differences in both yield and fruit quality. The session concluded with a presentation by Jorge Retamales, who delved into the physiological understanding of the effect of climate change on the crop. His presentation reinforced an idea that would be repeated throughout the day: agronomic decisions can no longer be based solely on experience, but require a solid understanding of how plants respond to new environmental conditions.

Jorge Retamales International Blueberries Seminar Trujillo 2026 © Blueberries Consulting

The Child as protagonist

During the afternoon, the focus shifted to the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon on Peruvian production, and within that framework, the conferences of Walter Apaza, Carlos Huamán y Thomas Fichet They analyzed different approaches to dealing with an increasingly uncertain climate scenario.

Health management

Walter Apaza explained how environmental changes associated with El Niño can significantly alter disease behavior, forcing a rethinking of prevention and control strategies. Carlos Huamán complemented this perspective with a specific analysis of Botrytis, one of the diseases with the greatest economic impact on the industry, highlighting the need for preventative programs capable of sustaining high productivity campaigns without compromising quality.

For his part, Thomas Fichet incorporated a physiological perspective by analyzing the role of plant growth regulators and hormonal balance as tools that could contribute to improving the ability of plants to respond to stress caused by adverse weather conditions.

New varieties, new demands

The final technical session of the day focused on two aspects that are now inseparable: nutrition and fruit quality. In this area, Juan Hirzel presented a critical review of the nutritional programs used in new blueberry varieties, highlighting the need to adjust diagnostics and biostimulation strategies to address genetic materials with physiological requirements different from traditional ones.

Finally, Jessica Rodríguez closed the day by analyzing one of the most relevant topics for international competitiveness: post-harvest condition and shelf life. Her presentation showed how climate change can affect the final quality of the fruit, emphasizing that maintaining good condition throughout the logistics chain begins long before harvest and depends largely on field management.

An industry for a new scenario

Beyond the diversity of topics covered, the first day of the Trujillo 2026 International Blueberry Seminar left a common conclusion among speakers and attendees: the blueberry industry no longer faces isolated challenges, because the market, genetics, nutrition, physiology, health, logistics, and climate change are all part of the same system, where every decision impacts the productivity, quality, and profitability of the business.

What comes

The second day of the seminar, in addition to maintaining the high attendance and participation seen on the first day, will continue to deepen this comprehensive view of the crop, with conferences dedicated to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the main blueberry pests and new management strategies, as well as the multiple topics that may arise from the panel discussion on genetics, market demands and fruit quality, where representatives of the main varietal improvement companies will analyze the indisputable fact that new varieties are redefining the global competitiveness of blueberries.