A very intense meeting was the one just finished XXVII International Blueberry Seminar made in the city of Trujillo. In addition to the great variety of topics covered by the specialists and the deepening of them in the continuous rounds of questions at the end of each block, the tone was to frankly discuss what to do in the upcoming scenarios, crossed by uncertainty and, above all, the climatic impact that there may be in the Peruvian industry derived from the El Niño phenomenon.

World market

Beginning the first day of the meeting, the analysis of louis miguel vegas, general manager of Proarándanos, set the tone regarding the different strategies and measures that the industry must take in the short term.

Photography Blueberries Consulting

After an interesting framework of the world blueberry market and the projections of the global industry, which will almost double production volumes by 2030, growing from 1.8 million current tons to 3 million, he detailed the most important measures to be adopted by the Peruvian industry to maintain or increase its role in the global blueberry market.

The leader of the Peruvian industry called for boosting demand through promotions, achieving greater efficiency in handling and increasing productivity by increasing yield per hectare and increasing quality standards based on the new genetics. In short, he made a call to focus on the sustainability of the activity, with lower consumption and more efficient use of water, generating more employment and well-being for people, highlighting the healthy properties of the fruit and its benefits for healthy eating, among other notable aspects to increase demand.

Projections

Regarding the projections of the Peruvian industry for 2024, the general manager of Proarándanos explained that, according to the information collected from the companies, there are at least three different scenarios for the next campaign, from growing by 14%, maintaining the levels or lower the volumes to the rates of the 2021/22 campaign.

In terms of management, the vast majority of specialists advised making important adjustments to face the scenario crossed by the inclement weather that is coming, because "if the plant is happy and well treated, it has a much better chance of successfully facing any stress situation, and on the contrary, if we have problems with roots, nutrition, or other problems, it is most likely that they will succumb to a threat like the one that is coming and we will have great losses”.

change changes

The important thing is to establish plans based on true diagnoses and to be permanently observing the fields, because if the phenology changes, the plans must change too.

The debate was much more intense in the final Round Table, where the specialists expressed their opinions based on their empirical experience, obtained from their work in the Peruvian fields.

What is clear is that climate change is here to stay and that we must adapt to this new reality in all aspects.

"What cannot happen is that we are dressing up as a Girl or an event that is a Boy, because the success or failure of all planning depends on this."

local investigation

There was a consensus that we must advance in local research, take measurements and carry out tests, but do them well, with scientific rigor, permanently recording and comparing everything that happens in our fields. Do not rely exclusively on information from studies carried out in other realities.

"All the varieties come from 2, 3, 4 or 5 different species, so their behavior can vary even meters away, so you have to be attentive and pick up any changes."

plants without stress

It must be remembered that if the plant suffers a stress it will try to maintain a balance to defend itself, and if this affects the root it will also affect the fruit or the leaf, so it can begin to drop leaves, flowers or fruits, because the The final purpose of the plant is to perpetuate the species, and if it is threatened it begins to abort fruits to protect the remaining ones. Logically, this natural phenomenon of the plants is not convenient for the producer, so, to avoid this floral or fruit abortion, which can increase in adverse weather conditions, analyzes must be carried out, observed, and data collected methodically, to make the best decisions. already time.

"If we have happy plants, both in their aerial part and in their root part, we don't have to worry" "Proper management is what will allow us to make the plant happier" "There are two things we should not do, overwatering and having excess nitrogen reserves” “Applications are the last thing to do” “We have to learn to live with this climate”, were some of the concluding phrases.

The next meeting will be XVIII International Seminar on Blueberries Morocco It will be held 13 and September 14 in the Hotel Les Dunes D'Or in Agadir and to participate buy your ticket HERE