Next 13 and September 14 will be held in Morocco el XXVIII International Blueberry Seminar in the halls of Conference and Meeting Center of the city of Agadir. On the occasion, important leaders of the international blueberry industry will meet; investors from various countries interested in implementing new projects in Morocco; agricultural entrepreneurs that produce and export blueberries; and the most prestigious researchers and specialists in the industry, in order to expose and analyze the most relevant issues for the Moroccan industry in its growth and development strategy.

Latin American assistance

Important leaders from the Mexican and Peruvian industry will join this meeting of the global blueberry industry in September in Agadir, who have already committed their attendance, as a way of contributing their own experience to the debate with the attendees and the analysis of the experts, motivated by the multiple growth possibilities of the Moroccan industry.

The attendance of the leaders of the successful Latin American industry is a form of response to the outstanding participation of Amine bennani, President of the Moroccan Association of Producers of Red Fruits (Ampfr), at the last International Blueberry Seminar held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in which he spoke about "The importance of Morocco as a supplier of blueberries in the world: current status and projections".

Similarities

"In Mexico I have found many similarities with Morocco," he declared. Amine bennani, explaining that “in Mexico they have their main market a few hours away, which is the US market. A situation identical to ours, with respect to the European Union market, which we supply without difficulty in a matter of hours or a very few days. Which is a strategic advantage for both", and adding that they plant practically the same varieties, such as the Sekoya, from Fall Creek, Rocío from Hortifrut and "other genetic varieties that I have seen here and that we also plant, among many other similarities, such as the cost of energy, inputs and labor”.

Call for applications

On the occasion, the renowned leader of Moroccan producers and exporters was also able to share experiences with representatives of the successful Peruvian and Chilean industry, in addition to the North American experience in blueberry cultivation, for which reason this visit by Latin American leaders to the meeting of Agadir in September includes the call he made at the Guadalajara Seminary:

“I want to get to know the people here better and invite them to find out how we are doing things in Morocco, and if someone wants to invest or participate in the European, Asian or Eastern markets, think about investing in Morocco, because we offer many comparative advantages ”.

A growing industry

That of Morocco is an industry that is spreading rapidly throughout the different areas of the country and that already exceeds 4.000 hectares of planted area, increasing each year in a range that oscillates between 200 and 400 ha with new productive projects.

Morocco, due to its location in North Africa, has different types of climate, with a Mediterranean environment perceived in the north of the country and a little further south the thermal sensation is hotter. The minimums are between 5ºC and 15ºC, depending on the area. The northern part of the country is rainier and water is available in almost all areas of the country. Despite the fact that the lack of water is a common challenge in all countries. In desert areas, or where there is a lack of water, there are desalination systems available to producers.

A development seminar

The crops are all protected by 50% mesh in summer and plastic in winter and they do not have as much radiation problem in the country. The production areas are two main. The north, which corresponds to crops in soil, with direct planting, and in the south - which has 35% of the total crops - are produced in pots, with hydroponic systems and technical irrigation.

Al XXVIII International Blueberry Seminar of the September 13 and 14 in AgadirIn addition to the Latin American leaders, producers, investors and businessmen from Spain, Portugal, Italy and different European and Asian areas, in addition to the African neighbours, Therefore, the meeting will be a real boost to the Moroccan blueberry industry, which is already projected as an important player in the European context and extends its prestige to the markets of Asia and the Middle East.