The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) organized a webinar on the occasion of the FAO 2021 International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. The webinar was attended by Ministerial officials, sector representatives, specialists, and representatives of technology companies, all of which analyzed the challenges and opportunities offered by new technologies to the fruit and vegetable sector and highlighted the need to continue deepening the incorporation of new technologies in all phases of the production and marketing process.
The general director of Agricultural Productions and Markets, Esperanza Orellana, stressed that innovation and the incorporation of new technologies are necessary to address an unavoidable ecological transition and to guarantee the sustainability of the sector from its economic, environmental, and social approach. According to her, digitization is a powerful way to make the Spanish countryside more profitable and competitive.
She also stated that Spain has a pioneering fruit and vegetable sector, that its innovation was a constant that allowed it to advance, maintain its leadership in terms of competitiveness in international markets, and face its environmental and social issues challenges. She then encouraged the sector to continue on this path.
Ministerial officials spoke about the work that is being carried out to provide the sector with instruments that promote knowledge and transparency to know the productive reality in detail, as well as others of a predictive nature, which will make it possible for professionals and the government to anticipate decisions in relation to the sector.
The director of the Division of Associations and Collaboration with the United Nations, Marcela Villarreal, participated in the webinar and spoke about the reasons behind and the objectives of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. These goals include raising awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables and directing policy attention toward reducing the loss and waste of these highly perishable products.
The deputy director of the Institute of Economics, Geography, and Demography (IEGD-CSIC) and associate researcher at the Center for Studies and Research for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM), Tomas Garcia Azcarate, moderated a round table on 'The technologies of information as tools to respond to new challenges in the production of fruit and vegetables.'
The president and CEO of Hispatec and GT Smart Agro manager of AMETIC, Jose Luis Molina, the director of Sustainability, Quality and Innovation of Agrifood Cooperatives, Juan Sagarna, the director of Ailimpo, Jose Antonio Garcia, and the director of Digital Transformation of Florette Iberica and member of Fepex, Daniel Berganzo, also participated in the event.
Source: fepex.es