Territorio Aguacate 2022 ended with record attendance of more than 2,570 attendees

Key points

• The event’s academic agenda included nearly 90 experts from Mexico, Peru, Chile, the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, France and the Netherlands.
• There were 24 keynote lectures and 54 Avotalks, complementary talks.
• More than 500 appointments were made at the Avomatch or business roundtable.

Fourth edition of Territorio Aguacate

The fourth edition of Territorio Aguacate was held on November 23 and 24 at Plaza Mayor, Medellín. The event was attended by more than 2,570 experts, producers, exporters, service providers, researchers and other actors in the Hass avocado value chain.

This meeting allowed the construction of connections and the generation of knowledge around the Colombian fruit, to project it to the world as a benchmark of quality, sustainability and competitiveness.

“Territorio Aguacate is an opportunity to raise awareness of this agribusiness, its advantages and the possibilities it offers the country to achieve its sustainable development. It is a space in which we meet again to work as a team for our sector, learn best practices, share knowledge and prepare ourselves to face the challenges of this agribusiness”, said Jorge Enrique Restrepo, executive director of -Corpohass- Corporation of Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters of Colombia, organizer of the event.

A total of 78 learning spaces were developed, based on four thematic axes: supply chain, quality, productivity and markets and business.
In addition, more than 500 appointments were made through the business round or Avomatch, and 130 companies representing 20 countries participated in the trade show.

“This event demonstrates how, through the transfer of knowledge, we unite the chain, foster connections and generate business”, said María Alejandra Madrid, general manager of Agrilink, a Corpohass partner.

One of the novelties this year was the AvoFuture, where 42 companies shared their developments, innovation initiatives, technological tools and resources that promote the efficiency and productivity of the agribusiness value chain.

Learning and training

The academic agenda of the event proposed dialogues in different formats, such as panels, discussion spaces, keynote lectures, technical talks, success stories, among others.

90 experts from Colombia and nine other countries shared their knowledge with the attendees, in technical matters, experience and practice. Some of the highlights were:

• Zelda Van Rooyen
  PhD in Agriculture from the University of KuaZulu Natal, South Africa.
• Balakrishnan Prithiviraj
  PhD in Plant Pathology and Mycology from Banaras Hindu University.
  Post-doctoral Professor at McGill University and University of Colorado (USA).
• María Mercedes Martínez
  PhD in Agricultural Sciences, University of Bonn, Germany
• Rodrigo Ortega
  PhD in Soils from the University of Colorado (USA).
• Tom Van Hees Director
  General WAO (World Avocado Organization)
• Alejandro Gavito
  Director of HAB Services (Hass Avocado Board)

The Avotours closed the event with quality. At least 80 attendees, including Colombians and foreigners, participated in field tours in the municipality of Sonsón (Antioquia), to learn firsthand how the Hass avocado ecosystem has evolved (production and packaging) and its positive impact on the community.

Territorio Aguacate also promoted scientific research through Avopapers, a space where articles and studies related to quality, production, yields, marketing and industrialization were disseminated.

Impact on the economy

Colombia has 3,317 farms with export registration, totaling 29,236 hectares, located in 16 departments.

It is estimated that there are 54,000 hectares planted with Hass avocado in the country. The fruit reaches more than 30 destinations in Europe, Asia and America. In the last five years, seven markets have been opened: USA, Argentina, Japan, China, Peru, South Korea and Chile.

In 2021 there was a 20% growth in exports of this fruit, compared to 2020. There were about 97,000 tons of Hass avocado, worth approximately US$ 203,705,000.