Program

The INC Congress provided a unique environment for participants to learn, network and share knowledge and experiences.

New this year the Nutfruit Plaza will the place to be for high-octane networking! Exhibitor booths will be intermingled with an open-plan meeting area, plus all-day coffee close at hand. 

download congress program
Vote Innovation Award

MAY 7, 2024

  • May 7, 2024 | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

  • May 7, 2024 | 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM

GOLF & TENNIS DAY

Will you join to show off your skills to your fellow peers at the 2024 INC Golf & Tennis Day? It will take place on May 7, just before the congress.

REGISTER NOW!
GOLF GAME
TENNIS MATCH
GUIDELINES

MAY 8, 2024

  • May 8, 2024 | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

  • May 8, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

ALL-DAY COFFEE

  • May 8, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

EXHIBITION AREA

CONGRESS OPENING & ANNUAL REPORT

Presented by Goretti Guasch, INC Executive Director

Honorary Speaker: HE Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services Sector, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Delivery of the Excellence in Research Award to Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó

  • May 8, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

  • May 9, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

MORNING COFFEE

Sponsored by Almond Board of California

  • May 09, 2022 | 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • Conference Center - Joharah Ballroom
  • Sunny Verghese

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MR. SUNNY VERGHESE

Co-founder & Group CEO of Olam International Limited, Singapore
“Building sustainable food and Ag systems of the future.” 

Delivery of the Corporate Golden Nut Award to ofi

  • May 8, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
  • West Ballroom B

CONGRESS OPENING & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER TRENDS PRESENTATION

by the INC Executive Director

  • May 8, 2024 | 09:45 AM - 10:30 AM
  • West Ballroom B
  • Live Q&A

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Ms.Virginia Stagni, Head of Business Development, Financial Times

  • FT Talent Challenge, the importance of identifying young talents to bring into the company
  • May 8, 2024 | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza
  • Live Q&A

COFFEE BREAK

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by Almond Board of California

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by

  • May 8, 2024 | 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

ALMONDS ROUND TABLE

  • May 8, 2024 | 11:15 AM - 12:00 AM
  • Live Q&A

ALMONDS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Brian Ezell, Vice President, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, USA

  • Laura Gerhard, VP Global Ingredients, Blue Diamond Growers, USA
  • Damien Houlahan, Senior VP, Almonds Business, ofi, Australia
  • Niels Kristoffersen, Head of Purchasing, MOLL Marzipan, Germany
  • Antonio Pont Jr, CEO, Crisol de Frutos Secos, Spain
  • Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India
  • May 8, 2024 | 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
  • West Ballroom B

PISTACHIOS ROUND TABLE

  • May 8, 2024 | 12:00 AM - 12:45 AM
  • Live Q&A

PISTACHIOS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Mia Cohen, Chief Operating Officer, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, USA

  • Mike Hohmann, Executive VP and CFO, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, USA
  • Behrooz Agah, Member of the Board of Trustees, Iran Pistachio Association, Iran
  • Yasir Aydin, Manager, Aydin Kuruyemis, Türkiye
  • Amancio Muñoz, Purchasing General Director IFS, Importaco, Spain
  • Sameer Wadhwa, Owner, Hindasia Foods, India
  • May 8, 2024 | 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
  • West Ballroom B

NUTRITION RESEARCH SEMINAR

  • May 8, 2024 | 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Live Q&A

NUTRITION RESEARCH SEMINAR

Chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Chairman of the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination.

Guest Speakers:

  • Dr. Marta Guasch-Ferré, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Prof. Gideon Lack, Professor of Paediatric Allergy, King’s College London, UK

PISTACHIOS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by 
– Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
– Antonio Pont Jr., President, Crisolar, Spain
– Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India

Delivery of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research in Almonds to Dr. Karen Lapsley

PEANUTS AND PECANS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by 
– Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
– Antonio Pont Jr., President, Crisolar, Spain
– Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India

Delivery of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research in Almonds to Dr. Karen Lapsley

  • May 8, 2024 | 01:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • West Ballroom A

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

  • May 8, 2024 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES

by INC Stakeholders

  • May 23, 2023 | 12:15 PM - 01:15 PM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES by INC Stakeholders

Chaired by Antonio Pont, INC Honorary President and Executive Committee Member

  • Belinda Neville, Program Manager, Nuts for Life, Australia
  • Jose Eduardo Camargo, President, Brazilian Association of Nuts and Dried Fruits, Brazil
  • Christina Chen, China National Food Industry Association (CNSA), China
  • Esther Ritson-Elliott, Executive Committee Member, The Dried Fruit Alliance, UK
  • Maureen Ternus, Executive Director, NREF, USA
  • Richard Matoian, President, American Pistachio Growers, USA
  • May 8, 2024 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

SPONSORED PANEL SESSIONS

Sponsored by

  • May 8, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • The Atrium and Crystal Pavilion Pan Pacific Hotel

WELCOME COCKTAIL

Sponsored by

MAY 9, 2024

  • May 9, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

ACCOMPANYING PERSON TOURS

Take an adventure through iconic Vancouver locations: Capilano Suspension Bridge & Granville Island.

  • May 9, 2024 | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

ALL-DAY COFFEE

Sponsored by

  • May 9, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

  • May 9, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

EXHIBITION AREA

  • May 9, 2023 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

  • May 9, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
  • West Ballroom B

WALNUTS ROUND TABLE

  • May 9, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

MORNING COFFEE

Sponsored by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

  • May 9, 2023 | 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
  • West Ballroom B

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

  • May 9, 2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

COFFEE BREAK

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by

  • May 9, 2023 | 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

CASHEWS ROUND TABLE

  • May 9, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

RAISINS, PRUNES AND CRANBERRIES ROUND TABLE

  • May 9, 2023 | 1:00 PM - 1.30 PM
  • West Ballroom B

BRAZIL NUTS AND PINE NUTS ROUND TABLE

  • May 23, 2023 | 08:30 AM - 09:30 PM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

WALNUTS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by John Aguiar, International Sales Director, Mariani Nut Company, USA

  • Jinkui Zhou, Deputy General Manager, Fenyang Reell Food, China
  • Gary Ford, Executive Chairman/CEO, Diamond Foods, USA
  • David Valenzuela, Managing Director, La Invernada, Chile
  • Serkan Görgülü, General Manager, Lidya Walnuts, Romania/Türkiye
  • Gunjan V. Jain, Managing Director, VKC Nuts, India
  • May 23, 2023 | 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

RAISINS, PRUNES AND CRANBERRIES ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Brad Schuler, Vice President, Sunsweet Growers, USA

  • Emrah Yasar, Partner and Managing Director, VESTA, Türkiye
  • Donn Zea, Executive Director, California Prune Board, USA
  • Jose Tomas Quezada, Commercial Manager, Pacific Nuts & Dried Fruits, Chile
  • Dirk Schmidt, CEO and Partner, Bösch Boden Spies, Germany
  • May 23, 2023 | 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

BRAZIL NUTS AND PINE NUTS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Edward Danon, Director, Voicevale, UK

  • Rodrigo Coca, General Manager of Amazonas Manutata, Peru will be represented by Daniel Suarez, Sales Manager, Amazonas Manutata
  • Munish Minocha, CEO, Caro Nut, USA
  • Liyuan Chen, Owner and Founder, Sunshine (Tianjin) Produce Limited, China will be represented by Charles Ma, Senior BD Manager, Sunshine (Tianjin) Produce Limited
  • Mehmet Cikmaz, Executive Manager, Kahraman Tarim, Türkiye
  • May 9, 2024 | 1:30 PM - 03:00 PM
  • West Ballroom A

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

  • May 9, 2023 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • West Ballroom B

SPONSORED PANEL SESSIONS

  • May 9, 2024 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • BC Place Stadium

CASUAL BUFFET DINNER

Sponsored by

MAY 10, 2024

  • May 10, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

ACCOMPANYING PERSON TOURS

Discover Vancouver’s vibrant culture, art, and nature at Vancouver Art Gallery, Bill Reid Gallery & Stanley Park.

  • May 10, 2024 | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

  • May 10, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

ALL-DAY COFFEE

Sponsored by

  • May 10, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

EXHIBITION AREA

  • May 10, 2024 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Nutfruit Plaza & Ocean Foyer

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

  • May 10, 2023 | 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

MORNING COFFEE

  • May 10, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
  • West Ballroom B

HAZELNUTS ROUND TABLE

  • May 10, 2024 | 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
  • West Ballroom B

SUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR

  • May 10, 2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
  • Nutfruit Plaza

COFFEE BREAK

  • May 24, 2023 | 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

HAZELNUTS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Hasan Sabir, General Manager, Sabirlar, Türkiye

  • Riccardo Calcagni, CEO, Besana Group, Italy
  • Larry George, President, George Packing Company, USA
  • Jorge Mohr, Director, Nefuen Trading, Chile
  • May 10, 2024 | 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
  • West Ballroom B

MACADAMIAS ROUND TABLE

  • May 10, 2024 | 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
  • West Ballroom B

DATES, APRICOTS AND FIGS ROUND TABLE

  • May 10, 2024 | 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
  • West Ballroom B

PEANUTS AND PECANS ROUND TABLE

  • May 23, 2023 | 09:30 AM - 10:15 AM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

SUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR

Chaired by Pino Calcagni, Chairman of the INC Sustainability, Scientific and Government Affairs Committee

Guest Speakers:

  • Dr. Rachael Garrett, Moran Professor of Conservation and Development, University of Cambridge, UK
  • May 10, 2024 | 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

MACADAMIAS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Alan Sutton, Chairman, Valley Macadamia Group, South Africa

  • Richard Sampson Genest, Director, CCO, Stahmann Webster, Australia
  • Mbugua Ngugi, Managing Director, Kenya Nut Company, Kenya
  • Jose Eduardo Camargo, Co-Founder, Director, QueenNut Macadamia, Brazil
  • Chen Wen, CEO President, Symbol Group, China

MACADAMIAS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Alan Sutton, Chairman, Valley Macadamia Group, South Africa.
– Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
– Antonio Pont Jr., President, Crisolar, Spain
– Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India

Delivery of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research in Almonds to Dr. Karen Lapsley

  • May 24, 2023 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

DATES, APRICOTS AND FIGS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Guillaume Pagy, General Manager, Pagysa & Nova Fruits International, Türkiye

  • Ahmed Boujbel, General Manager, Boudjebel, Tunisia
  • Ogan Ceryan, Board Member and Plant Manager, Anatolia AS, Türkiye
  • Miray Usta, Member of the Board, Usta Food, Türkiye
  • James Weaire, Managing Director, Chelmer Foods, UK

  • Adam Green, President, The Hemisphere Group, USA

DATES, APRICOTS AND FIGS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Guillaume Pagy, General Manager, Pagysa & Nova Fruits International, Türkiye.
– Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
– Antonio Pont Jr., President, Crisolar, Spain
– Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India

Delivery of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research in Almonds to Dr. Karen Lapsley

  • May 22, 2023 | 12:45 AM - 1:45 PM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

PEANUTS AND PECANS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Lalo Medina, President, Pecan Grove Farms, USA

  • Chen Ying, Director of Cereals and Oils, China Chamber of Commerce, China
  • Richard Owen, President and CEO, American Peanut Council, USA
  • Andreas Snyman, Executive Manager, GWK, South Africa
  • Andrew Waddell, Business Development Manager, Stahmann Webster, Australia
  • May 24, 2023 | 12:00 AM - 01:00 PM
  • The Great Room
  • Live Q&A

CASHEWS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Ümit Ergin, Vice-President, PLM Cashews, ofi, USA

  • Pankaj Sampat, Director, Samsons Traders, India
  • Vu Thai Son, General Director, Long Son, Vietnam
  • David Rosenblatt, President, Richard Franco Agency, USA
  • Wim Schipper, Director Procurement, Intersnack Cashew Company, Netherlands

CASHEWS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Ümit Ergin, Vice-President, PLM Cashews, Ofi, USA.
– Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
– Antonio Pont Jr., President, Crisolar, Spain
– Raju Bhatia, Founder and Managing Partner, California Agri Nuts Corporation, India

Delivery of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research in Almonds to Dr. Karen Lapsley

  • May 10, 2024 | 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • West Ballroom A

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

  • May 10, 2024 | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Vancouver Convention Centre Ballroom

COCKTAIL

Sponsored by

  • May 10, 2024 | 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
  • Vancouver Convention Centre Ballroom

COCKTAIL, GALA DINNER & BALL

The Cocktail will start at 6:30 pm, followed by the Gala Dinner & Ball at 7:30 pm. The INC Congress serves as the perfect way to wrap up an exceptional event, and it is thoroughly enjoyed at each congress.

The Gala Dinner & Ball at INC Congresses was the perfect way to wrap up a great event, and it is highly enjoyed at each congress. Remember, you need to save your spot for the Gala Dinner. Reservations are now open!

Sponsored by

MAY 25, 2023

  • May 25, 2023 | 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey
  • May 25, 2023 | 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM
  • Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey
  • Guidelines

GOLF & TENNIS DAY

Did you join to show off your skills to your fellow peers at the 2023 INC Golf & Tennis Day? Took place just after the congress on Thursday, May 25th at Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, and we had the opportunity to see some of the beautiful English countryside and spend time with fellow industry members. The club boasts two exceptional downland golf courses and also counts on six outdoor, floodlit courts: three artificial clay and three porous rubber. The event included brunch on arrival to get everybody warmed up for their game and ended with a round of celebratory drinks.

Show off your skills to your fellow peers and sign up for the 2023 INC Golf & Tennis Day! Taking place just after the congress on Thursday, May 25th at Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, why not take the opportunity to see some of the beautiful English countryside and spend time with fellow industry members. The club boasts two exceptional downland golf courses and also counts on six outdoor, floodlit courts: three artificial clay and three porous rubber. The event will include brunch on arrival to get everybody warmed up for their game and end with a round of celebratory drinks.
GUIDELINES
GOLF GAME
TENNIS MATCH
GUIDELINES