Program

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

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

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. 

MAY 6, 2024

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

MAY 7, 2024

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

GOLF & TENNIS DAY

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

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.

MAY 8, 2024

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

EXHIBITION AREA

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Sponsored by Almond Board of California

CONGRESS OPENING

Excellence in Gastronomy Award Delivery

UNLOCKING CONSUMER POTENTIAL TO DRIVE DEMAND

by Goretti Guasch, INC Executive Director

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Marc Low, Director, Innovation & Emerging Technology, KPMG Canada

  • This Changes Everything: AI, the New Paradigm and Where to From Here: AI is no longer an abstract futuristic concept, it’s our present reality. This presentation explores the transformative impact of AI on business and society, exploring why technological disruption can be difficult to see and what comes next once a new paradigm takes hold. We’ll explore real-life applications and challenges and share practical advice to help leaders thrive in the paradigm shift that is our AI era.

COFFEE BREAK

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by Almond Board of California

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by

ALMONDS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Laura Gerhard, Vice President, Global Ingredients Division, Blue Diamond Growers, USA

  • Craig Duerr, Vice President, Global Sales/Marketing, Campos Brothers, USA
  • Brenton Woolston, Managing Director, Almondco, Australia
  • Joan Fortuny, Managing Director, De Prado Almonds, Spain
  • Mitch Yu, Purchasing Manager, Overseas Division, Three Squirrels, China

PISTACHIOS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Mike Hohmann, Executive VP and CFO, Wonderful Almonds & Pistachios, USA

  • Mia Cohen, Chief Operating Officer, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, USA
  • Behrooz Agah, Member of the Board of Directors, Iran Pistachios Association, Iran
  • Yasir Aydin, Manager, Aydin Kuruyemis, Türkiye
  • Carlos Suarez, CEO, Nuevos Cultivos Agrarios, Spain / President, European Pistachio Council (EPC)
  • Gunjan V. Jain, Managing Director, VKC Nuts, India

NUTRITION RESEARCH SEMINAR

Excellence in Research Award Delivery

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

Guest Speakers:

  • Dr. John L. Sievenpiper, Professor, Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
  • Dr. Kristina Petersen, Associate Professor, Professor in Charge, Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University, USA

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

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

PROSPER CASHEW PANEL SESSION

West African Cashew Dynamics, Redefined by USDA Prosper Cashew

Moderator: Krishanu Chakravarty (Chief of Party – Prosper Cashew)

Panelists:

  • Vigneshwar Rajkumar, Dorado – Royal Nut
  • Daniel Phipps, Red River Foods Inc
  • Marc Rosenblatt, The Richard Franco Agency, Inc

Sponsored by

UNITEC PANEL SESSION

Innovative Sorting Lines and Grading Solutions for Nuts & Dried Fruits

Presenter: Raffaele Benedetti, Member of the Board of Directors at Unitec Spa.

Sponsored by

WELCOME COCKTAIL

Sponsored by

MAY 9, 2024

ACCOMPANYING PERSON TOURS

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

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

EXHIBITION AREA

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Sponsored by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

WALNUTS ROUND TABLE

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

  • Alice Zhou, Import and Export Manager, Fen Yang Reell Food Co, China
  • Robert Verloop, Executive Director/CEO, California Walnut Board/Commission, USA
  • Rafael Bianchini, Executive Director, Frunut, Chile
  • Tatiana Calcii, Export Department Manager, Maestro Nut, Moldova

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Prof. Janice Gross Stein, Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management and the Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, Canada.

  • A World Disordered: All around us, we see a world cracking, polarizing, and ripped apart by violent conflict. How did we get here and how can we contain the damage? And how does Canada – and Canadians — find a voice in a world that is reorganizing into unfamiliar patterns?

COFFEE BREAK

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by

CASHEWS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Ganesh Rajaraman, Global Business Head – Cashew and Macadamia, ofi, USA

  • Hari Nair, President, Western India Cashews, India
  • Kees Blokland, Director, Global Trading & Agency, Netherlands
  • Vu Thai Son, General Director, Long Son Joint Stock Company, Vietnam
  • Ralph Beranek, Managing Director, Seeberger, Germany

RAISINS, PRUNES AND CRANBERRIES ROUND TABLE

Chaired by George Sousa Jr., President, Mariani Packing, USA

  • Sems Özgür, Operations Director, Özgür Foods, Türkiye
  • Jeffrey McLemore, Vice President Global Brand Marketing, Sunsweet Growers, USA
  • Benjamin Herreros, Sales Director, Pacific Nuts & Dried Fruits, Chile
  • Sylvain Dufour, Vice President of Business Development, Fruit d’Or, Canada

BRAZIL NUTS AND PINE NUTS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Richard Rosenblatt, Vice President, The Richard Franco Agency, USA

  • Victoria Mutran, International Sales Director, Mutran Exportadora, Brazil
  • Edward Danon, Director, Voicevale, UK
  • Liyuan Chen, Managing Director, Sunshine (Tianjin) Produce Ltd, China
  • Alexey Alpet, Founder and Owner, Siberian Cedar Eco-Factory, Russia

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

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

SPONSORED PANEL SESSIONS

Sponsored by

CASUAL BUFFET DINNER

Sponsored by

MAY 10, 2024

ACCOMPANYING PERSON TOURS

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

CONGRESS REGISTRATION

EXHIBITION AREA

MEETING AREA

Sponsored by

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Sponsored by Touchstone Pistachio Co.

HAZELNUTS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Hasan Sabir, General Manager, Sabirlar Findik, Türkiye

  • Mallikarjuna Kumaraswamy, Senior Vice President, Country Head Türkiye and Head of Hazelnuts Business, ofi, Türkiye
  • Riccardo Calcagni, CEO, Besana Group, Italy
  • Sean Denfeld, Managing Director, Denfeld Nut, Laurel Foods, USA
  • Jorge Mohr, Director, Nefuen Trading, Chile

SUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR

2024 Innovation Award and Excellence in Sustainability Award Delivery

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

Guest Speakers:

  • Julie Adams, Vice President, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California, USA
  • Miriam Gautier, Managing Director, Bösch Boden Spies, Germany
  • Dr. Miriam Villen King, Chief Scientist, Stahmann Webster, Australia

In this seminar, the chairs of the INC working groups on sustainability, scientific and government affairs will discuss some key challenges facing the industry, ranging from climate change to geopolitical tensions, as well as new horizons and what we can do to ensure a prosperous future for the sector.

COFFEE BREAK

All-Day Coffee Sponsored by

PEANUTS AND PECANS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Richard Owen, President & CEO, American Peanut Council, USA

  • Chen Ying, Director of Cereals and Oils, China Chamber of Commerce (CFNA), China
  • Yann Quéméneur, Food Procurement Director, Intersnack, France
  • Sally Arn, Director, Carter Pecan, USA
  • Guillermo Humphrey, Director and CEO, Humphrey Pecan, Mexico
  • Albert Bouwmeester, Vice Chairman, South African Pecan Nut Producers Association (SAPPA), South Africa

DATES, APRICOTS AND FIGS ROUND TABLE

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

  • Ahmed Boujbel, General Manager, Boudjebel, Tunisia
  • Osman Göksan, Sales Executive, Osman Akça Agricultural Products, Türkiye
  • Jens Borchert, Managing Director, PALM Nuts & More, Germany
  • Verne Powell, President, Great Lakes International Trading, USA
  • Declan Dart, Managing Director, Trumps, Australia

MACADAMIAS ROUND TABLE

Chaired by Graeme Rust, CEO, Kenya Nut Company, Kenya

  • Jill Whyte, Director, Green and Gold Macadamias, South Africa
  • Ben Adams, CEO, Marquis Macadamias, Australia
  • Jose Eduardo Camargo, Director, QueenNut Macadamia, Brazil
  • Thomas Nottebohm, Manager, Industria Guatemalteca de Macadamia, Guatemala
  • Cheng Lu, Deputy General Manager, CHK Trading, China, Hong Kong

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

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

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

WORKING BUFFET LUNCH

Sponsored by

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 “Gala Dinner and Ball” 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

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.