The Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture (AMHPAC) recently concluded its 4th Annual Technical Business Convention, and General Ordinary Assembly, at Presidente Intercontinental Hotel, in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, held from August 24 to 26. Highlights of the event:
Attended by over 400 people, related to the industry of protected horticulture.
Personalities from seven countries were gathered.
Conferences were taken full advantage of by attendees.
Carlos Cueto Rodriguez was named the New President of the AMHPAC.
To begin the event, the General Ordinary Assembly, met on Wednesday 24, attended by partners, associates and sponsors of the AMHPAC, and also members of the Directive Board of this Association. Later, it was read the presidency, treasury and surveillance committee report, new growers that joined in the 2010 – 2011 period were presented, and this was submitted to approval of the rest of the partners.
It is important to note that some changes were made within the current Directive Board. For personal matters, Mr. Cesar Campana Acosta, who until now served as President of the association, had to leave his post, leaving as his successor to Mr. Carlos Cueto Rodriguez, who was participating as Vice President of the Directive Board of the AMHPAC.
For his part, Carlos Cueto said: “I ask the plenary to give me the same support and trust as you gave to Cesar, and in return, I promise to work with the same love, enthusiasm and honesty with which he so unselfishly did for over four years. I will need a lot of your support, participation and integration for future work that shall let us to overcome the challenges to come. I stand at your orders and hope to get to know each and every one of you in a personal tone, and that the work of this organization remains in benefit of the strengthening of your companies”.
In addition to the agreements taken, the AMHPAC presented to its partners, two important speakers: PMA’s Lorna Christie with her topic, “How to tell the story behind your industry,” and Leo Zuckermann with “Social and economic perspectives in Mexico”.
Business Convention
During the second day’s Business event, speakers from different parts of the world, such as Mexico, Spain, U.S. and England, were presented to discuss subjects of interest for producers, traders and other links in the chain.
Plus, two round tables were performed, where attendees had the chance to interact with experts on current and very important subjects for their agribusinesses.
The participating speakers were:
Juan Marin Bravo (SPAIN).- Market evolution
Cuauhtli Arau (MEXICO).- Growing in times of crisis
Juan Antonio Aguila (MEXICO).- Intelligent optimism for productivity
The round table — called Protected Horticulture: Are we the ideal candidate to supply vegetables to the continent?— was formed by:
Martin Ley (MEXICO).- Del Campo Supreme, Inc. (moderator)
Roberto Garfield.- Food Marketing Institute (FMI)
Mark Konstan (USA).- The Produce Exchange
Bobby Patton (USA).- NatureSweet, Ltd.
Rich Dachman – Sysco, Corporation.
On the second round table — called Looking for innovation outside our industry,— had the following participants:
Eric Viramontes (MEXICO).- General Director of the AMHPAC (moderator)
Elliott Grant (ENGLAND).- Marketing Director of YottaMark
Lorna Christie (USA).- Executive Vice President and Operations Manager of the PMA
Juan Marin Bravo (SPAIN).- President of PROEXPORT
At night, attendees were entertained by the traditional casino night, where there was fun gambling,
and raffles of gifts were given by Sponsors and Associates.
Technical Convention
To end the Technical Convention, the following speakers and topics were presented:
Speakers:
Bram Vanthoor (HOLLAND) – Designing greenhouses for different climatic and economical conditions.
Raz Ganelevin (ISRAEL) – Photo-selective mesh shadow as an option to improve crop productivity.
Maaike Wubs (HOLLAND) – Methods to prevent floral (and fruit, as in the case of bell pepper) abortion.
Kurt Parbst (USA) – Climate control on greenhouses of medium and high technology.
Finally, a panel discussion, headlined, Are you taking advantage of technology? wrappedup the conference:
Antonio Alarcon (SPAIN).- Previous factors to take under consideration in a hydroponic project (moderator).
Fued Alle (MEXICO).- Future Greenhouses, taller and of higher volume.
Cayetano Alarcon (SPAIN).- How to design greenhouse windows to maximize its ventilation?
Mardonio Reyna Castaneda (SPAIN).- How to adapt greenhouse technology to the climate of the area?
Jose Maria Musso (SPAIN).- New photoselective plastic.
Francisco Rosique (SPAIN).- Sensor control in a wireless greenhouse and roaming control to irrigation and climate controllers.
Martin Ahumada (SPAIN).- Correct handling of automatic filters.
Francisco Murguia (MEXICO).- Reverse Osmosis: Future Solution for Intensive Agriculture.
Luis Miguel Peregrin (SPAIN).- Irrigation of 1 or 5 minutes?
Ivan Frutos (SPAIN).- Nutritional management by monitoring the soil solution.
Pedro Cuenca (SPAIN).- Supplementary crop to greenhouse production.
Also participating in the conference were two of the most experienced growers, with the most practical experience in passive, semi active and active greenhouses in the country, so that, along with experts, they discuss the pros and cons of the different feasible technological tools for the different regions in the country.
Eng. Mariano Lopez Valencia (MÉXICO).- Grower – DIVEMEX
Eng. Thierry Legros (MEXICO).- Grower – Agricola El Rosal
It is important to note that Gabriel Padilla Maya, Coordinator of Trade and Export Promotion of ASERCA, was present during the entire event, and witnessed how the organization and good management of details made of the 4th Annual Technical Business Convention a complete success.
It was Padilla Maya, the person in charge of giving a farewell message, on behalf of Mr. Francisco Mayorga Castaneda, Secretary of SAGARPA, who closed the Convention. During his speech, he made clear that the Secretary will continue to support the AMHPAC, thereby enhancing the value of the protected agriculture industry.
Source: The Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture (AMHPAC)
