International Asparagus Days, conference programme finalised

With less than a month before the start of the International Asparagus Days, the three-day event dedicated entirely to asparagus to be held in the renovated pavilions of Cesena Fiera from 16 to 18 October 2018, the organisers have finalised the side events programme. In addition to the exhibition, there will be numerous round tables, presentations and guided visits, making this event an international gathering of the entire asparagus supply chain. A series of conferences will be held on Tuesday 16 & Wednesday 17 October, whereas Thursday 18 October will be dedicated to technical visits. The conference programme will begin on the first day, in the morning, with a round table on the “Global situation and evolution of asparagus”, during which speeches by world-renowned speakers will be followed by debates on the addressed topics: Chang Huaxing and Wenjing Chen from China will give speeches, respectively, on the “Situation and evolution of fresh asparagus and asparagus for processing in China” and on “Asparagus growing: latest techniques in China”; from Peru, Ciria Quispe will give a speech on the “Situation and evolution of asparagus in Peru: physiology, irrigation and fertilisation of asparagus”; from France, Christian Befve - who organised the event together with Cesena Fiera and expert Luciano Trentini - will talk about “New asparagus growing techniques: how to minimise disadvantages in production to stabilise the market”. In the afternoon, the focus will shift to Europe with another round table on “Innovations in asparagus growing”, during which “Asparagus irrigation” and “European financial resources in support of asparagus growing” will be discussed, the latter illustrated by Areflh. Two more round tables are scheduled on the second day: in the morning, Isabelle Kokula from Germany will discuss the “Situation and evolution of asparagus in Germany: the latest techniques”, Luciano Trentini from Italy will talk about the “Situation and evolution of asparagus in Italy: the mechanisation of asparagus”, Frederico Piccone from Mexico and Dominique Ruggli from Switzerland will discuss, respectively, the “Situation and evolution of asparagus in Mexico” and “Microorganisms in asparagus cultures”, Jean Michel Colliaud from France will discuss the “Experience of extracting pesticide molecules from borehole and runoff water”, and Federico Nadaletto from Italy will discuss “The use of microorganisms in Italy”. The last round table will focus on the asparagus market, namely “Asparagus for the market: a conventional, organic and biodynamic product” with a report by CSO on “The consumption of asparagus in Italy and Europe” and two debates with large-scale retail operators and fruit and vegetable market traders. Both days will end with presentations by the sponsoring companies and exhibitors. Participation in the round tables is free of charge.