(Bolzano, 3 February 2010) Interpoma 2010, the seventh edition of the biennial international event dedicated to the apple, will be held at Fiera Bolzano in South Tyrol, Italy, from 4 – 6 November 2010. The trade fair will once again play host to The Apple in the World, the most influential conference in the sector organised by internationally renowned pomologist Kurt Werth in partnership with South Tyrolean fruit growers organisations.
Over the course of the three-day gathering, prominent international experts and industry representatives will meet to consider the future direction of the global apple industry. The main subject of discussion during the first session, on Thursday 4 November, will be changes in the market and production geography of apples. Besides focusing on commercial opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa, there will be a special insight into the new fruit-growing basins of southeast Europe, including the Caucasus, Krasnodar, the Don region, Moldova and Ukraine.
The theme of territory will also be central to the opening address on the Myth of the Apple. The presentation will analyse from a historical and literary perspective the significance attributed by different cultures to the fruit of sin, with the aim of elucidating the cultural connotations that make each region unique, akin to the concept of the wine-growing terroir.
The Residues, Carbon Footprint and Energy Balance of the apple sector will instead be the main topics of the second day on Friday 5 November. The floor will be opened to discussion between exponents in the domains of production and distribution, academics and representatives of environmental organisations on the hottest issues linked to food security and sustainability in the apple industry. The objective of the session is to build a platform of shared values between all the players in the supply chain, so as to consistently and efficiently meet the demands of consumers who are increasingly sensitive to the issues of food safety and the eco-compatibility of the products that they buy.
The wrap-up session will look at the collaboration between Interpoma and ISAFRUIT, the interdisciplinary project co-financed by the European Union that is aimed at increasing fruit consumption throughout the continent. During the session, representatives of the main research institutes involved in the project will present the findings of analyses into consumption, health, varietal research, post-harvest techniques and the environment in regard to the apple sector.
With wideranging topics and high-profile keynote speakers, the international conference on the apple is one of the highlights of Interpoma, commented Reinhold Marsoner, Managing Director of Fiera Bolzano. Interpoma has always been an exhibition with a strong international focus and it has continued to expand its global reach over the years. During the previous edition held in 2008, the event welcomed 11,653 industry specialists, 40% of whom were overseas visitors from a total of 54 different countries.
Source: Interpoma