Jungle Talks to Mexico - The future of Mexican horticulture
On the occasion of the 26th edition of the Expo AgroAlimentaria Guanajuato in Irapuato, taking place from November 9-12, Jungle Talks to the World is presenting a special on the future of greenhouse produce in Mexico. During the special agricultural counselor Erik Plaisier and entrepreneurs Pharis Rico of Horticonnect, Pablo Ricaud of newcomer Rising Farms, and Mario Steta, representing Driscoll’s, discuss how the country’s horticulture sector is currently developing and will look like some 5 years from now.
Giant in agriculture and horticulture
Mexico is a true giant in agriculture and horticulture. The country is one of the world’s largest tomato producers and a large soft fruit producer as well. Production acreage keeps expanding, an increase of some 1500 ha per year of smart tech protected horticulture seems realistic.
Themes for the near future
All guests agreed that when it comes to labor and management, both will have to be made more attractive to attract sufficient staff, but in the meantime autonomous growth and robotization will also take off in the next couple of years.
Presenter Ed Smit and his guests furthermore discussed future models of finance including private equity and lease constructions. Such models could accelerate exponential growth on company level.
For now, sustainability is not a major topic yet. However, the use of water and energy needs to be addressed more urgently in a couple of years. Water resources are becoming scarce and energy will have to become renewable.
On a market level, it is expected that focus will go out to year round production and to diversification of (vegetable and soft fruit) crops. Besides, due to the tremendous challenges in logistics, Mexico might become a competitor of Colombia where it comes to flower production.
Listen to the Jungle Talks to Mexico special
If you’re interested to know more about Mexico, do not miss this special episode of Jungle Talks to the World. Tune in on Thursday 11 November from 16.00 to 17:00 CET (09:00 - 10:00 MEX) via Paprika Tasty Radio (see link below).
This ‘Jungle Talks to Mexico Special’ is powered by Paprika Tasty Radio and Jungle Talks and supported by Netherlands Agricultural Network. All ‘Jungle Talks to’ episodes can also be downloaded as podcast from Open Spotify.
Dutch presence at the Expo AgroAlimentaria Guanajuato
The Netherlands embassy in Mexico, the Netherlands Business Support Office, and a group of 9 Dutch companies form a pavilion at the Expo AgroAlimentaria Guanajuato.
The group of Dutch companies offers a wide range of solutions for the horticulture industry. The products and services of the participants vary from biological control of Koppert Biological Systems to the innovative solution that maintains the quality and extends the shelf life of perishable fruit of Liquidseal. And from the sorting technology of Aweta, and the cooling technology of Weber Cooling, to climate control of Hoogendoorn and the certification services of Control Union. Tebarex, Royal Brinkman and DQ Hortisoluciones are also part of the pavilion.
