On Wednesday, May 15, the Casino Monticello became the nerve center of the Chilean cherry industry. More than 800 agricultural professionals took part in the first edition of the MUNDOAGRO Cherry Special Congress, a technical event that captured the attention of growers, technicians, researchers and companies involved in the cherry supply chain.
The event provided a unique platform for professional development and direct discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, thanks to a high-level program consisting of masterclasses and technical forums.
The day began with agronomist Patricio Morales, who shared innovative strategies and practices in his talk “Estrategias y manejos de alto impacto para obtener cerezas de calidad”, focusing on optimizing field production.
He was followed by Juan Hirzel, researcher at INIA and plant nutrition specialist, who explored the importance of micronutrients in fruit quality in his presentation “Nutrición mineral del cerezo, con énfasis en micronutrientes”.
Much anticipation surrounded the masterclass by Professor Gregory Lang of Michigan State University, who presented the most recent developments in mechanization and automation of cherry training and covering systems. His presentation sparked a lively debate on production efficiency and long-term sustainability.
The congress also hosted three technical discussion forums, where experts and attendees debated key topics such as fruit quality, mineral nutrition, and new training systems. These sessions fostered a direct dialogue among stakeholders in the supply chain, helping to strengthen the sector's knowledge network.
With record attendance and a high-profile scientific agenda, the 1st MUNDOAGRO Cherry Special Congress established itself as a new benchmark for the Chilean agricultural community. The event is expected to return in future editions, supporting the growth of a strategic sector for the country's agri-food economy.
Text and image source: mundoagro.cl
14 May 2025
The Meda™ cherry breeding program celebrates 15 years of innovation, showing outstanding results in Europe and Chile. With Kordia-level quality and earlier harvest, these premium varieties target top-tier markets, including China, with growing export potential.
11 Dec 2025
An innovative study compares qPCR and dPCR to analyze genes linked to fruit cracking in cherries. Eight molecular markers were identified to support genetic improvement, early diagnosis and field strategies against cracking, a key challenge in cherry farming.
28 Aug 2026
In Alicante, pre-harvest 24-BL treatments reduced sweet cherry cracking by up to 50% while improving fruit size, firmness, red color and anthocyanin content. Tests on ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Skeena’ suggest a promising strategy to protect orchards from extreme rainfall events.
28 Aug 2026
In Nishikawa, Yamagata Prefecture, robots, drones and sensors promise to support winter sakura growers. Yet an aging workforce, depopulation and mistrust of technology reveal how uncertain the future of Japanese agriculture remains despite smart farming investments.
