The World Pistachio Congress (WPC), the first worldwide congress dedicated exclusively to the pistachio sector, to be held on January 27 and 28, 2027, at the Toledo Congress Center, has officially established its Scientific and Organizing Committees, bringing together some of the most prominent figures in research, production, industry, and the leading international organizations representing the sector.
In this way, the WPC is already moving forward with the design of its technical program, which will address the sector’s main challenges and opportunities, including genetics and production, irrigation and fertilization, processing, quality and food safety, sustainability, health, communication and marketing, international markets, consumer preferences, and innovation.
The organization is keeping registration open, with a 15% discount for registrations completed before September 30, 2026. Attendees may register for the full Congress or choose either of the two days independently. All information on fees, registration options, and the program is available at www.worldpistachiocongress.org/inscripcion.
The World Pistachio Congress will be structured around two complementary days, with independent registration available for each. This format will allow each type of attendee to access the content most relevant to their interests, although the program has been designed so that producers, technicians, researchers, companies, and investors will find value in both sessions.
An international team to drive the world’s first pistachio congress
The Scientific Committee, chaired by Dr. Louise Ferguson (University of California, Davis), one of the world’s leading authorities on pistachio physiology, brings together renowned researchers and specialists in production, plant health, processing, nutrition, and international markets. In addition to the chair mentioned above, its members include José Luis Tenorio Pasamón, Director of Production at IRIAF; Dr. Esau Martínez Burgos, Production Department at IRIAF; Raúl Compés, Director of CIHEAM Zaragoza; Jesús Ángel Peñaranda, Sector Specialist at Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de Castilla-La Mancha; Salih Kafkas, from the Turkish Commodity Exchange; Ramzi Belkhodja, Coordinator of the Production, Plant Health and Breeding Area at CIHEAM Zaragoza; and José María Fontán, from the European Pistachio Council.
The committee is completed by Selina Wang, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Processing in the Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis; Themis Michailides, Plant Pathologist at the University of California, Davis, and researcher at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center; Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Human Nutrition Unit at Rovira i Virgili University (URV); Ramón Estruch, Senior Consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona; Hossein Hokmabadi, from the Iranian Pistachio Research Institute; Steven Vasquez, from the California Pistachio Research Board; Giulia Marino, Assistant Specialist in Horticultural Physiology at UC Davis; and Yiannis Chondropoulos, agronomist, consultant, and pistachio grower.
The Organizing Committee, chaired by Juan Miguel del Real, Director General of Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de Castilla-La Mancha, brings together representatives of the sector’s leading organizations and institutions, as well as prominent professionals from production, industry, marketing, and agri-food communications. Its members include Elena Escobar, Director General of Agricultural Production and Cooperatives of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha; Ernesto Tardío, CEO of Solagro; Juan de Dios Cuberos Urbano, CEO of Agroisa; Ignacio Lobato, President of Interpistacho; Enrique Colilles, President of the European Pistachio Council; Juan Antonio Jiménez, President of ADIPE; Josep Maria Pelegri Aixu, President of AFSE; Behrooz Agah, Member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Pistachio Association; and Andy Anzaldo, Senior Vice President of Grower Relations at Wonderful Company.
The WPC committee also includes Faruk Akbaş, President of the Turkish Pistachio Growers Association; Ozan Yesilyer, Trader at Tiryaki Agro; María Naranjo, Director of the Agri-Food Industry Department at ICEX; Mario González-Mohíno Palacios, CEO of Agromarketing.Online; Juan Arias, a journalist specializing in agricultural information at F&H magazine; and Egidio Magnani, Editor at PugliaLive.
Organized by Agrifood Comunicación and supported by the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain’s leading pistachio-producing region, the WPC is being established with the ambition of becoming the leading international forum and reference event for this crop.
The Congress already has the backing of major companies in the sector, including Solagro and Agroisa, Platinum Sponsors, as well as Grupo IberoPistacho and Agróptimum, Silver Sponsors. Their support contributes to the development, innovation, and growth of the pistachio industry at an international level.
The WPC invites everyone to become part of this collaborative international project by exploring the available cooperation and sponsorship opportunities. Further information is available through the WPC Technical Secretariat by calling +34 91 721 79 29 or by email at info@worldpistachiocongress.org.
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