The Scientific Committee of the World Pistachio Congress (WPC) continues to make progress in shaping the programme for the next edition of the Congress, which will take place in Toledo on 27 and 28 January 2027. At its latest meeting, the Committee approved the thematic structure of the programme, laying the foundations for an event that will address different areas of the pistachio value chain from a technical, scientific and business perspective.
According to Louise Ferguson, Chair of the WPC Scientific Committee, the programme structure is designed to provide a broad overview of the sector while connecting the different stages involved in its development. “We want the World Pistachio Congress to be a space where scientific and technical knowledge can be shared among professionals from different countries and across the pistachio value chain. That is why the programme covers issues ranging from site selection and orchard management to quality, sustainability, health, communication and international markets,” she explains.
The programme will therefore be structured around two days with different yet complementary approaches. The first day will focus on growers and field production, with content centred on the main aspects involved in establishing and managing pistachio orchards. The second day will focus on the business side of the sector and other areas related to its development, including health, communication and marketing, and international markets. The programme will also include sessions dedicated to post-harvest handling, processing, quality and sustainability.
In total, the content will be organised into seven main thematic blocks.
The first, Site Selection, Varieties, Rootstocks and Orchard Establishment, will address issues such as climate adaptation, plot assessment, genetic improvement and varietal selection. The second, Irrigation, Orchard Management and Harvest, will cover topics related to plant physiology and irrigation management, water-use efficiency, soil and fertilisation, orchard maintenance and harvesting practices, from rainfed systems to high-intensity production.
The third block, Post-Harvest, Processing, Quality and Food Safety, will focus on post-harvest handling, processing, fruit quality and microbiological safety. The fourth, Sustainable Production, will pay particular attention to circular business models, by-product valorisation and environmental resilience in the nut sector.
The fifth block, Pistachio and Health, will examine the nutritional benefits of pistachios, their bioactive compounds and the available clinical evidence. The sixth, Communication and Marketing, will address brand building, digital communication and the international positioning of pistachios.
Finally, the seventh block, International Markets and Trade, will address export trends, trade policies, tariffs and market development strategies worldwide.
The Scientific Committee will continue working on the definition of the rest of the programme. Details of the sessions and speakers will be announced progressively over the coming weeks as the Congress programme takes shape.
International momentum and support
Organised by Agrifood Comunicación with the support of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, the Congress already has the backing of Solagro and Agroisa as Platinum sponsors; Sabadell, Cimbria, TOMRA Food and Alltech Crop Science as Gold sponsors; and Grupo IberoPistacho, AgroBank, Agróptimum, Agroseguro and Veolia as Silver sponsors.
Those interested in attending can register at www.worldpistachiocongress.org/inscripcion and benefit from the early-bird registration discount until 30 September. Participants will be able to choose from different registration options, including full Congress attendance, attendance for one day, a student registration option and the possibility of attending the gala dinner to be held as part of the event.
For further information, please contact the WPC Technical Secretariat by telephone on 91 721 79 29 or by email at info@worldpistachiocongress.org.
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