Lisbon, Portugal, April. 28, 2023 –Peanut sustainability and a crop outlook from seven peanut origin nations helped shape the 2023 International Peanut Forum in Lisbon, Portugal. The industry’s premier event brought together 350 attendees from 35 countries to discuss the latest issues and opportunities in the global peanut market. The three-day conference ran April 26-28.
The conference kicked off with a panel on sustainability with voices from each step of the supply chain. Veerle Poppe from the Colruyt Group, Irene Moreno with Importaco, Edoardo Fracanzani with the Argentina Peanut Chamber and Richard Owen with the American Peanut Council discussed sustainable practices their respective organizations are practicing, like strategic peanut sourcing, recycling peanut shells and smarter irrigation practices. Owen highlighted APC’s Sustainable U.S. Peanut Initiative, an industry-led grower data collection program that’s helping provide the foundation to tell the industry’s sustainability story.
“This year’s conference sessions covered key and timely areas of interest to all segments of the peanut supply chain, such as sustainability,” said IPF Secretariat Louise McKerchar. “Other popular sessions included peanut nutrition with the Peanut Institute’s Dr. Samara Sterling and consumer marketing with ManiLife founder Stu MacDonald, and the ever-popular peanut supply panel.”
Capping off the conference, the peanut supply panel featured delegates from Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Nicaragua, South Africa & the United States discussing supply and projections for the upcoming crop. Attendees learned about current crop conditions and a 2023 forecast from Diego Bracco, Maniagro Argentina; Robson Fonseca, COPLANA; Peng Zhang, Qingdao Peanut Import & Export Association; Nilesh Vira, IOPEPC; Wessel Higgs, Triotrade Gauteng Pty Ltd.; Collins McNeill, MC McNeill & Co.; and Joaquin Zavala, Comasa.
The IPF is the only event where peanut industry leaders from around the globe gather to make connections and conduct business around vital peanut issues. This year’s conference covered key areas of interest to all segments of the peanut supply chain, including research, market trends and new product development, sustainability and the use of peanuts to fight malnutrition. Peanut farmers, shellers, exporters, brokers, dealers, manufacturers and service suppliers from around the world were in attendance.
The full slate of IPF speakers included: Diego Bracco, Maniagro Argentina; Erwan Chapuis, NUTRISET Group; Robson Fonseca, COPLANA; Edoardo Fracanzani, Camara Argentina del Mani; Wessel Higgs, Triotrade Gauteng Pty Ltd.; Collins McNeill, MC McNeill & Co.; Irene Moreno, Importaco; Stu MacDonald, ManiLife; Richard Owen, American Peanut Council; Bob Parker, National Peanut Board; Veerle Poppe, Colruyp Group; Tessa Schoones, Innova Market Insights; Dr. Samara Sterling, The Peanut Institute; Nilesh Vira, IOPEPC; Joaquin Zavala, Comasa; and Peng Zhang, Qingdao Peanut Import & Export Association.
