Almonds Featured at International Nut Congress

On May 21-23, members of the California almond industry met in Sevilla, Spain, to attend the 37^th annual International Nut and Dried Fruit Council’s (INC) World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress. This year’s Congress hosted more than 1,500 attendees from over 60 countries, making the event the largest in its history.

“The INC Congress brings together industry members from around the world,” said Julie Adams, Almond Board Vice President, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs. “There is no lack of meeting opportunities to discuss key issues impacting almonds and the broader global nut sector. We were able to address customers’ technical questions and talk with them about how they are using almonds in their operations, market conditions they face and more." 

The Almond Board was well represented at the event, with Adams, Almond Board President and CEO, Richard Waycott, Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Karen Lapsley, Board Chair, Holly King and Vice Chair, Kent Stenderup all participating in the Congress. There was also significant participation from California almond growers and handers.

Almond Projections on a Global Scale   

This year, Waycott was invited to participate in the Almonds Round Table panel discussion, which attracted more than 1,000 industry professionals. Waycott joined fellow California almond panelist Mark Jansen, CEO of Blue Diamond Growers, to discuss the current state and estimated outlook of almond production and market development around the world. Among the topics covered were three key takeaways:

• The California 2017/2018 inventory carry-out will be the lowest in recent memory and demand remains strong across all markets.
• An increase in acreage and minimal frost damage in many areas alleviated the impact of this year’s February frost, resulting in a subjective crop estimate for the 2018 California almond harvest of 2.3 billion pounds (+1.8%).
• The cost of almond production continues to increase. Enhanced revenue streams from coproducts, continuous improvement in orchard best practices and a fair and competitive price for almond kernels will be needed to afford higher production costs.

Other panel participants from Australia, India and Spain provided additional insights into the expanding almond acreage in Australia, Spain and Portugal. This expansion in acreage is due to the planting of self-fertile varieties and, in the case of Spain and Portugal, newly irrigated orchards.

With increasing production, Waycott commented on the importance of investing in initiatives to support demand growth. “It is the responsibility of each of the producing countries to do their part in ensuring that available resources are put to good use to expand worldwide demand,” Waycott said.

International Collaboration Provides Insights

Adams, who is Vice Chair of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, participated in the Committee meeting, which focused on current technical and regulatory issues impacting nut shipments. Her updates to the Committee included an overview of import controls in Europe as well as the California almond industry’s responsible use of pesticides.

This year’s Congress also provided the Almond Board with a prime opportunity to connect with attendees from all over the globe on another pressing topic: trade.

Given the escalating trade tensions related to tariff increases, the Almond Board group capitalized on the opportunity to meet with two Chinese organizations: the China Nut and Seed Association (CSNA) and the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA). In both meetings, ABC expressed the almond industry’s vested interest in resolving the tariff situation and continuing to be active in the Chinese market. 

The Almond Board group also met with Hiroto Nakajima, chair of the Japan Nut Association, which, as King described it, is “the equivalent of the Almond Board of California in Japan.” Nakajima is not only the chair of this association but also the president of Toyo Nut Company Ltd., the first tree nut manufacturer to open its door in Japan. Their meeting focused largely on common challenges faced by the Almond Board and the Japanese association and how both parties might work together in the future. The meeting was prime timing, given the fact that Waycott visited Japan in June to participate in the Japan Nut Association’s annual meeting.

Considerable trade policy discussions allowed the Almond Board and King to speak with Spanish importers and organizations, as well. The group met with Rachel Bickford and Arantxa Media with the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Office in Madrid to discuss ongoing implementation of the almond Pre-Export Checks program. Then, Stenderup joined in a meeting with Pere Ferre, chair of the Spanish almond association, Almendrave. During the group’s discussion, ABC shared information on aflatoxin controls and the industry’s PEC program, among other matters.

Amidst various encounters with multiple individuals, King noticed a consistent theme: “ABC staff are not only well-connected around the world, but they are also connected with the right people and are highly respected – California Almonds are highly respected.”

Nutrition Research, Upcoming Innovations Highlighted

Trade talks and market discussions weren’t the only highlights of this year’s Congress – recent nutrition research delivered exciting news for tree nuts. This year, the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination presented the Award for Excellence in Research to the PREDIMED Study Group. In this study, researchers found that eating a Mediterranean diet supplemented with a 30g handful of mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day helps improve heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, weight and brain function in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.[1]

Lapsley sits on the INC World Forum’s Evaluating Nutrition Committee, which is tasked with evaluating nutrition research and outreach that the INC funds for tree nuts and dried fruits.

In addition to discussing the latest in nutrition research, Lapsley said she “made sure to talk to any almond and other tree nut industry folks about biomass utilization – what the Almond Board is doing presently and what we hope to do.” Lapsley is the Almond Board staff liaison for ABC’s Biomass Working Group.

Almonds Prominent on International Scale

Reflecting on each tree nut’s representation at the Congress, Waycott said almonds figured prominently at this year’s event. “As the largest tree nut category in the world, almonds have developed a reputation for providing leadership for the rest of the industry,” said Waycott.

In addition to the praise towards the almond industry itself, Lapsley said Congress attendees recognized the Almond Board of California as “having the most comprehensive programs to serve our industry.” Adams agreed.

“More than once we heard an industry member or presenter say, ‘the way the Almond Board is handling this is...’. We are definitely seen as providing a leadership role, promoting almonds but also sharing insights that will help the larger nut community address the common challenges we face,” said Adams.

Thanks to the work of almond industry members throughout California, the Almond Board’s global network will continue to expand as new market and product opportunities arise.

“The almond industry has been represented at this event for years,” said Adams, “and its prominence in the nut and dried fruits sector continues to grow.”