This year’s focus will be on new ways of enhancing sustainable market growth: "Growing a vigorous fresh produce industry for a healthy planet and people". An expo with industry-orientated exhibitors will showcase innovations during both conference days. The first day will also consist of generic sessions addressed by industry experts. On the second day attendees will choose between several workshops to discuss issues under this year’s umbrella theme.
Feedback after allFresh! 2011 showed a keen interest in more opportunities for delegates to participate in workshop-style interactions. The allFresh! team has paid special attention to recreate a professional interactive atmosphere in 2012. Many workshop facilitators have confirmed their topics for 2012. Koos Bouwer, an Industrial Engineer Consultant, will talk about a practical action plan for energy savings in pack houses and cold stores.
Andrew Makenete, earlier from ABSA and Land Bank and now the Executive Director of Calico Capitol, as well as members from his team, will discuss ways of overcoming bottlenecks to attract investment capital into agriculture. The topics of a Citrus and Legal workshop will soon be confirmed. Stuart Symington, the CEO of PPECB will talk about the future of PPECB, as it recently made an exit from certifying 3rd party private standards and adapted its strategy to changing international markets, customer expectations and the higher cost of doing business.
Stuart told the allFresh! team that PPECB plan to go back to basics and concentrate on delivering a professional statutory mandate to its clients, including service on product inspections and cold chain monitoring, as well as the provision of information. The Minister has tasked PPECB to rewrite the PPEB Act of 1983. In doing so, PPECB hopes to bring a much-needed modernity to business operations, with faster benefit and better economic value to their customers. Stuart will elaborate on these issues in the PPECB workshop.
The resumes and topics of all workshop facilitators, as well as generic speakers can be visited in detail on the allFresh! website. Other conference-related information is also available in a user-friendly format: www.allfresh.co.za. For any allFresh! 2012 enquiries contact Carien Taute at [email protected]. We look forward to welcome you at this year’s allFresh!.
