Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will host Fresh Connections: Chile August 3 at the Marriott Hotel, Santiago, Chile. PMA knows growers and others in the supply chain are under increasing pressure to improve operations efficiencies, contain production costs and solve labor shortages, and Fresh Connections: Chile is designed to help attendees look at new, innovative ways to address such problems using technology.
The 2017 conference will feature a series of short, interactive learning sessions from technology companies, along with traditional education sessions, networking and opportunities to encourage participants to get involved with technology. Register online or download a form at pma.com.
Programming will concentrate on how to improve productivity through technology and innovation, with a focus on using solutions like robotics to address increasing labor costs and a shortage of workers.
“If networking and efficiency matter to you, join me this August at PMA Fresh Connections: Chile. For one eye-opening day, you will have an opportunity to network with industry leaders and be immersed in education sessions focused on improving productivity through technology and innovation. I am confident you will walk away from the event with groundbreaking insights to help you excel,” said Christian Corssen, General Manager, Compania Frutera Santa Maria S.A.
At Fresh Connections: Chile, PMA will also delve into the growing field of precision agriculture, which involves using technology and data management to improve decision making. This includes the use of drones to inspect fields; sensors gathering data on moisture, disease, etc.; and capturing, storing and managing the data properly to make needed decisions. PMA speakers will tackle such issues.
Ed Treacy, PMA vice president of supply chain efficiencies, is scheduled to present “State of the Industry – Setting the Stage for Doing More with Less.” The session is an exploration of the factors driving the global scarcity of labor and the technologies enabling strides in automation and mechanization. Treacy will address factors impacting the ability to meet labor needs, including rising wages, aging farmers and disinterest among the next generation to continue running family farms.
The “Technology in Action: What Tools are Available Today?” session will showcase innovative technology solutions that can be help resolve labor challenges. Representatives from up to eight companies, including at least one incubator company, will present for about 10 minutes each.
Presenters include: Nikita Gulin, CEO of Intelag; Craig Carlson, president, sales and marketing for ScanX Technologies; Alan Ferszt, country manager for Terravion; Pablo Forti from Deltatrak South America and Fumiomi Takeda from USDA-ARS. For speaker bios and more information visit pma.com’s Fresh Connections: Chile event page.
Lastly, industry veteran Minos Athanassiadis, managing partner at Fresh Link Group, is scheduled to present “It’s Not Science Fiction: Using Robotics and Artificial Intelligence to Streamline Labor.” Automation and mechanization are at a tipping point, disrupting the produce industry in numerous ways. Athanassiadis will review emerging technologies and how other industries are using artificial intelligence and robotics to manage labor issues. He’ll deliver an overview on these disruptors and how they can impact the produce business.
Contact:
Andres Rodriguez
PMA Chile
Tel: +56 (97) 9577251