In the context of a constantly evolving agricultural sector, companies must adapt to both climate change and fluctuating market demands. Isolcell, a South Tyrolean company specializing in controlled and modified atmosphere technologies, faced significant challenges and changes in 2024 while achieving its goals.
"Last year, like previous years, was quite challenging, but we always did what we had to do. We achieved all our goals," says Tito Spaldi, Isolcell's international sales manager, emphasizing the company's resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Tito Spaldi at Fruit Logistica 2024
A major factor affecting the fruit and vegetable industry is climate change, which is leading to a reconsideration of traditional crops in favor of those that are more adaptable to new climatic conditions. "Due to the effects of climate change, there has been an increase in demand for some of our products in regions previously dedicated to more conventional agricultural crops," says Spaldi, citing farmers in Portugal and France who are starting to grow avocados instead of pears. He also points to the growing demand in both Asia and the Middle East for innovative solutions for storing fresh fruit and vegetables for both long and short periods. "These include technologies for air purification and ethylene control, which are essential for maintaining product quality in handling storage cells or large logistics centers."
Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia, are progressively adopting a different approach to the distribution and storage of fruits and vegetables. India has emerged as another pivotal market, exhibiting a pronounced inclination toward sophistication, particularly in the context of the apple sector. As Spaldi (pictured in a Japanese apple orchard) observes, there has been a notable shift in Indian customers' attitudes regarding prices, indicating a market undergoing rapid transformation.
Taking shortcuts for short-term profit maximization can be catastrophic, as recent developments in New Zealand have shown. The corporate approach adopted by some of the country's largest agribusiness companies has exposed the limits of management that neglects the essence of farming in favor of ambitious financial targets," says the manager. "This trend raises questions about the long-term sustainability of modern farming practices, not only in New Zealand but in other parts of the world. There are not too many shortcuts. "The situation is further complicated when investment funds acquire family farms, often without retaining local people with direct farming or business experience.
In addition, product quality remains a determining factor for consumers. "Consistency of quality is what drives consumer preference for one product over another, even at the cost of higher prices. The produce industry is facing unprecedented challenges as competition for consumer attention is fiercer than ever. With growing interest in snacks and alternative products such as protein bars, fruit has struggled to retain a place in the diet, especially among younger consumers. "The contrast between fruit consumption and the growing attraction towards more processed and snack bars is a reality that cannot be ignored," stresses Spaldi, highlighting the need to renew the approach to promoting fruit consumption among the younger generation.
Pears in dynamic-controlled atmosphere
In this scenario, Isolcell offers innovative solutions for preserving the quality of fruit and vegetables from storage to ripening. The demand for technologies that guarantee the freshness of products until they reach the end consumer is growing, as evidenced by the demand from logistics centers. "We have received many requests," confirms Spaldi, "which shows that the quality of the product when it arrives has become a top priority for the sector."
This is particularly true for products such as mangos and avocados, which require special attention to reach the ideal ripening point. "There has been a lot of progress in this area," says Spaldi, pointing out that the use of advanced technology and detailed analysis is significantly improving the results for these high-value products. The use of fluorescent sensors for dynamic atmosphere maintenance, a technology that Isolcell has been perfecting for over two decades, mainly on apples and pears, is now being applied to a wider range of products.
Although the outlook is changing every day, the company's goal remains clear: "We want to improve in order to work even more efficiently," said Spaldi. "This commitment extends to exploring new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, in addition to consolidating our core business. The integration of these advanced computational capabilities is aimed not only at commercial advantage but also at revolutionizing the way customers manage their warehouses, optimizing the preservation and quality of the products delivered to the end consumer."
The fruit and vegetable industry, as well as others, is facing increasing difficulties in recruiting qualified personnel, a problem that is exacerbated by the need to adapt to the working habits of the new generation. The goal is to develop intelligent systems capable of anticipating operational needs and providing alerts and proactive suggestions to optimize product management.
Another key element of the company's strategy is geographic expansion. "Certain regions that were once remote are now emerging as important markets due to climate change and the development of new agricultural techniques, such as vertical farming and greenhouses. We are talking about the Middle East and Asia, but also Europe. We are looking at the dynamics in countries like the UK, where climate change is opening up new opportunities to grow products that were previously imported, creating new storage needs."
At the heart of Isolcell's objectives for 2025 is the desire to remain a recognized company at the forefront of the market, by constantly pushing the R&D department towards innovation. This includes looking for solutions with a smaller carbon footprint, both in terms of energy consumption and the optimization of machines. The company is committed to staying one step ahead, ready to seize opportunities in new markets and respond effectively to the challenges of the future.
"Participating in various trade shows around the world is one of the ways of doing so," concludes Spaldi, mentioning that Isolcell will be exhibiting at Fruit Logistica 2025 (Berlin, 5-7 February) in Hall 3.1, Stand C-44.
For more information:
Isolcell SpA
via A. Meucci, 7
39055 Laives (BZ) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0471 954050
Fax: +39 0471 953575
www.isolcell.com