The 10th World Avocado Congress is being held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
Auckland's Aotea Centre has become a hub for all things avocado, and growers are being told the sky is the limit when it comes to taking a slice of a $20 billion global market.
Hundreds of avocado growers from across the world have descended on Auckland for the 10th World Avocado Congress.
The conference, being held in New Zealand for the first time, highlights the challenges and boons of the avocado industry world-wide.
Coming out of a turbulent few years, speakers and attendees were eager to talk about what the future held.
Industry leaders from 33 countries are meeting to discuss the latest in agricultural technology, business, and nutrition.
International Fresh Produce Association chief executive Cathy Burns said despite the challenges of the pandemic, things were looking up.
"An opportunity for people to get together to talk about solutions to those challenges is what makes this event so special," she said.
While the industry was facing headwinds, Burns said there had never been such focus on health and nutrition as there was at the conference.
With an increase in the world market, she said a small grower like New Zealand was primed for success.
"The sky is the limit, quite frankly," she said.
Hundreds of avocado growers from across the world have descended on Auckland for the 10th World Avocado Congress. Photo: Finn Blackwell / RNZ
In 2020, the avocado market internationally was valued at $14.1 billion, and is set to grow to $20.1b by 2027.
"Around the world, we need to work on continuing to decrease expenses and work on market access, so trade is going to be very important to this country."
But Plant and Food Research's Brent Clothier said managing resources still posed a challenge for growers.
"We really have been mining our water, our soils, our biodiversity, if we invest in nature, say invest carbon in soil, we will get enhanced surfaces out of the soil and we'll get a return on that investment," he said.
As climates warmed around the country, growers would have to adapt to survive, Clothier said.
"Climate change is coming to you at a southern velocity of 10 kilometres a year, so just wait for the weather to warm up and it will be with you soon," he said.
Meanwhile, Chilean agronomist Francisco Mena said sustainability was a priority.
"Five years ago, most of the research was plant growth regulators and pollination, these days it's more about trying different things to develop better usage of the organic matter that the trees are building with," he said.
There would always be a demand for avocados, he said.
"I really believe that avocados are the best produce ever, some people think there is going to be a decline in the increase of consumption, but I'm really optimistic," he said.
And as conference goers saw on Monday, the coming season is looking bright.
