More than 600 participants from 36 countries registered for the event
The 49th International COCOTECH Conference and Exhibition, was recently held virtually in Jakarta, Indonesia. The conference is the largest international conference dedicated solely to coconut development conducted biannually. The theme for this year’s conference is ’Promoting Smart Farming, Eco-Friendly and Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Coconut Development.’
In her welcome speech, Dr Jelfina, Executive Director, International Coconut Community (ICC) addressed, “The conference is strategic efforts of building the coconut industry that will focus on optimising economic growth and considering long-term impacts on social, and environmental factors. The coconut sector has contributed up to 3.5 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product of coconut-producing countries, and the sustainable development goals. Productive deliberations are expected from the conference and come up with policy recommendations that would be implemented for supporting the resilient and sustainable coconut sector.”
COCOTECH Conference had seven sessions in which 26 eminent speakers shared the idea, knowledge, and experience with the latest technologies and development on coconut production particularly planting and replanting systems, varietal improvement, use of selected local elite planting materials and hybrids, coconut-based farming systems, integrated pest, and disease management, post-harvest processing, and technology updates in the manufacture of emerging coconut products for the domestic and export market, cost-effective technologies on integrated coconut processing, and marketing strategies. More than 600 participants from 36 countries are registered.
A virtual exhibition was also included, in which 45 exhibitors from nine countries, from micro-enterprises to big industries, suppliers, coconut associations, and coconut research institutes participated in the exhibition providing the latest global coconut industry trends, innovative technologies, and marketable products and machinery. The event also served as a one-stop platform for MSMEs, big coconut industries, and suppliers to build brand proximity, network, and conduct business.
