Peanut sustainability, consumption drivers & crop outlook featured at 2023 International Peanut Forum.

'Connecting the Peanut World,’ was the theme of the 2023 International Peanut Forum, which more than lived up to its global moniker. More than 330 delegates from 35 countries converged in Lisbon, Portugal for the industry’s premier event, from April 26-28. The IPF is the only forum where peanut industry leaders from around the globe gather to make connections and conduct business around vital peanut issues. Peanut farmers, shellers, exporters, brokers, dealers, manufacturers and service suppliers from around the world attended.

The 2023 conference focused on sustainability, consumption drivers, using peanuts to fight malnutrition and the popular peanut supply snapshot, which was expanded this year to seven peanut growing origins.

The conference kicked off with a panel on sustainability, with voices from each step of the supply chain. Veerle Poppe from the Colruyt Group, a retail chain in Belgium; Irene Moreno with Importaco, a leading snack manufacturer in Spain; Edoardo Fracanzani with the Argentine Peanut Chamber; and Richard Owen with the American Peanut Council discussed sustainable practices and initiatives that their respective organizations are involved in. Topics included strategic peanut sourcing, recycling peanut shells and smarter irrigation practices. Owen highlighted APC’s Sustainable U.S. Peanut Initiative, a U.S. industry-led grower data collection program that’s helping provide the foundation to tell the industry’s sustainability story. Fracanzani highlighted the Chamber’s initiatives to promote the sustainable practices in the sector, for example the adoption, by most members, of the Farm Sustainability Assessment standard.

Afterward, delegates heard from global experts in a carefully curated lineup of speakers and topics on nutrition, messaging, niche peanut products and other consumption drivers. Dr. Samara Sterling, from The Peanut Institute (USA), delved into peanut nutrition messages that drive consumption. Tessa Schoones, from Innova Market Insights (Netherlands) discussed keys to turn on consumer demand. Rounding out the afternoon session, Stu Macdonald, from ManiLife (UK), did a case study on his company’s niche peanut butter, which saw success by bucking the trend and charging twice as much as the competition, with a result of increased market share.

The following day began with a session on feeding the world, both as a cause and a business opportunity. Led by Erwan Chapuis and Monique Chan Huot from Nutriset (France), the discussion focused on fighting malnutrition with peanut-based life-saving foods.

Capping off the conference, the ever-popular peanut supply panel featured delegates from Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Nicaragua, South Africa and the United States discussing supply and projections for the upcoming crop. Delegates learned about current crop conditions and a 2023 forecast from Diego Bracco, Camara Argentina del Mani; Robson Fonseca, COPLANA (Brazil); Peng Zhang, Qingdao Peanut Import & Export Association (China); Nilesh Vira, IOPEPC (India); Joaquin Zavala, Comasa (Nicaragua); Wessel

Aside from two days of conference sessions, delegates had the opportunity to meet and engage with exhibitors from across the globe about their products and services, ranging from manufacturing and shelling, to packaging, transportation and more. Receptions, meals and coffee breaks also brought delegates together to network.

IPF organizers thank the following 2023 sponsors: Birdsong Peanuts (gold); AgroCrops Singapore and Tomra Food (silver); AmSpec and Golden Peanut (bronze); Premium Peanut, Comasa, Innova Market Insights, Mazur and Hockman, and JLA International.

Planning for the 2025 IPF is currently underway, with dates and location to be determined.

This issue of the World Peanut Magazine has been completed thanks to the efforts of:

Steve Brown USA

The Peanut research Foundation

Tracy Grondine USA

American Peanut Council

Peter Vlazakis USA

American Peanut Council

Janila Pasupuleti India

ICRISAT

Robson Fonseca Brazil

Coplana

Jane Zheng China

Qingdao Shengde Foods Co. LTD

Kishore Tanna India

IOPEPC

Gabriela Alcorta

Soledad Bossio

Javier Martinetto

Nicolás Cantoro

Martín Gonzales

Edoardo Fracanzani

Sebastián Della Giustina

Argentina cam (Argentina Peanut Chamber)