IFAMA 2022 Conference Recap Esteban Brenes

IFAMA 2022 CONFERENCE RECAP

ESTEBAN R. BRENES

IFAMA 2022 Conference Co-Chair Steve Aronson Professor of Strategy and Agribusiness, INCAE Business School

The IFAMA 2022 World Conference was a winning event for our partners, sponsors, attendees, and industries. After two consecutive years of the pandemic and virtual conferences, the in-person event was highly valued. More than 350 people joined the Symposium and Forum for a vast program across three different venues. Participants were able to share unique experiences by bringing different perspectives of what agribusiness entails for practice and business.

We explored the challenges and opportunities emerging with the introduction of digitization and technology in the agri-food sector. There were 20 sponsors from different agribusiness sectors including suppliers of products, services and technology, agriculture, distributors, food, beverage, dairy industries, and retailers. Our aim was to attract more partners to IFAMA who share our passion for agribusiness as a financial sector in the Americas, consulting business firms, and research institutions. These partners addressed new and sustainable technologies that are crucial to mitigating environmental and climate challenges impacting the future of food.

The two-day Symposium provided the scientific foundation for the discussions that followed during the business Forum as academics presented their latest research of how companies can address these challenges. Several teaching cases were showcased to facilitate this knowledge transfer using real anecdotes.

The Forum featured a balanced mix of experts from different industries who validated the complexity of these new technologies and how they are often intertwined with new business models, value chains, and industry standards.

The industry-business Forum delivered 12 sessions, featuring over 60 expert panelists that included three keynote speakers. Entrepreneurs, business executives, policy managers, and academics shared their latest findings, combined with informed debates. The Forum featured several business case studies of successful companies at different stages in the agribusiness chain.

Student Case Competition Co-Chairs, Esteban R. Brenes and Juan Jose Bolaños Herrera, and Ronald Guendel (Bayer), are pictured here with Paul Giesebrecht, Lilia Paz, and Michelle Marais from ISAM (International School of Agri Management), Spain.

Bayer sponsored the 2022 Student Case Competition which was a highly impactful component of this big event. More than 20 teams representing different schools and institutions in Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Europe participated. Students enjoyed the academic discussions and connecting on meaningful levels with people from different countries, with the spotlight on the agribusiness sector.

We encourage you to stay connected, and invite others to join IFAMA, as we continue working on the most pressing challenges that our industry faces. We can only accomplish this together.

Clockwise starting top left: 1. Arturo Condo, President of EARTH University kicks off the Forum. 2. SCC Team from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico: Luis Roberto, Julieta Ochoa, María Gutiérrez, Santos Villalobos, Ana Rodríguez, (not shown, Pablo de Caso Udave). 3. Keynote speaker Robert Saik. 4. Dr. Brent Ross introduces a teaching case study. 5. Attendees show off a variety of local, tropical fruits. 6. Young Board networking session with IFAMA President Raj Vardhan.