The opening of the meeting brought together industry leaders to outline the sector's outlook: Iván Marambio (Frutas de Chile), Víctor Catán (Fedefruta), and Manuel José Alcaíno (Decofrut) addressed competitiveness, employment, water, and energy, along with the outlook for cherries, grapes, and apples for the next cycle. The panel emphasized the economic and territorial value of fruit growing and the need for water infrastructure and renewable energy for sustainable growth.

Along these lines, it was projected that 2025-2026 could close with increases of 6% to 10% in export volumes, favored by a more flexible calendar—Chinese New Year on February 17, 2026—and by greater coordination in quality and logistics. The cross-cutting recommendation was to diversify markets, regulate early shipments, and strengthen post-harvest management to maintain margins in demanding destinations.

Postharvest and agroclimate: measurable quality at destination

The technical panel brought together specialists such as Carlos Tapia (AVIUM) and Dr. Juan Pablo Zoffoli (PUC), who agreed that the sustainability of the business depends on understanding quality from the consumer's perspective: firmness, dry matter, sugars, and consistency of the fruit at its destination. Emphasis was placed on harvesting at the optimal point, rigorous thermal management, and labor training to reduce "invisible" losses.

Zoffoli emphasized segregation by appearance (color, stem, size) and the use of non-destructive monitoring technologies to measure sugar and firmness in real time. "Every quality point gained at origin adds value at destination," he summarized, reinforcing that applied science and training are levers for maintaining leadership.

The agroclimatic component, led by Leonel Fernández (FDF), warned of a season with high temperature and rainfall variability, phenological advances of 7 to 12 days, and a transition to La Niña conditions (71% probability in October–December 2025). Continuous monitoring, water management by basin, and predictive models for harvest and post-harvest planning were recommended.

Global competitiveness: operational discipline and innovation

In the afternoon session, Óscar "Coco" Salgado argued that, given the economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the industry has two paths: exit the business or invest strategically to remain in business. He highlighted the shift in table grape supply toward the northern hemisphere (India, China) and the structural role of Peru, urging Chile to adopt a more "industrial" model, focusing on quality, efficiency, and traceability.

For his part, Claudio Moreno (AgroFresh) addressed post-harvest innovation trends: global demand for fresh fruit is expected to reach 629 million tons by 2025, and the post-harvest treatment market (US$1.500 billion in 2022) is expected to grow by over 7% annually by 2027. Solutions such as SmartFresh™, Harvista™, and NatuWrap™ are positioned to extend shelf life, reduce losses, and improve profitability.

The tactical conclusion was clear: connect science and sustainability to transform operational efficiency into commercial value, with discipline in harvest planning, temperature control, handling, and quality assurance as the foundation for competing in the United States and Europe.

Voice of the panel: quality, regulations and data

The closing panel—with representatives from Frutas de Chile, Subsole, Dole, Frusan, consultants, and Hortifrut—addressed regulatory pressures related to residues in Europe, the loss of competitiveness compared to Peru and South Africa, and the need for varietal replacement and innovation in cherries, apples, and blueberries. They agreed that digitalization and data systems are key to anticipating logistical risks and ensuring quality at destination.

The balance between volume and quality was also emphasized: long-term profitability depends on consistency and differentiation. The proposed route combines cross-sector collaboration, technological adoption, and sustainability as a cross-cutting principle, with a focus on traceability and food safety as "operating licenses" in the main destinations.

With this edition, AgroFresh Xperience Chile 2025 reaffirmed its commitment to the sustainable development of fruit growing, promoting scientific and technological solutions connected to the real needs of the field and the construction of a more efficient, collaborative and future-ready industry.