On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the European Conference on Blueberry Pot Cultivation will take place in Milan at the Air Hotel Milano Linate meeting room. The event, organized by Sergio Panini – Consulting & Public Relations, will feature Sebastian Ochoa, one of the world's leading blueberry experts, as the keynote speaker.
The conference aims to update growers from across Europe on pot cultivation technology, substrates, irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting techniques.
Support and Organization
The conference will be held in the Teseo room of the Air Hotel Milano Linate (www.airhotel.it) from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For reservations, contact Sergio Panini at sergio.panini.agro@gmail.com or +39 366 6314643. At least 80–100 participants are expected, and seats are limited.
An Esteemed Speaker
The conference will be led by Sebastián Ochoa Münzenmayer, an internationally renowned agronomist specializing in blueberry cultivation. His career began in the 1990s in Chile, later expanding to major blueberry-producing countries worldwide.
After completing his university studies, Ochoa Münzenmayer started as a quality control manager in a Chilean company with 150 hectares dedicated to blueberry cultivation. There, he observed and directly contributed to the rapid development of the Chilean blueberry industry, which experienced extraordinary growth in subsequent years.
At 28, he embarked on a career as an independent consultant, quickly becoming the director of a specialized agricultural company. He then expanded his expertise and collaborations to the leading blueberry-producing countries in South America, including Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, working closely with growers and breeders.
Conference Topics
Later, Sebastián Ochoa Münzenmayer founded his own consulting firm, which today manages blueberry cultivation on a total area of 14,000 hectares across 15 different countries. His work focuses on blueberry and berry agricultural production, evaluation and development of agricultural projects, due diligence, harvesting and post-harvesting, research and development, and recruitment for the agricultural sector.
Ochoa will delve into cultivation techniques, varieties, substrates, irrigation, and fertilization during his presentation, offering real-world examples from agricultural companies around the globe and demonstrating concrete results.
Valuable Sponsors Sharing Their Expertise
The conference is sponsored by industry-leading companies, which will give brief presentations to update participants on their technologies:
- Pasquini e Bini: pots for blueberry cultivation
- Netafim: irrigation and fertigation systems
- Campagnola: blueberry harvesting techniques
- Ecotube: subsurface irrigation
- Sfera: blueberry fertilization
- Insolight: agrivoltaic systems for berries
Updates on Blueberry Varieties for Pot Cultivation
Andrea Pergher, grower support at Fall Creek Europe, will also speak at the conference, providing an overview of new available varieties.
Related Events
On the day before the conference (Tuesday, March 11, 2025), a networking aperitif and dinner with Sebastian Ochoa will be held at the Air Hotel starting at 5:00 PM. This event will provide an informal opportunity to explore the topics and establish a closer connection with Sebastian.
On March 12, participants wishing to attend the Fruitnet Berry Congress in the Netherlands can take direct evening flights to Amsterdam from the nearby Milan Linate airport.
The day after the conference (Thursday, March 13, 2025), sponsor-organized events will take place. Currently, a visit to the federal research center Agroscope in Conthey, Switzerland, is available to view Insolight’s agrivoltaic structures for blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Contact and Information
For further information, contact Sergio Panini at +39 366 6314643 or sergio.panini.agro@gmail.com.
