EKMMİB Shapes Sustainable Future on Global Platforms

The Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association continues to represent Turkey successfully at the INC Congress, one of the world's most important gatherings in the nuts and dried fruit sector, while contributing globally in the areas of sustainability, scientific cooperation and market access.

The 42nd International Congress on Nuts and Dried Fruits of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council-INC, the world's leading advisory platform for dried fruits and tree nuts, will be held on 8-10 May 2025 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

This year's INC Congress programme, the global meeting point of the nuts and dried fruit sector, addresses many important topics shaping the industry. Centred on themes of sustainability and innovation, the congress will feature round-table meetings dedicated to product groups such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, dates and apricots, while new global initiatives such as the "INC Sustainability Programme" will be presented. Additionally, key players in the sector will discuss critical issues such as "Contracts and Outcomes", "Nutrition Research" and "Market Access". Over three days filled with scientific sessions, inspiring presentations and networking events, the future of the sector will be addressed.

Ahmet Bilge Göksan, Turkey's Ambassador to the International Council for Nuts and Dried Fruits (INC), stated: "During the meetings and discussions we will participate in throughout the congress, we will share information about the work we are carrying out on national and international platforms to increase food safety and product quality, and will present our ongoing promotional activities in India and the United States. We are particularly enhancing the reliability and competitiveness of Turkish dried fruits in global markets through our efforts to reduce pesticide residues in dried grapes, our intensive activities to prevent mycotoxin contamination in dried figs, and our support for food safety and quality-focused projects in dried apricots."

Ahmet Bilge Göksan said: "The International Council for Nuts and Dried Fruits (INC), the umbrella organisation of the nuts and dried fruit sector, continues its work without slowing down towards sustainable growth and supporting healthy living. As the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association (EKMMİB), we are closely following the work carried out under the INC umbrella and continuing to contribute to represent our sector more powerfully on international platforms. 111 people from Turkey will participate in this year's conference, and representatives of our member companies will provide detailed information about our sector during the dried apricot, dried fig and dried grape sessions.

On the other hand, the NUTPOOL Research launched by INC in 2024, which aims to demonstrate the effects of nuts consumption on health on a scientific basis, will bring together leading experts in the sector at the NUTS 2025 Scientific Meeting to be held in 2025.

Furthermore, multi-country awareness campaigns being conducted in China, India and Latin America are reaching millions of young consumers and creating awareness in the sector. At the centre of all these efforts lies sustainability. The INC Sustainability Institute, which will become operational in 2025, will guide the sector's development in line with environmental and social responsibility principles. As EKMMİB, we continue our cooperation on all national and international platforms to ensure that the Turkish dried fruit sector plays an active role in this global transformation and to increase sustainable, value-added exports.