IRTA’s 24th Postharvest Technical Conference to address conservation, markets and digitalisation

IRTA will hold the 24th Postharvest Technical Conference on Thursday, 7 May 2026, under the theme "New scenarios, new strategies: keys to competitiveness in the postharvest sector". The event will bring together researchers, companies and professionals linked to fruit conservation, quality and postharvest management, with a programme designed to analyse the main changes shaping the present and future of the fruit sector.

The conference takes place in a particularly demanding context. Climate, regulatory developments, new market demands and the incorporation of digital technologies are changing the way fruit is produced, stored and marketed. In this scenario, postharvest plays an increasingly important role, not only in maintaining product quality through to its final destination, but also in optimising resources, anticipating problems and supporting the competitiveness of packinghouses and operators. The event also seeks to strengthen dialogue between research and industry, with the aim of promoting applied strategies to respond to current and future sector challenges.

New scenarios for fruit conservation

The technical programme will begin with the presentation of the conference by Neus Teixidó, Director of IRTA’s Postharvest Programme, followed by several talks focused on some of the issues currently attracting most attention in the sector. These include the search for alternatives in view of possible limitations on the use of active substances such as fludioxonil, a matter directly linked to regulatory developments and the need to maintain effective control strategies during conservation.

Harvest management will also be addressed in a talk on Harvista by Clara Isabel Mata, researcher at IRTA’s Postharvest Programme. This block will also include presentations by Citrosol, with the Citrocide® Fresh Fruit system and other solutions for fresh fruit, and by Reactiva, which will address the calculation, interpretation and main questions related to ARfD. Together, these presentations will explore how new technical and regulatory requirements are influencing decision-making in postharvest management.

Varieties, markets and quality

Another key focus of the conference will be adaptation to new varieties and new commercial frameworks. Elena Costa, Director of IRTA’s Postharvest Technical Service, will discuss the challenges involved in conserving the genetics of the future, an important issue in a context in which varietal innovation is advancing rapidly and requires technical responses adapted to each postharvest behaviour.

The programme will also include a market perspective with the participation of Manel Simón, Director General of Afrucat, who will address the impact of new markets, new rules and agreements with third countries, including Mercosur. Sector competitiveness does not depend only on producing high-quality fruit, but also on adapting to changing commercial scenarios, destination requirements and increasingly complex market access conditions.

Fruit quality and resilience will have a dedicated space in the presentation by Francisco Montes, Biologicals Specialist at Yara, on calcium and its nutritional interaction. This block connects directly with one of the recurring concerns in postharvest: how to improve fruit behaviour during conservation and marketing through a more integrated view of field management, nutrition and shelf life.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence in decision-making

Digitalisation will play a prominent role in the conference, both from an operational and a strategic perspective. Tomás Alvarado, Regional Sales Manager at Hectre, will present how artificial intelligence is transforming fruit pre-grading through the automation of assessments, an application with a direct impact on process efficiency and the availability of information for decision-making.

This approach will be further explored in the round table "Digitalisation and artificial intelligence: real revolution or expectation", with the participation of Xavier Domingo, Director of the Applied AI Unit at Eurecat; Jordi Gené, researcher in IRTA’s Efficient Use of Water Programme; and Sergi Santos, CEO of AGROTS. The debate will assess the extent to which these technologies are delivering real solutions for the sector and what barriers remain for their implementation in packinghouses, storage facilities and production systems.

Demonstration session and applied solutions

After the networking lunch at IRTA Fruitcentre, the conference will continue in the afternoon with a demonstration session of equipment and technical solutions. This block will focus on practical applications for postharvest management, with proposals related to digital management of GLOBALG.A.P. certifications, water pre-cooling systems for horticultural products, certified zero-discharge reuse of fruit water and new disinfection technologies for fruit storage rooms.

The demonstration session reinforces the applied nature of the event, combining research, knowledge transfer and business solutions to respond to specific needs in the sector. The conference will end at 4:30 p.m.

Registration required

The conference will take place at the Joan Oró Auditorium, CeDiCo Building, Parc Agrobiotech Lleida. Registration must be completed through IRTA. The fee is €40 for STP clients and €50 for other attendees, and includes lunch. Registration and payment are required to attend the event.

Photo caption: Image from the previous IRTA Postharvest Technical Conference

More information and registrations