Carlos Tapia is an agricultural engineer, founder and Technical Director of Avium, with a Master's degree in Fruit Physiology Sciences, a specialist advisor in cherry production, and co-founder of Smartcherry.

His company, Avium SpA, is dedicated to technical consulting for cherry production, as well as research and development in cherry cultivation in Chile and abroad.

He is also the content director of Smartcherry.cl, the first technical, informational, and interactive platform on cherry development and cultivation.

Matías Kulczewski is a consultant and Technical Director for K&R in the fruit growing sector, with a specialized focus on kiwifruit and cherry cultivation. With a solid track record in Chile, Matías has been instrumental in developing agricultural strategies that optimize resource use and improve profitability for producers.

His area of ​​expertise includes crop complementation and efficient labor management, allowing growers to achieve harvest cycles that reduce costs and increase job security.

Recognized for his analytical approach, Matías has contributed to the industry with publications in specialized journals, such as Rivista di Frutticoltura e di Ortofloricoltura, and studies on service optimization at metro stations.

In his work, he has addressed significant challenges such as falling kiwifruit prices, promoting high-performance structures and commercial innovation. His work has had a positive impact on Chilean fruit growing, helping to diversify income and improve the sustainability of agricultural operations.

With a clear vision for the future of fruit growing, Matías advocates for the reformulation of traditional crops and the creation of a strong brand for Chilean kiwifruit, demonstrating his commitment to modernizing and adapting the sector to a competitive market.

Agricultural Engineer. Specialist in post-harvest and fruit variety development. Technical Manager at Quelen Fruit.

Raúl Orellana is an Agricultural Engineer with extensive experience in the fruit industry, specializing in post-harvest and the introduction and evaluation of new varieties. He currently serves as Technical Manager at Quelen Fruit, leading key processes to ensure the quality, conservation, and competitiveness of Chilean fruit in international markets.

Throughout his career, he has focused his work on the implementation of technologies and methodologies aimed at optimizing the logistics chain and post-harvest handling systems, ensuring efficiency, safety, traceability, and sustainability. His technical and strategic approach has positioned him as a leader in the continuous improvement of the industry's operational standards.

He has experience in project management, data analysis, quality control, and compliance with international regulations and certifications. His passion for agriculture drives him to constantly seek new ways to add value, foster innovation, and strengthen the development of the agri-food sector.

Enrique Urrejola Gonzalez holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Santiago. He was Technical Manager for David Del Curto and currently works as a private consultant.

He has a solid professional career spanning more than 50 years in the world of exported fruit and more than 35 years at David Del Curto.

He has participated in genetic development projects, agricultural ventures, and professional team building, as well as providing technical consulting services in countries such as Argentina, Peru, Spain, China, and South Africa.

Walter Masman is an agricultural engineer from the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso; Director of Maxma Asesorías; and a technical advisor and consultant specializing in cherry and stone fruit.

He has participated in the evaluation of new cherry breeding programs, gaining 20 years of experience in this fruit species. He has also developed his career as a consultant, advising on fields between the Coquimbo and Los Lagos regions for over 10 years. He has been able to travel across different climatic zones in Chile and experience the productive differences within them. He has also evaluated cherry varieties from different genetic improvement programs.

During his travels across the country, he has gained extensive experience in early cherry areas, developing new niches year after year.

Karen Sagredo holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Chile and a PhD from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa).

She currently works as a university professor, combining research, graduate and undergraduate teaching, and technical consulting specializing in fruit growing.

She has an outstanding track record in the study of deciduous fruit species, including cherry, apple, pear, plum, walnut, and table grapes. Her research focuses on winter dormancy, floral biology, and the factors that influence fruit productivity and quality.

Throughout her career, she has conducted research aimed at understanding the physiological mechanisms that regulate critical phenological stages of fruit trees, developing practical tools for more precise agronomic decision-making.

In addition to her academic work, she has played an active role in engagement with the productive sector, promoting knowledge transfer through seminars, workshops, and consulting services for producers, technical advisors, and exporters, with an emphasis on sustainable, science-based solutions.

Valeria Lepe is an agricultural engineer with a Master's degree in Horticulture and a fruit nutrition consultant.

From 1997 to September 2018, she was part of the team at the Pomaceae Center at the University of Talca, where she performed a series of technical, academic, and administrative duties.

In 2003, she assumed the Technical Management position at the Pomaceae Center. In 2006, she joined the University of Talca as a lecturer, which allowed her to participate in the courses of Fruit Growing, Vegetative Propagation, Integrated Production, and Technologies in Fruit and Wine Production.

Since 1999, she has been part of the GTT Frutales & Gestión 2021 - Administrators Group, a technical leader in the fruit sector in the Maule Region, where she has been actively involved for more than 25 years.

In October 2018, she began a new professional career as a Fruit Nutrition Consultant for a prominent group of companies, with which she has focused on improving orchard production parameters with a vision of teamwork.

In March 2021, she joined the Pomanova Corporation, a leading institution for outstanding professionals in the Chilean fruit industry. Her incorporation marks the beginning of the female presence at the Corporation.

She has given a series of technical presentations in Chile and abroad, along with several technical and scientific articles.

Her main lines of development include mineral nutrition in apple, pear, cherry, and nectarine trees, relating them to fruit productivity and quality.

José Ignacio Covarrubias is an agricultural engineer from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Chile.

In 2008, he earned a Master's degree in Agricultural Sciences with a specialization in Fruit Production from the same institution. He subsequently moved to Italy to pursue his doctorate in Fruit Growing at the Department of Tree Farming at the University of Bologna, where he graduated in 2012.

Since October 2012, he joined the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Chile as a professor on the project "Development of the Plant Nutrition Area in the Department of Agricultural Production."

He is currently a professor of Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Trees in the Master's program in Agricultural Sciences at the same university.

His research focuses on mineral nutrition in fruit trees, plant physiology, and sustainable fertilization and agronomic management strategies. He has also spoken at specialized seminars and collaborated with various institutions in the field of fruit production.

He is an agricultural engineer with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Concepción. He holds an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from Colorado State University (USA).

He currently works as an academic and researcher in the Department of Business Engineering at the Federico Santa María Technical University. He is the founder and director of the Soil, Plant, Water, and Environment Research Group (GISPA) and has led various research projects in areas such as plant nutrition, precision agriculture, sustainability, and agricultural modeling.

Ortega is also the co-founder and technical manager of Neoag Precision Agriculture and the founder of the Agriservice Laboratory, where he has developed technical solutions to optimize agricultural production sustainably.

Internationally, he was the co-founder and first president of the Latin American Association of Precision Agriculture (ALAP) and currently serves as its vice president. He is also the co-founder of the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA).

Throughout his career, he has published more than 150 scientific and popular articles and has established himself as a regional expert on integrated fruit nutrition management, precision agriculture, and agricultural sustainability.

Claudia Bonomelli is a Full Professor in the Department of Fruit Growing and Enology at the Faculty of Agronomy and Natural Systems, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She has nearly 30 years of experience in research and teaching in the areas of soil, fertility, and fruit tree nutrition.

Dr. Bonomelli holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences and a Master's degree in Agricultural Sciences, both from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Her main strengths include the development of innovative research projects, with an emphasis on sustainable soil management and fruit tree nutrition, as well as the publication of articles in scientific and popular journals and participation in international conferences.

In his academic work, he has trained hundreds of students, directed and collaborated on projects with a farm and regional impact, focusing on knowledge transfer for more sustainable agriculture.

With a firm commitment to education and applied research, he is dedicated to offering solutions that improve soil management and fertilization, thereby promoting productivity and sustainability in the agroindustrial sector.

Yordi Norero holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He has 23 years of professional experience, providing technical advice to various national and multinational agricultural companies on topics related to crop fertilization, soil management, irrigation, mechanization, and digital agriculture.

He is the founder and R&D manager of Dynamic Wings Spa, a 10-year-old company dedicated to developing technological solutions for more efficient and sustainable agriculture. Its focus is on integrating digital tools such as IoT sensors, satellite images, and geographic information systems (GIS) to optimize the use of productive resources and improve decision-making in the field.

Norero has also been an academic for 18 years at the Faculty of Agronomy and Natural Systems, where he currently teaches courses related to digital agriculture and emerging technologies.

David González holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Catholic University of Maule, with additional training in Digital Agriculture. His specialization includes the use of remote sensing tools, geographic information systems (GIS), data analysis applied to agriculture, and soil moisture monitoring technologies.

He has experience in data analysis, applied research, and the implementation of technical management and irrigation strategies in cherry orchards. He currently works as an Agricultural Engineer in the Irrigation, Climate, and Technology Department of Avium SpA, where he has contributed to the development of tools to optimize management and resource use, integrating platforms such as QGIS, R, Google Earth Engine, and Power BI, among others, for data analysis and visualization in the context of digital agriculture applied to cherry cultivation. He has participated in the Research and Development (R&D) Department of Avium SpA, developing descriptive models of fruit growth and development, as well as the multivariate analysis of production factors for cherry cultivation, among other projects.

Stanley Best is a Research Extension Officer at Quilamapu, Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), with more than 28 years of experience in irrigation, salinity, and precision agriculture.

Stanley is an agricultural engineer specializing in the implementation of emerging technologies to optimize agricultural production and efficient water management. His notable projects include the development of a smart agricultural production system and the digital transformation of agriculture in the Southern Cone.

He is recognized for his leadership in the PROCISUR eco-certification and precision agriculture program and has spoken at international conferences, including the CIGR World Congress.

He has published more than 40 scientific articles, standing out for his ability to offer innovative solutions that improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

Javier de Pablo Camarasa is the Managing Director of Finca Albalate and owner of Frutotech, a company with an innovative approach to cherry production in Albalate de Cinca, Huesca, Spain.

His experience of more than 10 years in the agricultural sector has led him to become one of the few producers in the world capable of offering early cherries in March and April.

With a firm commitment to sustainability and the use of advanced technology, Javier has introduced modern greenhouses and controlled pollination techniques, allowing for early harvests and the production of high-quality cherries. His commercial strategy allows him to access exclusive markets in cities such as Madrid, Paris, and London, where his cherries can fetch prices of up to €120 per kilo.

Furthermore, he has developed the Fitonegom Cherry protocol, a set of biohealth solutions that optimize production by improving fruit firmness and prolonging its post-harvest life. Javier has also participated as a speaker at international events, sharing his experience implementing sustainable biosolutions.

His work has significantly impacted the local economy, generating seasonal employment and promoting agricultural diversification in the region. Despite market challenges, Javier de Pablo continues to seek new opportunities and innovative approaches that transform fruit growing in Spain and around the world.

Executive Director of the Chilean Cherry Fruit Committee

She holds an agricultural engineer and an MBA from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She has over 20 years of experience in international business and public relations, focusing on the wine and agricultural industries. She has experience in the design, management, and control of marketing campaigns, brand building, strategic planning, and engagement with clients, partners, and government agencies such as ProChile, Fundación Imagen de Chile, Corfo, and Sernatur.

Her deep industry knowledge and ability to foster strong, strategic relationships make her a distinguished leader in the sector. Her collaborative approach and ability to align the objectives of various stakeholders ensure the achievement of sustainable and mutually beneficial results.