EXCEL4MED joined Citrus Forum 2026 in València (Spain) to connect with the people, ideas and innovations shaping the next generation of sustainable fruit production.

Innovation does not happen in isolation. It grows through collaboration, knowledge exchange and dialogue. That is why EXCEL4MED was proud to participate in Citrus Forum 2026, held on 4-5 June in València (Spain), with our partner Laura Fortea (Smart Agro Hub) representing the project.

Bringing together more than 1,700 professionals from across Europe and beyond, Citrus Forum has established itself as the continent’s leading event dedicated to the citrus sector.

Researchers, growers, agronomists, businesses and technology providers gathered to discuss the challenges that are already transforming citrus production and to identify the solutions that will determine its future.

Although our consortium brings together partners from Greece, Malta and France, participating in one of the world’s most important citrus hubs allowed EXCEL4MED to engage with a much broader Mediterranean community, and strengthen connections with stakeholders who share many of the same opportunities and challenges.

Why València matters

València is far more than the host city of Citrus Forum. As one of Europe’s leading citrus-producing regions, it is an ideal setting for conversations about the future of Mediterranean agriculture.

The challenges discussed during the event —from climate resilience and sustainable crop management to innovation, traceability and market competitiveness— are highly relevant to EXCEL4MED’s mission of supporting more sustainable and resilient Mediterranean fruit value chains.

For our project, the conference was not only an opportunity to follow the latest technical developments but also to exchange ideas with experts working every day to improve agricultural practices across the region.

One message echoed throughout the conference: precision is becoming essential

Across every session, a common theme emerged: the future of citrus farming will rely less on producing more and more on making better decisions.

Whether discussing crop nutrition, plant health, post-harvest management or market requirements, speakers consistently highlighted the importance of combining scientific knowledge with practical experience to support more informed and efficient farming.

Among the main insights shared during the conference were:

• Precision nutrition, adapting fertilisation strategies to soil conditions, water availability and crop physiology rather than following routine applications.
• Preventive plant health management, using monitoring, biological control and timely interventions to improve crop resilience.
• Adapting to abiotic stress, recognising that drought, heat, salinity and temperature fluctuations are becoming long-term realities rather than occasional events.
• Creating value beyond production, with quality, traceability, sustainability and regulatory compliance increasingly determining market success.

These discussions reinforced the idea that innovation is no longer only about adopting new technologies. It is about using knowledge more effectively to make smarter decisions throughout the production cycle.