2026 Congress
NEXT EDITION
5TH OCTOBER 2026
Conxemar FAO MAPA International Congress
Smart blue leadership
Efficiency, intelligence and global standards for a committed industry
The 14th edition of the Conxemar FAO MAPA International Congress will bring together some of the world’s leading experts to examine the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of aquatic food products.
International trade, artificial intelligence, digital traceability, consumer trends, the blue economy, and innovation will be at the heart of a high-level programme featuring an exclusive interview with Dr. María Neira, one of the world’s most influential voices in public health and environmental sustainability.
An essential meeting point for anticipating industry transformations and driving the sector’s transition towards a more sustainable future.
Round tables
Global Level Playing Field | How to achieve a sustainable balance
We will explore how to achieve fairer and more sustainable international trade in aquatic-origin products, analyzing the relationships between major producer and consumer blocs.
Moderator
Manuel Barange
Subdirector General de la FAO y Director de la División de Pesca y Acuicultura.
Speakers
Jingjie Chu
Sr. Natural resource economist environment, natural resources and Blue Economy. East Asia, World Bank.
Miguel Bernal
Executive Secretary of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, FAO.
Audun Lem
Chair of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative, FiTI.
Teofilus Nghitila
Executive Director of the Department of Water and Marine Resources, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia.
AI and digital traceability | A transformation underway
We will analyze how artificial intelligence, advanced traceability and automation are transforming the seafood and aquaculture industry, improving efficiency, regulatory compliance, sustainability and consumer trust.
Speakers
Mark Kaplan
Chief Marketing Officer, Wholechain. Lead, Better Food Future in support of UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition. Board of Directors, FishWise.org.
Kevin Edwards
VP Global Market Development Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability, GDST.
Carolina Najar
Food Market Director at AZTI, Marine and Food Research Center.
Carmen do Sacramento Neto
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Republic of Angola
Habits and trends of aquatic product consumers | Market and consumer analysis
We will decipher the profiles of today’s aquatic product consumers and what guides their decisions. We will learn how consumers are distributed globally.
Speakers
Shakuntala Thilsted
Senior Nutrition Expert at CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Recipient of the 2021 World Food Prize, awarded by the World Food Prize Foundation.
Wordpanel by Numerator
Market research and data analysis expert.
Lluis Miret
Professor of Applied Economics at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Member of the Institute for the Integrated Management of Coastal Areas, IGIC.
Machiel Kommers
Representative of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture in Spain. Counsellor for Agriculture Nature and Food to Spain and Portugal.
Opportunities and challenges for the seafood industry | Innovation driving the future of the industry
We will explore how innovation, evolving market demands, the potential of seaweed, and the blue economy are reshaping the future of seafood products.
Speakers
Julie Maguire
Research Director at Bantry Marine Research Station, BMRS.
Clara Duque
Director of Self-Service Food Product Offering at Alcampo.
Gemma Meermans
Director of INFOFISH, the intergovernmental organisation for marketing information and technical advisory services for fishery products in the Asia and Pacific Region.
One to One Interview: Dr. María Neira
As a new feature, this year the Conxemar FAO MAPA Congress includes an in-depth interview with a prominent international figure not strictly linked to the seafood industry: Dr. María Neira will share her experience as one of the most recognized international leaders in public health and the environment.
Interviewee
Dra. María Neira
Former Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), she played a key role in integrating environmental and climate risks into the global health agenda. She has served as Vice Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs in Spain, worked with Médecins Sans Frontières, and continues to participate in leading international forums on climate and health, including United Nations conferences and high-level ministerial meetings. Throughout her career, she has received numerous international awards for her contributions to sustainable development, nutrition, and the protection of human health.
Host
Verónica Sanz
Journalist for La SextaTV and host of the event
SPEAKERS
Jingjie Chu
Sr. Natural resource economist environment, natural resources and Blue Economy. East Asia, World Bank.
Miguel Bernal
Executive Secretary of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, FAO.
Audun Lem
Chair of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative, FiTI.
Mark Kaplan
Chief Marketing Officer, Wholechain. Lead, Better Food Future in support of UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition. Board of Directors, FishWise.org.
Kevin Edwards
VP Global Market Development Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability, GDST.
Carolina Najar
Food Market Director at AZTI, Marine and Food Research Center.
Shakuntala Thilsted
Senior Nutrition Expert at CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Recipient of the 2021 World Food Prize, awarded by the World Food Prize Foundation.
Wordpanel by Numerator
Market research and data analysis expert.
Lluís Miret
Professor of Applied Economics at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Member of the Institute for the Integrated Management of Coastal Areas, IGIC.
Machiel Kommers
Representative of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture in Spain. Counsellor for Agriculture Nature and Food to Spain and Portugal.
Julie Maguire
Research Director at Bantry Marine Research Station, BMRS.
Clara Duque
Director of Self-Service Food Product Offering at Alcampo.
MODERATORS
Manuel Barange
Subdirector general de la FAO y director de la división de Pesca y Acuicultura
Manuel Barange
Subdirector general de la FAO y director de la división de Pesca y Acuicultura
Manuel Barange
Subdirector general de la FAO y director de la división de Pesca y Acuicultura
HOST
Manuel Barange
Subdirector general de la FAO y director de la división de Pesca y Acuicultura
registration
Congress Attendees
Press
Descargue la app oficial del Congreso
LOCATION
SEDE AFUNDACIÓN VIGO
C/ Policarpo Sanz, 24-26
Vigo, 36203 (Pontevedra)
España
