Santa Marta is again preparing to welcome national and international experts and scientists. On May 23 and 24, at the Estelar Santamar Hotel and Convention Center, various topics related to banana cultivation, which began in Colombia 134 years ago, will be discussed.

The banana agro-industry is preparing to host a new edition of the most significant event in this sector at the national level: the Second Caribbean Colombian Banana Congress. This event will occur at the Estelar Santamar Hotel and Convention Center on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24.

"This will be an event with a technical agenda designed for all people who are part of the banana sector. It is an opportunity for us to meet, learn about new initiatives in the sector, and learn from the experts who will come to talk about the different topics that concern us and that we will discuss over two days," said José Francisco Zúñiga Cotes, executive president of the Association of Banana Growers of Magdalena and La Guajira (Asbama).

The Banana Congress emerged thanks to the development of five editions of the Banana Forum organized by Asbama. This association brings together producers and marketers of this fruit in the departments of Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar. Its evolution has allowed Santa Marta to position itself as the banana capital of Colombia.

"This is a very important activity because it is an added value that we offer to our affiliates and the entire banana community. Every year, the experts who come to share their knowledge about the different problems we face in the sector, such as phytosanitary issues, sustainability, environmental issues, innovation such as drones and spectral images, and other topics that we will discuss over these two days," Zúñiga Cotes said.

For the second consecutive year, national and international high-level experts and scientists will meet in Santa Marta to discuss various topics related to a crop that began in Colombia as an economic and social activity at the end of the 19th century.