The Interpoma Technology Award will be introduced for the first time at Interpoma 2018, a leading global apple producer event scheduled to take place in Bolzano, Italy from November 15-17. 

The new award will be introduced by event organizer Fiera Bolzano, in partnership with the Science and Technology faculty of the Free University of Bolzano and the Italian horticultural science society SOI.

"The award aims at highlighting the tecnologies and equipment exhibited at the show that are the most innovative and have the greatest impact on apple-growing and crop protection techniques and the post-harvest phase", said Thomas Mur, director of Fiera Bolzano.

"We aim at rewarding the technological innovation that will improve farm profitability, apple quality, worker safety and the environmental sustainability of the production process", he continued.

The two award categories are 'Field', including the sub-categories of 'orchard management', 'plant protection' and 'fruit harvest'; and 'Post Harvest', with the sub-categories 'fruit sorting and grading', 'fruit storage' and 'fruit processing'.

A jury panel of nationally and internationally renowned experts and researchers will assess the entries submitted by exhibitors for the Interpoma Technology Award 2018.

Massimo Tagliavini, president of SOI, will act as the chair of the jury panel, along with Paolo Balsari from the University of Turin, Angelo Zanella from the Laimburg Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Pietro Tonutti from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Fabrizio Mazzetto from the Free University of Bolzano, and Stuart Tustin from New Zealand-based Plant and Food Research.

Companies may only enter one product into the competition, and they must be completed in English using the special entry forms on the Interpoma website, with the winner to be announced during a ceremony at 6pm on November 15 inside the Interpoma pavilions.

The top entry in the two categories will win a prize package worth €5,000, comprising of a winner's plaque, the making of a 30-second video promoting the product, and an increased profile at Interpoma 2018 through intiatives accompanied by communication that is designed to highlight and publicize the winners and their achievements.

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