The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) held the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in an online format for the first time in its history, welcoming 174 attendees from four continents and 24 countries.
The AGM’s Issues Day on November 24th was opened by Malawi’s minister of agriculture, Robin Lowe, who welcomed the opportunity to debate the challenges and prospects that growers will face in the future as “the world is going through one of the most dramatic experiences in a lifetime” with the global pandemic and deepening economic crisis. Notably, the minister reinforced the commitment of the government of Malawi to the sector and all its stakeholders. ITGA’s president, Abiel Kalima Banda, emphasized the resilience of the tobacco sector and the importance of collaboration throughout the supply chain, while Antonio Abrunhosa, ITGA’s c.e.o. reinforced ITGA’s mission as the only world voice of tobacco growers to defend the growers from the effects of new regulations that are putting ever more pressure on their daily activities.
The 14-speaker panel that day covered a wide range of topics, including a global tobacco market overview, innovations for sustainable agriculture, social and environmental good practices, as well as emerging demand for new substances, the growth potential of the legal cannabis market, and opportunities in the hemp industry.
ITGA's 35th Annual General Meeting concluded on November 25th with the Association’s General Assembly, where delegates from member countries shared their views of the present and future of tobacco growing.