Revier Hotel Säntispark, Wiesenbachstrasse 5, 9030 Abtwil-St. Gallen

- Registration, from 8.30 am

- Start of the conference, 10.00 am

   1.    Welcome
           Mario Spavetti, President SwissDiva

   2.    Import regulations in the Swiss market
           Roland Stoll, Vice-President
           Markus Waber, Deputy Director
           Verband Schweizer Gemüseproduzenten

   3.    Does controlled atmosphere storage
           pay off for chicory? Insights on root physiology and
           chicon quality
           Elisa Driesen, Researcher and advisor VCBT

   4.    The use of robots for weed control in chicory
           Mia Demeulemeester, CEO, Inagro vzw

- Lunch break

   5.    New insights in protection against root aphids
           Klaartje Bunkens, Researcher
           Praktijkpunt Landbouw Vlaams-Brabant

   6.    LaserWeeder G2 – Herbicide-free weed control
           with millimetre precision using a laser beam
           Toni Pick, Regional Sales Manager D/AT/CH
           Carbon Robotics

   7.    Hygiene management in chicory production
           Torsten Scherweit, Specialist Horticulture Consultant
           MENNO Chemie Vertrieb GmbH

- Coffee break

   8.    New chicory varieties: better evaluation for improved
           production
           Delphine Bridoux, Responsable programme
           Les Producteurs d'Endives de France

   9.   Keynote presentations: ‘Structural Challenges in
          the Chicory Market’
          Switzerland: Andreas Bühler
          Germany: Fritz Boss
          Dutch: Aik Ruiter
          Belgium: Tom Vandenkendelaere
          France: Philippe Bréhon

   10. Panel discussion: ‘Structural challenges in
          the chicory market’

   11.  Flag-handing ceremony

- Biennale gala evening for participants,
   accompanying persons and sponsors at the hotel

Accompanying guests who are not attending the conference can make use of the hotel’s extensive wellness facilities. Admission is included in the hotel booking. Your companion will, of course, be joining you for the gala evening.

On Thursday, 24 September 2026, a shuttle bus will be available at 9.15 am, to take those who have travelled without a car from Abtwil to Stettfurt. From 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm, a shuttle bus will run regularly from Stettfurt to Frauenfeld railway station. From Frauenfeld, there are good train connections in all directions.