Luca Granata joined Consorzio Melinda in 2002 as general manager, following the completion of a degree in Agricultural Sciences and 14 years experience as marketing, sales and general manager in several countries for a life-science multinational. His responsibilities there have included the implementation of the consortium's strategic plan. Over the past seven years, the Melinda team has achieved or exceeded all its objectives, according to Luca, increasing its brand equity and consolidating its position in the Italian apple market.

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Ed Garner's background is in sales, national accounts and marketing, rather than being a pure 'market researcher'. Ed is keenly aware of the need to present findings in a clear and actionable manner, and his ability to do this is supported by feedback from conference appearances across Europe, the US, Australasia, Asia Pacific and South America for organisations including IGD, Citigroup, McKinsey, PwC, Marketing Week, ADMAP, AGRA, NFU, The Grocer and many leading UK FMCG clients.

Bruce Axtman is the president and chief executive officer of the Perishables Group, a US-based national consulting firm specialising in marketing strategies for perishable food items. Mr Axtman, who founded the group in 2000, provides a fresh perspective for the industry, guiding Perishables Group clients in their move away from the traditional commodity business model towards a new consumer-driven marketing model.

Dr Nigel Kerby, Mylnefield Research Services (UK), is managing director of Mylnefield Research Services (MRS), which protects and commercialises the intellectual assets and resources of the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Nigel took the helm at MRS in 1992 and since then he has established long-term partnerships with leading international companies to sustain research of global importance in plant breeding, pathology, physiology and analytical chemistry. MRS products are widely consumed in the UK and are market leaders in their respective categories.? Nigel is a frequent visitor to China with commercial agricultural, food and environmental interests. He is director of the China Britain Business Council and chairs its Innovation and Technology Forum. Recently, he joined the Board of Directors of a Chinese cooperative joint venture that is growing and marketing fruit produced in China. Nigel graduated from the University of Leeds in 1975 with a BSc in Botany and in 1979 with a PhD. Before joining MRS, he was a lecturer at the University of Dundee.