Global Agtech Leader Hectre Hosts World’s Industry Execs For Chile Tour

Hectre, the New Zealand-based agtech company, will this week host more than a dozen senior fruit industry leaders from 10 countries on a week-long tour of Chile's leading packhouse operations, demonstrating the real-world impact of its technology in some of the world's largest commercial fruit businesses.

Matty Blomfield, Hectre co-founder and CEO, said the tour supports the company's commitment to a more connected global food system. "Hectre delivers technology and innovation that makes the food supply system fairer, more efficient and less wasteful.

“This tour brings the world's leading industry figures together for an experience that is both culturally rich and commercially beneficial. By building genuine relationships with producers around the world, we can create a food system that is stronger, smarter and more equitable for everyone.”

By invitation only, the delegation includes CEOs, directors and commercial leaders from major fruit companies across South Africa, Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Poland, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Chile. The tour is immersed in Chilean culture and will visit several of the country's leading packhouse operations, including facilities operated by Verfrut, Frusan, Unifrutti, Fruttita, Garces and San Clemente. The visitors will be hosted by an 8-strong Hectre team, and enjoy hospitality from the New Zealand Embassy.

The tour reflects Hectre's growing international position. Backed by New Zealand venture capital firm Punakaiki Fund along with global investors, the company is currently growing at about 100% annually.

Hectre works with packhouses and growers across multiple continents, providing software and hardware solutions designed to improve efficiency, traceability and quality outcomes in commercial fruit production. Its groundbreaking Arc camera delivers near 99% accuracy in fruit size and colour grading, and it is currently building world-leading capacity to assess internal and external fruit defects.

The tour opens on Sunday 10 May with a welcome dinner in Santiago, followed on Monday by a workshop at the New Zealand Embassy, hosted by NZTE and facilitated by Rodrigo Mudez. Attendees will participate in presentations, interactive workshops and guided tours before a traditional Chilean barbecue hosted by Verfrut.

The programme continues across the week with further packhouse visits in Santiago and Talca, formal dinners, and lunches at Casa Silva and VIK wineries. The tour concludes with a visit to the UNESCO-listed coastal city of Valparaíso, including a tour of the Pablo Neruda Museum "La Sebastiana", a harbour boat tour, a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage district, and a farewell lunch at Cafe Turri overlooking the harbour.

Blomfield said the tour is an annual event, with benefits to all involved. "Fruit production is a global industry, but the relationships that make it work are deeply personal.

“For Hectre, being on the ground with our customers, seeing their operations and understanding their challenges, is fundamental to how we build technology that works in the real world. The benefits flow in every direction."

Note: 

Hectre is a New Zealand-based horticultural technology company that recently raised NZ$12 million in Series A funding, led by Punakaiki Fund, a New Zealand evergreen venture capital fund managed by 2040 Ventures. The Chile tour runs 10–15 May 2026, with the main programme commencing Sunday 10 May in Santiago.

© Scoop Media