The ODORA24 conference took place on the 5th and 6th of November and was a complete success. Initially, 125 people from 9 countries had registered, but due to the flooding disasters in the Valencia area and the red alert in the Catalonia area, many were unable to attend in the end. We send our best wishes to all those colleagues affected by this catastrophe.
Over these two days, we learned a lot, made several new contacts, talked, laughed, and also shared some moments of sadness. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with friends, and a group of us went for a run. Some colleagues were able to enjoy a visit to a nearby fishmeal plant. We would like to thank Ibon for organising this small visit with the Chilean delegation of fishing organisations.
This time, we structured the conference programme into 6 sessions, covering topics such as: policy and regulations related to odour and air quality. Standards, norms, and legislation in Session 1. Odour measurement and perception, impact, formation, and dispersion. Odour Monitoring Instrumentation Systems (SIVO) and other sensors in Session 2. The impact of odour on wastewater treatment plants, sewers, and drainage in Session 3. Monitoring, control, reduction, and neutralisation of odour in Session 4. Managing communities affected by odour, media relations, and social action with citizens in Session 5. And odours in waste treatment plants, and in agricultural, livestock, and fishing operations in Session 6.
In addition, two important meetings took place during this conference. On Tuesday, the 60th ordinary assembly of AMIGO took place in a hybrid format, following the first day of the conference. It was attended by members and others interested in joining this non-profit association.
On Wednesday 6th, a meeting was held with part of the Odour Group (GO) from AEAS, with a small delegation of this group present, almost as a preparation for the plenary meeting of Commission V, organised by the Consorci Besòs Tordera, which was to take place in Granollers the following day.
We would like to thank the sponsoring organisations of this event. In particular, the Department of Industry, Energy Transition, and Sustainability of the Basque Government, with Nadia and the fantastic team of professionals in that department, including Inesa, Jon, Saioa, and Felisa, among others.
We also want to thank the Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, and Asier for supporting and pushing us from the beginning, even though he could not attend the conference at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Thanks also to Janire for making things easier, and to Koldo, Iñaki, Izaskun, María, Jose María, and Ander.
We would also like to thank Suez, and especially David, Rubén, Toni, and Antonio, as well as Isabel and Jose from Nasapp, for their support as silver sponsors.
In addition to the stands of the aforementioned organisations, we also want to thank Beñat from AMIGO, Jean-Christophe from Ellona, and Simon and Gerson from Comon Invent for bringing their stands to the conference. We hope that they all made new clients and contacts.
The dissemination work carried out by ATEGRUS and AGA-AEAS to their members was fantastic, and we thank them for their support throughout these years of conferences.
And of course, we would like to thank all the speakers and attendees who contributed their part to a better management of odour impact. Without you, this would not have been possible, so THANK YOU!!
As you know, those who attended the conference, we are supporting the organisation ACODAL for a conference to be held from the 3rd to the 5th of April 2025 in Medellín, Colombia. In addition, we are helping to organize a conference, together with a group of volunteers from AMIGO, which will take place the following week, specifically on the 9th and 10th of April, in Santiago, Chile.
Finally, we will soon be organising another ODORA conference, this time with English and Spanish as the official languages. ODORA25 will be held on the 15th-16th of September 2025 at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao. And this will be, for sure, the last conference we organise on odour impact management. Word of the person writing these lines… for now.
You may download some photos of the event here.
