Macfrut 2023, the goal of leadership

The 40th edition of MACFRUT, the International trade fair for the fresh produce industry is scheduled to take place at the Rimini Expo Centre from 3 to 5 May 2023. The upcoming edition of this event, which is the only supply chain trade fair for professionals in the fruit and vegetable sector with a strong focus on both business and other contents, marks a real turning point as it aims to become a leader in the sector. This is made possible by a project co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through Ice-Agenzia – Italian Trade Agency, which sets the stage for a breakthrough for three different reasons: it will be a bigger trade fair, with two new exhibition halls; strong international growth with a target of 30% foreign professionals and 30 international presentations; more contents, including focus sessions coordinated by experts in the field to ensure a high level of expertise while looking at future trends. What’s new at Macfrut 2023Many new additions are planned for the 40th edition, which were presented this morning to the press and professionals during an international mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Blueberries will be not only the symbolic fruit of Macfrut 2023, but also the star of a global event to be held during the trade fair: International Blueberry Days. It will be a three-day event with the most prominent international technical and scientific experts, along with major global players including the US-based Driscoll’s, the number one nursery and fruit producer, and the Australian Costa Group, a leading blueberry breeder and producer. This event, coordinated by Professor Bruno Mezzetti of the Marche Polytechnic University along with Thomas Drahorad of NCX Drahorad, will be complemented with technical visits, a test field, and advanced training school. Another new feature is the International Plant Nurseries and Varietal Innovation Exhibition, which will serve as a specialised meeting point for nurserymen, breeders, producers, experts and researchers operating in a field that has become strategically important for the development of modern fruit growing. Conferences, technical seminars and workshops will be scheduled during the exhibition, with in-depth discussions and updates on topics such as certification, patent protection, varietal clubs, and new breeding technologies, with special focus sessions on varietal innovation for apple and cherry trees, table grapes, kiwifruit, and strawberries. Professor Stefano Lugli of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia will coordinate the exhibition. The Pianeta Rosso (Red Planet) is a new meeting format dedicated to players in the tomato supply chain, from seed companies to modern distributors. Based on an analysis of the needs of end buyers, emerging from market research and panel tests, the project provides direct experience on how to translate consumer demands into supply chain projects. This format will be coordinated by Professor Roberto Della Casa of the University of Bologna. The Biosolutions International Event, dedicated to natural products for plant protection, plant nutrition and biostimulation, will also be back. Biosolutions are a dynamic sector that is becoming more and more strategically important, which is why this event will include various activities for exhibitors and visitors. First of all, the Biosolutions Innovation Award, an award granted to the most innovative products, has been confirmed once again and will take place for the third year in a row. Technical round tables are also scheduled, followed by one-to-one meetings, with in-depth discussions on kiwifruit, citrus fruits, table grapes, olives, and nuts. Last but not least, the Biosolutions International Congress will be held again, an international event to be attended by some of the world’s leading kiwi growers. This area will be coordinated by Mr Camillo Gardini of Agri2000. AcquaCampus has also been confirmed: it will be organised in collaboration with ANBI (National Association of Land Reclamation) and CER (Canale Emiliano Romagnolo) and will be dedicated to innovations in irrigation and irrigation technologies. A test field will be set up in the exhibition halls to allow visitors to get a closer look at cutting-edge water management technologies applied to horticulture, along with guided technical visits. The dynamic area, which is also part of the trade fair, will include an area featuring innovative machinery for medicinal plants and plant nurseries, along with innovations in the field of drones and robots. Mr Luciano Trentini, an expert in the field, will be coordinating this area. And speaking of innovation supporting agriculture 4.0, an area of the trade fair will be dedicated to start-ups, in partnership with the Crédit Agricole Italia Banking Group, the main sponsor of the entire trade fair event. It will be an actual village for incubators dedicated to digital precision agriculture showcasing the latest innovations in the field. Following last year's success, the Spices & Herbs Global Expo, the exhibition dedicated to the world of spices, medicinal herbs and aromatic herbs, will be back too. This sector is growing at a rapid pace due to the fact that spices and herbs are becoming more and more frequently used for cooking. This exhibition is like a “trade fair within the trade fair” as it will have a dedicated exhibition area, with the participation of professionals from all over the world, technical workshops with experts, and business meetings with foreign buyers. This area will be coordinated by FIPPO (Italian Federation of Medicinal Plant Producers), Erboristeria Domani, and Cannamela. The partner region is Calabria, known for its excellent produce such as bergamot, citron, “Clementine IGP” (PGI clementines), (Limone di Rocca Imperiale IGP” (PGI Rocca Imperiale lemons), “Cipolla di Tropea IGP” (PGI Tropea onions), “Patata della Sila IGP” (PGI Sila Potatoes), kiwis and strawberries. The international focus will be on Latin America, which will take centre stage with the Latin American Days event, occupying an entire exhibition hall, with the participation of international businesses, institutions and professionals. Technical visits, workshops, show cooking sessions, and B2B meetings will also be scheduled. In addition, Macfrut will be hosting a special event, the “SME Forum”, promoted by IILA to strengthen relations between Italian and Latin American small and medium-sized enterprises, dedicated to the agri-food supply chains. Latin American Days is organised in collaboration with IILA (the Italian-Latin American International Organisation), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), and ICE - Italian Trade Agency.