The 2022 edition had the cherry as its symbolic fruit, and although this time it will be the blueberry, the fair will offer a wide range of products and services for cherry production.
The 40th edition of Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fresh produce industry, is scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 May 2023 at the Rimini Expo Center. The next edition of this event, the only one that brings together the entire chain of the fruit and vegetable sector, will have a strong vocation for both business and other content; it is also a real turning point as it aims to become a leader in the sector. This is possible thanks to a project co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through Ice-Agenzia, the Italian Trade Agency.
Macfrut 2023 will offer a larger trade fair, two new exhibition halls, and will also see strong international growth with a target of 30% foreign professionals and 30 international presentations; in addition, it will offer more content, including focus sessions coordinated by experts in the field to ensure a high level of expertise while analysing future trends.
What's new at Macfrut 2023
Many new features are planned for the 40th edition, which were presented to the press and professionals during an international mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Blueberries will not only be the symbolic fruit of Macfrut 2023, but also the star of a global event taking place during the fair: International Blueberry Days. It will be a three-day event with the most prominent international technical and scientific experts, together with major global players, including Driscoll's. This event, coordinated by Professor Bruno Mezzetti of the Polytechnic University of Marche together with Thomas Drahorad of NCX Drahorad, will be complemented by technical visits, a test field and an advanced training school.
However, cherries will continue to be the focus of attention, with a wide range of companies from around the world offering their solutions and products for this crop. Another new feature is the International Nursery and Varietal Innovation Show, which will serve as a specialised meeting point for nurserymen, breeders, producers, experts and researchers working in a field that has acquired strategic importance 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 sessions on varietal innovation for cherry and apple trees, table grapes, kiwis and strawberries. Professor Stefano Lugli of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia will coordinate the exhibition.
The Biosolutions International Event, dedicated to natural products for plant protection, nutrition and biostimulation, will also be back. Biosolutions is a dynamic sector that is becoming increasingly important strategically, so this event will include various activities for exhibitors and visitors. Firstly, the Biosolutions Innovation Award, an award given to the most innovative products, has been confirmed once again and will be held for the third consecutive year.
AcquaCampus has also been confirmed: it will be organised in collaboration with ANBI (National Association for 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 so that visitors can learn about the most pioneering technologies up close.
The dynamic area, which is also part of the fair, will feature an area of innovative machinery for medicinal plants and nurseries, along with new developments in the field of drones and robots. Luciano Trentini, an expert in the field, will be coordinating this area.
And speaking of innovation supporting agriculture 4.0, an area of the fair will be dedicated to start-ups, in partnership with the Crédit Agricole Italia Banking Group, the main sponsor of the entire fair event. It will be a real village for incubators dedicated to digital precision agriculture that will showcase the latest innovations in the field.
The international spotlight 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 companies, institutions and professionals. Technical visits, workshops, show cooking sessions and B2B meetings will also be scheduled. In addition, Macfrut will organise a special event, the “SME Forum”, promoted by IILA to strengthen relations between Italian and Latin American small and medium-sized companies dedicated to agri-food supply chains. Latin American Days is organised in collaboration with IILA (the International Italian-Latin American Organisation), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) and ICE – Italian Trade Agency.
