In the last few years, the Italian plant nursery industry has emerged as a strategic player in the evolution of fruit supply chains. Initially established and developed in a regional context, it has subsequently undergone a process of self-organisation and expansion to become a leading international industry.
Data from the interprofessional consortium CIVI-Italia, representing 90% of the professionals in the sector and reports an annual production of 60 million fruit plants, 50 million rootstocks and 330 million seedlings for strawberries and small fruits, with a total production value of over 600 million euros.
Exports are on the rise, at around 50% of production. Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector (8-10 May 2024), will dedicate a special exhibition, the Plant Nursery Area.
Stefano Lugli, exhibition event coordinator :"On a global scale, Italian excellence in fruit nurseries is demonstrated, by the industry's ability to offer growers high quality and specific genetic and health requirements, and, by the close synergies established with those who create and promote varietal innovation."
These issues will be addressed at two round table discussions held during the trade fair, at the Rimini Expo Centre. The first one, entitled 'The Varietal Innovation Industry in Fruit Growing: Patents, Forms of Protection and Commercial Development Models', organised by the SOI (Italian Society for Horticultural Science) and CIVI-Italia, will take place on Friday 10 May at 10 am. The introductory address by Francesco Mattina, President of the CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office), will address issues related to plant patents, forms of protection and new breeding technologies.
The opportunities and challenges associated with the development and organisational models of the supply chain for varieties will be explored through the analysis of two case studies, one focusing on the apple sector and the other on the kiwi sector. These will be presented by Walter Guerra, Director of the CS of Laimburg, and Jürgen Braun, CEO of Kiku Variety Management, for apple trees, and by Raffaele Testolin of the University of Udine and Ugo Palara, President of New Plant, for actinidia. The event will be moderated by Daniele Bassi of the University of Milan.
The second round table discussion, on Friday 10 May at noon, is 'QVI - Voluntary Certification of Italian Fruit Nurseries: Promotional Tool or Obstacle to Nursery Production Qualification?'. It is organised by CIVI-Italia and sponsored by the SOI (Italian Society for Horticultural Science), with a focus on QVI-Qualità Vivaistica Italia.
Stefano La Malfa, President of the Fruit Growers' section of the SOI will moderate the round table discussion. Bruno Caio Faraglia, Head of the National Phytosanitary Service of the MASAF - Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, will give a detailed overview of phytosanitary guarantees and variety conformity as part of the regulations.
For more information:
Macfrut
Tel.: +39 0547 317435
E-mail: info@macfrut.com
www.macfrut.com