The 43rd edition of Macfrut, the international fruit and vegetable trade fair, opened at the Rimini Expo Centre, in the presence of Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry. Ministers from four countries – Cameroon, Lebanon, Senegal and Syria – also attended the opening ceremony.
“Macfrut is more than a trade fair: it is a platform to build relationships and strengthen ties with countries worldwide. It showcases Italy’s ability to lead innovation and to represent an opportunity for the development of other countries, such as those in Africa and the Middle East.” With these words, Minister Francesco Lollobrigida inaugurated the 43rd edition of Macfrut, scheduled at Rimini Expo Centre from today to Thursday 23rd April. Present at the opening ceremony were Ministers from four foreign countries: Cameroon (Achille Bassilekin III), Lebanon (Nizar Hani), Senegal (Mabouba Diagne), and Syria (Amjad Bader).
Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry: “We are here at Macfrut, the leading trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, a sector for which we have made available direct funding exceeding €2 billion through supply chain initiatives and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), generating nearly €3 billion in investments, alongside additional measures in energy, agrisolar, and logistics. We will continue to work in this direction because this is a high-quality supply chain capable of generating wealth, employment, and development. Events like this are essential for promoting the Italian system and strengthening our presence in international markets. Macfrut demonstrates Italy’s ability to be at the forefront and to offer development opportunities to other nations, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Macfrut is more than a trade fair; it is an opportunity to build relationships and strengthen ties worldwide.”
Lorenzo Galanti, Director General of Agenzia ICE: “This year, Agenzia ICE has brought 920 qualified international operators from more than 80 countries – more than double last year’s figure. Over 5,000 B2B meetings are already scheduled between international buyers and Italian exhibitors. This marks a significant step forward for an already highly international event, showcasing a supply chain that is crucial for Italian exports and highlighting the latest trends in innovation and sustainability. Together with MAECI and MASAF, our goal is to support export market diversification and help Italian excellence remain competitive globally.”
Patrizio Neri, President of Macfrut: “This edition stands out for its strong international participation, confirming the global nature of the event. The fruit and vegetable sector is strategic for Italy, accounting for around a quarter of national agricultural production. Macfrut is where the entire supply chain meets to do business and identify key trends shaping the future of the sector – driven by innovation, sustainability and connectivity.”
Italian Fruit & Vegetable Sector: Insights from Nomisma
According to a study presented at the opening conference by Nomisma, Italy’s fruit and vegetable sector includes more than 150,000 companies across 887,000 hectares, with a production value of €17 billion (26 % of the national agri-food sector). Exports of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables reached €12.9 billion in 2025, accounting for 18 % of total agri-food exports.
Between 2020 and 2025, exports grew significantly for both vegetables (+38.1 %) and fruit (+37.1 %). Fresh produce exports are largely concentrated within the European Union, representing 83 % for vegetables and 76 % for fruit.
The report highlights two major challenges: geopolitical instability, impacting logistics costs and supply chain continuity, and climate change, along with phytosanitary risks, which particularly affect fruit and vegetable production.
A Global Hub for the Fruit & Vegetable Industry
Macfrut confirms its role as a key international hub for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, bringing together exhibitors from five continents. This year’s international focus is on the Caribbean, with participation from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador. South America is also strongly represented, with Chile and Argentina joined for the first time by Brazil and Peru. More than 20 countries are participating from Sub-Saharan Africa.
The fair hosts over 900 top buyers worldwide, thanks to the support of Agenzia ICE, with strong representation from Northern and Eastern Europe, Brazil and China, including major delegations from Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Macfrut’s distinctive feature is its thematic exhibitions, focused on key industry areas: water management with Acqua Campus; nursery innovation with Plant Nursery; natural products for crop protection, nutrition, and biostimulation in Biosolutions and Digital Technologies; the berry sector in the Berry Area; minimally processed healthy products in the Healthy Food Area; medicinal plants, spices, and herbal products in Spices & Herbs Global Expo; and agrivoltaics technologies in Agrisolar.
The exhibition also includes two open-field demonstration areas (2,500 sqm) showcasing innovations in fruit growing and horticulture, along with a Start-up Area featuring 26 companies from across the globe. Around 100 events and conferences will take place over the three days, addressing key topics for the sector in collaboration with the event’s Technical-Scientific Committee.
The global fruit and vegetable supply chain will gather at Macfrut (21-23 April, Rimini Expo Centre). The 43rd edition is packed with new features: the Caribbean as the international partner, 800 top buyers, 10 Regions of Italy present and Sicily as the Partner Region, the global Mango and Avocado supply chain, Themed Exhibitions and around 100 events.
The global fruit and vegetable supply chain will gather at Macfrut, which will take place from Tuesday, 21 April to Thursday, 23 April 2026 at the Rimini Expo Centre. This three-day event brings together industry professionals to explore business opportunities and discover the latest innovations and trends in a key Italian agribusiness sector, accounting for around a third of the country’s agricultural production and worth approximately €19 billion, with the entire supply chain generating around €60 billion.
The 43rd edition will be packed with new features, all under the slogan „Make it Juicy“, offering a „juicier“, trendier and more innovative event: Mangoes and Avocados are the key products at an event that brings together the entire global supply chain; an international focus on Caribbean countries, with strong representation from other continents (especially Europe and Africa); over 800 international top buyers; Sicily as the Partner Region with the participation of 10 Regions of Italy; Themed Exhibitions on industry trends coordinated by a team of experts; around 100 events, including high-profile conferences on current industry-related issues, in collaboration with the Macfrut Scientific Technical Committee (the New CAP, International Conference on Assisted Evolution Techniques, news on Healthy Food products, Mediterranean Stone Fruit Symposium, among others); two 2,500-square-metre test fields showcasing the latest fruit and vegetable products; and a Start-up area featuring 25 innovative proposals from around the world.
Presentation of the 43rd edition of Macfrut
The 43rd edition of Macfrut was presented at the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Rome by Francesco Lollobrigida – Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Matteo Zoppas – President of ITA-Italian Trade Agency, Patrizio Neri – President of Cesena Fiera, Paolo De Castro – President of the Macfrut Scientific Technical Committee, Livio Proietti – President of ISMEA (Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market), Luca Sammartino – Regional Councillor for Agriculture of the Sicilian Region, Ugo Ferrero – Head of Institutional Affairs at AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), and Rafael A. Lantigua Ciriaco – Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Italy.
Fruit and vegetables, a strategic asset of Made in Italy: rising exports and consumption
Fruit and vegetables take centre stage at Macfrut. The sector is worth around €19 billion in Italy, accounting for 27% of the national agricultural production and, together with vegetable preserves, 18% of Italy’s agri-food exports (source: ISMEA).
Italian fruit and vegetable exports rose by 11.3% in 2025 (from January to November), reaching a total value of €7 billion (source: Italian Trade Agency). Essentially, around one-third of Italy’s products are exported worldwide. Italy is the third-largest exporter in Europe, following Spain and the Netherlands. Interestingly, the five main target markets for Italian fruit and vegetables are all experiencing significant growth: Germany (2.1 billion), France (722 million), Austria (476 million), Switzerland (397 million) and Spain (319 million).
According to data from Nomisma, Italy accounts for 17 % of the total value of fruit and vegetables produced in the EU, making it the second-largest producer of vegetables (including processing tomatoes) and the second-largest producer of fruit (including dried fruit) on the continent.
ISMEA data shows that vegetable sales are performing well in the fruit and vegetable sector. Total purchased volumes have increased by 2.6%, while expenditure on fruit has risen by 2.7 %.
Specifically, the fresh produce sector has shown significant growth in the vegetable category, with modest increases in the volume of fresh vegetables (+3.5 %) and potatoes (+5.1 %) sold. Purchases of fresh-cut vegetables remain stable (with expenditure increasing by 0.4 % and volumes decreasing by 0.1%), as are those of frozen vegetables (with expenditure increasing by 0.2 % and volumes remaining stable). The volume of tomato preserves has increased slightly (+1.4 %), while expenditure has remained stable and prices have fallen slightly.
With regard to fruit, although juice sales have decreased (-6.5 %), consumption of fresh produce has shifted towards red fruits and tropical fruits, as well as nuts. The sales volume of nuts has increased (+2.6 %), along with kiwifruit (+7.2 %), strawberries (+8.9 %), blueberries (+25.9 %), mangoes (+36.4 %), avocados (+47 %) and pomegranates (+25 %). The consumption of packaged organic fresh fruit is also on the rise, with respective increases in quantity and expenditure of 1.8 % and 7 %.
Macfrut, a global supply chain trade fair
The one trait that sets Macfrut apart is its international outlook, achieved through a year-round programme of presentations around the world and extensive incoming buyer activities organised in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency. This edition has an international focus on Caribbean countries, which are one of the world’s most dynamic regions, with exports worth over $30 billion. The Dominican Republic is a key player in this focus area, with a stand that has doubled in size since last year (400 square metres), featuring producers and exporters of tropical fruit, as well as institutions and supply chain operators. Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador will also be present. Representing South America, Chile and Argentina have confirmed their attendance, while Brazil and Peru will be making their debut at the trade fair with their own national stand and a delegation of producers, as well as some of the most dynamic companies in Latin America’s fruit and vegetable industry.
Once again, a significant number of African countries will participate, including 20 from Sub-Saharan Africa, who are primarily interested in acquiring the know-how and technologies for which Italy is world-renowned.
Thanks to the invaluable support of the Italian Trade Agency, more than 800 top buyers from all over the world will attend the trade fair, with a special focus on leading European fruit and vegetable importers, selected through targeted scouting by Macfrut.
Macfrut, the premier showcase for the Italian supply chain
What sets this edition apart is a collaborative process involving all industry stakeholders, which has resulted in a shared vision of Macfrut as the premier showcase for the Italian fruit and vegetable sector. It has earned this status thanks to its ability to bring together all the major players in production, technology and packaging, as well as the three main modern retail chains in the fresh produce segment (Conad, Coop Italia and VèGè Group), and leading companies from every link in the Italian supply chain, which is unique worldwide.
Many Regions of Italy will be in attendance, having chosen Macfrut as the platform for showcasing their exceptional products, including PDO and PGI products. As many as 10 Regions will have their own stand at Macfrut 2026, representing leading national fruit and vegetable companies: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Piedmont, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria.
The 43rd edition of the trade fair will feature Sicily as the Partner Region. With over 263,000 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables (22% of the national total) and a production of 4.6 million tonnes (19% of Italy’s total fruit and vegetable production), Sicily is a jewel in the country’s crown. Its achievements include being the leading region for organic production, with around 47,000 hectares cultivated, equivalent to around a quarter of the national total. It ranks first in Italy in terms of production value, accounting for around €3 billion (16% of the national total), largely thanks to its excellent PDO and PGI products. Sicilian produce will be given centre stage at the three-day event, where it will be thoroughly discussed and presented to an international audience as part of a wide-ranging programme of activities.
Spotlight on avocados and mangoes
The key products of Macfrut 2026 will be in the spotlight at a global event, ‘Mango and Avocado Explosion’, which will bring together the entire supply chain, from production and marketing to the analysis of agronomic data, market trends, development opportunities and real-world case studies from leading global companies (Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands, Egypt, India, Peru, Italy, Kenya and the Dominican Republic). This event is an opportunity to explore business opportunities, make new connections, enter into business agreements, and meet top buyers of two products that are gaining prominence in the global market and generating over $80 billion worth of business.
Themed Exhibitions
Themed Exhibitions, coordinated by leading sector experts, confirm Macfrut’s status as a ‘knowledge fair’. In addition to the exhibition and trade areas, each Themed Exhibition will feature a rich programme of conferences on strategic industry topics, offering a broad range of insights: Acqua Campus, dedicated to innovative water-saving systems; Plant Nursery, showcasing the latest nursery innovations (Workshop on Assisted Evolution Techniques, new varieties, rootstocks and genome); Biosolutions & Digital Technologies, dedicated to natural plant protection, nutrition and biostimulation products (international kiwi conference, technical round tables, incoming buyers); Berry Area, dedicated to the world of berries (new varieties and the relationship with large-scale retailers); Healthy Food Area, focusing on minimally processed health-promoting products (the organic product supply chain, fresh-cut produce, Mangoes and Avocados); Spices & Herbs Global Expo, dedicated to the world of medicinal plants, spices and herbal products (focus on the future of spices and medicinal herbs, Tisana Day and Herbal Factory); and Agrisolar, a dedicated showcase for agrivoltaic technologies. There will also be a Start-up area showcasing 25 innovative proposals from around the globe (Finland, Germany, Ghana, Poland, Uganda, the USA and Italy). Visitors to the Pre-Harvest area will have the opportunity to take a look at the latest innovations in fruit and vegetable cultivation in two test fields covering 2,500 square metres.
The three-day trade fair will host around 100 events, including high-profile conferences on current industry-related issues, organised in collaboration with the Macfrut Scientific Technical Committee. Scheduled events include: the New CAP, International Conference on Assisted Evolution Techniques, news on Healthy Food products, Mediterranean Stone Fruit Symposium, among others.
Macfrut 2026 – Rimini Expo Centre: Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 April (9.30 am – 6 pm), Thursday 23 April (9.30 am – 5 pm).
ADM, a global leader in sustainable agriculture supply chains, is advancing its commitment to fostering sustainable farming practices and enhancing community resilience through a strategic partnership with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering women in low-income, climate-threatened communities. The core of this collaboration is SSP’s innovative Women-led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF) model—an empowering force that enables women to act as influential change agents, driving the adoption of food-secure practices on their farms.
Funded by ADM, the project kicked off last December and is scheduled to run for a year, supporting some 1,500 women farmers across 30 villages in Maharashtra district. In the face of climate change in India, where erratic weather conditions have wiped out crops across an area of 9.4 million hectares in Maharashtra1, small farmers in the region, especially women, face struggles, including crop failures and limited resources. Yet even among adversity, women’s roles in agriculture remain crucial and transformative.
“While the WCRF model is centred on Marathwada in the Indian state of Maharashtra, we recognise the broader challenges across India and have incorporated our philosophy and practises into various corporate social responsibility programmes since 2019,” said Amrendra Mishra, Country Manager of India and Managing Director of Oilseeds at ADM. “Recognising the profound impact of climate change on the livelihoods of small and marginal farming households in the region, ADM is committed to driving positive change and resilience. Through comprehensive training and the promotion of economic and social resilience, we aspire to contribute to the enduring sustainability of women and their households. Our efforts focus on improving productivity, increasing income, enhancing family health and nutrition, and building resilience for a more robust and secure agrarian community.”
Through the WCRF model, ADM aims to equip women farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge for climate-resilient farming practices. The project not only addresses environmental concerns but also empowers communities from within, paving the way toward a sustainable and food-secure future for all involved. The WCRF model centers around four key components: empowerment, food security,
livelihoods, and natural resources.
To implement this model effectively, SSP has established a supportive network that involves collaboration with the government, agro-tech partners, training partners, and knowledge and resource partners. On the ground, Krishi Samvad Sahayak (KSS), an agriculture conversation facilitator, plays a pivotal role, serving as a bridge between the model’s network and women farmers by disseminating the model, ensuring constant communication, and providing support for the women farmers involved.
“SSP has been working closely with ADM for the past two years, and together we have embarked on meaningful initiatives that brought positive results,” said Mr. Upmanyu Patil, Director of Programs at SSP. “In our first year, we built 100 farm ponds in Dharashiv District and developed water conservation plans for 100 villages. In the current year, we are dedicated to promoting climate-smart agriculture reaching out to 30 villages and 1,500 farmers in the Marathwada region. Leveraging ADM’s ability to implement and scale as an industry leader, we believe that the potential for collaboration is vast. Collectively, we can support market linkages, ensure access to government schemes, and advance water-efficient irrigation practices and crops, supporting and empowering local female farmers to become change- makers in agriculture.”
1ISAS: The Climate Emergency Situation in Maharashtra: A Big Challenge for Uddhav Thackeray
