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Lazio has great interest in aromatic, medicinal and officinal plants
This was the outcome of a well-attended meeting in Rome, preceding the Spices & Herbs Global Expo at Macfrut (6-8 May 2025).
In Lazio, the agricultural sector is particularly interested in aromatic and medicinal plants, which could be a viable way for many new agricultural entrepreneurs to diversify their production. This was the outcome of the meeting ‘Cultivating Medicinal Plants: widespread knowledge and technical-scientific innovation’ held last Friday at the Botanical Garden in Rome, the lead-up event to Macfrut 2025, as part of the exhibition dedicated to spices, medicinal herbs and aromatic herbs (Spices & Herbs Global Expo).
The event, which was well attended by over 100 people, including growers, experts, sector professionals and students, was promoted by Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain (Rimini Expo Centre, 6-8 May 2025), in collaboration with ARSIAL (Regional Agency for the Development and Innovation of Agriculture of Lazio), the trade magazine Erboristeria Domani and FIPPO (Italian Federation of Medicinal Plant Producers).
‘The Lazio region is in a great position to make a big impact in this sector,’ explains Demetrio Benelli, who coordinated the event in Rome. ‘First, for its natural environments, which play an important role in preserving biodiversity, with a wide variety of officinal species and wild flora, professionally harvested for use by herbalists, a rare resource in Italy today. Second, for its regenerative agriculture and social farming models, which are implemented to preserve and regenerate local land. And third, for the quality of the agritourism experiences offered to an increasingly international audience.’
ARSIAL’s technical assistance team provides invaluable support for production activities, drawing on its extensive experience in implementing awareness-raising and training projects. It is currently overseeing field trials, the preliminary data of which were presented at the meeting. The region can also benefit from the applied research being carried out by universities such as the Sapienza University of Rome and the Tuscia University in Viterbo, as well as the Institute for Biological Systems of the National Research Council of Italy in Montelibretti, just outside Rome: the ongoing study of some simple wild herbs, commonly found in fields, in the fight against the dramatic rise in antibiotic resistance in hospitals was met with considerable interest and enthusiasm by the participants.
Benelli concluded: ‘The Lazio region has significant potential to become a leading player in the fast-growing medicinal plants industry, and the next edition of the Spices & Herbs Expo will provide an opportunity to showcase itself and connect with market players.’
In addition, Lazio will be the partner region of Macfrut 2025 with a series of special events, presentations and meetings designed to promote the region’s excellent fruit and vegetables.
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