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The Plant Nursery Exhibition will take centre stage at Macfrut 2026
From 21 to 23 April, the Rimini Expo Centre will host four events featuring the world’s leading experts in a key segment of the production chain.
The global nursery supply chain will be in the spotlight at the Plant Nursery Exhibition, taking place at the Rimini Expo Centre from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 April as part of Macfrut. Organised by SOI (the Italian Society for Horticultural Science) and CIVI-Italia (the Interprofessional Centre for Nursery Activities, comprising national nursery associations and producer unions), and coordinated by director Luigi Catalano, this exhibition provides an opportunity to meet and share knowledge on this key segment of the pre-harvest sector.
Four events are scheduled to take place (Plant Nursery Arena - Hall A2), which will see breeders, publishers, plant nursery owners, producers, specialists and researchers from around the globe come together to discuss important issues in modern nursery production chains: from AETs (Assisted Evolution Techniques) and new plant variety rights to organic nurseries and the latest developments in tropical fruits, especially mangoes and avocados, as well as rootstocks and innovations in horticulture.
The Plant Nursery 2026 programme
The exhibition will open on Tuesday, 21 April at 11.30 am with a conference coordinated by Stefano La Malfa – Head of the Fruit Growing Section of SOI and Professor of Arboriculture at the University of Catania – which will look at the future prospects of plant variety rights for new varieties, with a view to encouraging open dialogue between breeders and fruit and vegetable nurseries. Updates on the agreement concerning new assisted evolution techniques will also be provided.
The afternoon session (from 3 pm) will focus on the National Organic Seed Plan (PNSB) and the role of plant nurseries specialising in propagating organic plants in today’s market, where demand is growing rapidly but variety is limited.
Tropical fruit will take centre stage at the Tropical Fruit Congress, the main event scheduled for Wednesday, 22 April (10 am–5 pm), during which researchers from Italy and around the world will discuss the ongoing development of new avocado, mango and other tropical fruit varieties. The event will delve into one of the world’s most dynamic sectors, addressing topics such as the potential impacts of climate change, emerging market opportunities and the role of research.
A workshop will then be held on Thursday, 23 April (10 am) to explore the role of grafting in crop management, its innovations and applications, and how new biotechnologies, plant physiology and advanced agronomic techniques can contribute to developing more resilient and sustainable production systems.
See all the Macfrut 2026 conferences: https://www.macfrut.com/en/meeting_conventions
Read more:
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SIAL Paris 2026 this October. The global hub of food innovation returns to Paris
WorldFood Poland 2026: more exhibitors, strong attendance and a clear focus on the development of the food market
