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43rd edition of Macfrut opens in Italy
The 43rd edition of Macfrut, the international fruit and vegetable trade fair, opened today 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.
Macfrut 2026 – Rimini Expo Centre:
Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 April (9:30 am–6:00 pm), Thursday 23 April (9:30 am–5:00 pm)
Info: macfrut.com
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