On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it is my great pleasure to invite you to attend the 33rd International Horticultural Congress, which will take place from 25 to 30 August 2030 at the Milan Convention Centre (MiCo) in Milan, Italy.
After forty years, the Congress returns to Italy, following the 23rd edition held in Florence in 1990. Italy provides an outstanding setting for this event. The roots of Italian horticulture reach deep into history, when the country was referred to as “Italus hortus” (“land cultivated like a garden”), an expression first coined by the Latin poet Horace. Since then, horticulture has tremendously evolved into a cornerstone of national agriculture, with Italy ranking among the leading countries in the production of a wide range of horticultural commodities.
Italian horticulture is also remarkably diverse, with a large number of species and varieties cultivated across a wide range of environments, from the 39th to the 46th parallel and from sea level to over 1,000 m above sea level.
Horticultural systems are currently facing increasingly complex challenges that threaten their long-term sustainability. These include the impacts of climate change, rising production costs, and, in many areas, the limited availability of labour. At the same time, society rightly demands healthy food produced through sustainable practices that protect soils, reduce reliance on non-renewable resources, and enhance biodiversity. These expectations must be reconciled with ensuring fair income for farmers.
As a global community of researchers, advisors, and stakeholders in horticulture, we have a crucial role to play in addressing these challenges through an interdisciplinary approach. The International Horticultural Congress offers a unique platform where experts from all continents and disciplines can come together to share knowledge, develop innovative solutions incorporating new technologies, and shape the future of horticultural systems for the benefit of society as a whole.
We look forward to welcoming you to IHC2030 in Milan, under the motto:
