33rd INTERNATIONAL

Horticultural Congress 2030

MILAN – ITALY | 25-30 AUGUST 2030

The Italian Horticulture Community

FACTS

Citrus

Blood oranges are characterized by the presence of anthocyanin pigments in their pulp, and sometimes the rind too. Italy represents the area where these varieties have been firstly developed and where a wide germplasm is currently employed for high quality product offer

Tropical fruits

In coastal areas of southern Italy increasing attention is paid to subtropical species. Avocadoes and mangoes are stable product offer from Italy and more and more part of the italian food culture.

Ranunculus cultivation

Italy is a global leader in the production and breeding of Ranunculus asiaticus, with the Sanremo area in Liguria at the heart of this sector. The adoption of micropropagation—pioneered by Italian research institutions—has transformed cultivation, enabling high-yield, high-quality clones that support the crop’s international success. Biancheri Creazioni has played a key role in this progress, developing globally valued series such as Success and Elegance.

Ornamental nursery and floriculture sector

The Italian ornamental nursery and floriculture sector is a key segment of national agriculture, with a production value exceeding €3.2 billion and around 17,000–20,000 active companies spread across the country.

Strawberry

Strawberry mother plants grown in open field and in soilless systems, representing the advanced nursery sector that has made Italy a leader in strawberry propagation. Italian strawberry nurseries supply high-quality, certified planting material to growers across Europe, playing a strategic role in the productivity and innovation of the entire European strawberry industry.

Olive

From traditional landscapes to modern intensive systems, olive groves are a defining feature of Italian agriculture, supporting the production of extra virgin olive oil, a cornerstone of Italian cuisine.

Grapevine

Vineyards are widespread across Italy, supporting the international success of Italian wine and shaping some of the country’s most iconic agricultural landscapes. Table grapes are an important commodity in Southern Italy. Grapevine nurseries are a cornerstone of Italian agriculture, providing high‑quality planting material that underpins vineyard productivity, varietal diversity and the success of Italy’s wine sector.

Nuts

Hazelnut, walnut and chestnut trees are key components of Italy’s tree crop heritage, underpinning important agro‑industrial chains such as nut processing and high‑value food production.

Kiwifruit

Italy is among the world’s  kiwifruit leading producers,  with extensive cultivation areas and  a long-standing tradition of high-quality production.    Research activities in this sector are highly developed, actively contributing to advances in breeding, orchard management, plant physiology, post-harvest technologies.

Pome fruits

Italian apples are renowned for their high quality, resulting from the combination of advanced production technologies and the favourable climatic conditions of mountain regions. Pear cultivation also has a long-standing tradition in Italy, particularly in the Po Valley.

Stone fruits

Peach, cherry, apricot, and plum trees have long been important components of Italian fruit production. Their cultivation is widespread across the country, supported by a rich diversity of cultivars and growing environments.

Solanaceae vegetables

Tomato, eggplant, and pepper are among the most important vegetable crops of the Solanaceae family cultivated in Italy, covering approximately  100,000 ha, 10,000 ha, and 7,000 ha, respectively. Highly valued for their nutritional qualities, culinary versatility, and economic importance, they are key components of the Mediterranean diet and contribute significantly to Italian horticulture and gastronomic heritage. (Nota: se dovete scegliere una foto per il sito usate tomato)

Baby leaf production

Owing to increasing consumer demand for fresh, convenient, and healthy foods, the baby leaf sector has expanded rapidly and now represents one of the most important segments of the Italian horticultural industry, covering approximately 2,000–3,000 ha, almost entirely cultivated under tunnels.

The Italian Horticulture

  • Italy among the top world players in the production of several horticultural produces
  • Around 2.2 million ha cultivated with fruit trees (including vineyards, citrus  and olive groves) by  ~800000 farms
  • Around 250,000 ha cultivated with vegetable crops by  ~81000 farms
  • Average yearly production of around 10 million t of fruits and 16 million t of vegetables.
  • Export: around 3.9 million t/yr (fruits and vegetables)
  • Around 8800 ha cultivated with flowers and ornamental plants by  ~8300 farms
  • Around 32000 ha of nurseries by ~9300 farms
  • Yearly production of around 45 million hl of wine and 300.000 t olive oil
  • > 100 horticultural products with EU geographical indications like Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Italian Holticulture science

30

+
Universities with Horticultural Science teaching programs
  • Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (Crea) -12 Research Centres (out of then 3 focused on Horticulture)
  • Several Departments of the National Research Council active in Horticultural Science
  • Regional Research Centers