The focus of the next edition of Macfrut (Rimini, 6-8 May 2025) will be on the potato, from production to marketing, with an international symposium entirely dedicated to this tuber.
"At the moment", says Luciano Trentini, scientific coordinator of the symposium, "the potato market is more than decent, with good prices for producers. I believe that the Emilia-Romagna crop will be ready by mid-April. The only problem at the moment is caused by the weather, which has slowed down the sowing."
© Cristiano Riciputi | FP.com
Potato sowing usually commences at the beginning of March and is completed within 30-40 days, but this year, it will be extended due to the prolonged rains that have made it impossible to access the fields. As for the Macfrut Symposium, it will be an international event with speakers from France, Switzerland, and Austria, among others. It will be held over several days: Tuesday, 6 May, and Wednesday, 7 May, will be for the symposium, while the third day will be reserved for a tour of the technical facilities.
"The Potato Symposium will have an international dimension," continues Trentini. "The first day will focus on current issues, including the prospects for the development of the sector and an analysis of the fresh market and industrial processing of potatoes. A very important session of the conference will be devoted to the subject of crop protection, which is now of interest to producers all over Europe. International speakers will talk about how to defend against Elateridae or how to defend against Cyperus esculentus, which is considered an extremely harmful pest, so much so that it has been included in the list of the most dangerous invasive species by EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization)."
The second day will address commercial matters: trends in potato consumption, consumer preferences, and the impact of communication on the marketing of standard potatoes and those identified by quality certification. Another session will focus on innovation in the potato chain, while one of the most topical issues will be variety research, which the potato grower has to deal with daily in the face of the problems that have grown enormously today due to climate change and beyond.
Meeting with buyers from northern Europe
The International Showcase for Macfrut, held on Thursday, 20 March 2025, in Brussels, featured the participation of institutions, buyers, and journalists from specialized magazines. The event was organized in cooperation with the ICE Office in Brussels, which is directed by Tindaro Paganini. The event was graced by the presence of Renzo Piraccini, the President of Macfrut, and Chiara Campanini, who was there on behalf of the International Department.
© Macfrut - Cesena Fiera Spa
The upcoming edition of the expo, scheduled at the Rimini Expo Centre from Tuesday, 6 May, to Thursday, 8 May, will feature numerous buyers from northern Europe, including Belgium and the Netherlands. This significant attendance reflects the expo's growing international reputation and the interest shown in Italian fruit and vegetable production.
The 42nd edition of Macfrut will be officially presented on Thursday, 3 April, at 11:30 am (CET) at the ICE Agency in Rome. The event will be open to in-person attendance as well as online streaming.