Upcoming Trade Shows in Italy for Agriculture

Italy holds a prestigious position in the global agricultural landscape, particularly as the largest wine producer and one of the leading olive oil producers in the world. The country's fertile lands sustain a variety of grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables such as apples, olives, grapes, oranges, pears, lemons, apricots, hazelnuts, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries, kiwifruits, artichokes as well as tomatoes, which are known the world over. If you think about Italy, you think about wine. The country is regarded as the world’s largest and most impressive producer of wines, many of which are household names in high demand. These would include Tuscan Chianti, Piedmontese Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d'Asti, Brunello di Montalcino, Frascati, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Morellino di Scansano, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, and the sparkling wines Franciacorta and Prosecco. Many of these quality products, including regional cheeses, are protected under the quality assurance labels DOC/DOP, a designation granted by the European Union. The year 2021 marked a significant turning point for Italy's agri-food sector, signaling recovery from the pandemic's impact on the economy. However, growth in the primary sector failed to meet initial expectations, registering a 3.7% reduction in crop volumes. The chief causes for this dip in crop production were adverse climate conditions such as spring frosts, droughts and extreme rains that disturbed growth cycles and destroyed harvests. Despite these challenges, the value of production in agriculture, forestry, and fishing neared €64.3 billion at current values, representing a 6.3% increase. This increase was attributed to a significant rise in prices (6.7%), driven primarily by mounting production costs. In the broader context, the agricultural sector's share of Italy's GDP remains at 2.2%, while considering the entire agri-food system (from primary production to retail trade) it contributes to 15% of the national economy's turnover, generating a total value of €549 billion.