QUALITY AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTS – EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, ORGANIC, BEER AND CIDER
SOL&AGRIFOOD - B/OPEN: CONFERENCES AND PROTAGONISTS
Verona, 27 March 2023. With 300 exhibitors even from abroad, Sol&Agrifood confirms its status as an international landmark for quality agri-food, extra virgin olive oil, craft beer and cider - the new entry at the 27th edition (Verona, 2-5 April) scheduled alongside Vinitaly. Another new feature is the simultaneous scheduling of B/Open, a b2b specifically for organic products. In fact, Hall C will host exhibitors representing all the regions of Italy; the most numerous group shows from Sicily, Calabria, Abruzzo, Marches, Basilicata, Latium and Umbria (Assoprol). Attendance by companies under the Italia Olivicola umbrella of the CNO and the Italian Farmers Confederation (CIA) is also highly qualified; international companies from Spain, Turkey and Albania will also attend.
In keeping with tradition, the inaugural conference is scheduled on the second day of the exhibition (3 April, 11.30 - Talk Area in the Sol&Agrifood sho9w hall). It will focus on the topic “Is sustainability a cost or a business opportunity for agri-food companies?". Talking of sustainability, the European Commission is working on a draft regulation to govern how this term is used, alongside a precise definition. Is the Italian agri-food system ready to take up the challenge? Speakers include Roberto Berutti (European Commission), Eugenio Puddu and Francesca Tognetti (Deloitte Italia), Gennaro Sicolo (Vice-President, CIA-Italian Farmersand President of Italia Olivicola), and Nicola Bertinelli (President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium).The conclusions will be drawn by Hon. Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (invited).
CONFAGRICOLTURA & CIA - Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Confagricoltura, will attend the show with Assoprol Umbria producers on Monday 3 April. He will take part in the round table (15:00) with Roberto Morroni, Councillor for Agriculture of the Umbria Region, and Fabio Rossi, President of Confagricoltura Umbria, discussing the regional olive growing sector project; Monday also sees Cristiano Fini, President of CIA-Italian Farmers, visit Sol&Agrifood to take part in the conference of Cia-Italia Olivicola (Talk Area, 15:00), with Gennaro Sicolo.
TALKS & BEER - Craft beers - if all there amazing facets are to be fully appreciated - must be presented and explained by professionals who have broad technical expertise as well as strong empathy with the pubic. over the last two years, a great many managers and sector operators working in specialist contexts such as pubs, restaurants, and pizzerias with a brewing theme have supported the Italian artisan brewery movement through their capacity to promote cultural aspects. 101 venues all over Italy are not pathfinders for marketing quality beers but also places where "brewing culture" is promoted. "Restaurants and Pubs leading the way: Italian ambassadors of brewing and local area culture” is the theme of the round table (April 3 - Talk Area, Sol&Agrifood Show Hall - 16:00). Speakers include Natascia Tion, managing director of Ales&Co, Roberto Aliati, sales director of Aliati&Pedrazzini, Carlo Vischi, specialist food&beverage advisor, Carlo Schizzerotto, general manager of the Italian Beer Consortium, and Mauro Pellegrini, President of the Italian Union of Beer Tasters (IDB).Moderator: Lorenzo Dabove, aka Kuaska.
MOUNTAIN OLIVE GROWING - While olive growing continues to specialise, in many Italian regions it is concentrated in marginal areas, on hillsides or even in the mountains. It This kind of olive growing comes from the past, an historical, landscape and environmental heritage which is gradually and unfortunately being abandoned. There are many problems, starting from the splitting up of olive groves and even the age of olive growers, not to mention increasingly unsustainable production costs. Tens of thousands of hectares, if abandoned, will undergo reforestation. It is therefore important to understand what precise role of hill and mountain olive growing in Italy is and could be, starting from an economic dimension that avoids depopulation and abandonment. We need an idea that ensures dignity for olive growers without relegating them to the mere role of guardians of the past. “Reviving hill and mountain olive growing: dream or reality?" is the topic of the meeting (Talk Area - Sol&Agrifood Show Hall, 4 April, 15.00) attended by Marco Viola, President of Assoprol Umbria, Raffaele Amore, President of Consorzio Igp Campania, Pietro Di Paolo, Coop Larentana (Abruzzo), and Giosuè Catania, President of Consorzio Monte Etna. The conclusions will be drawn by Sebastiano Forestale, of the Directorate General for International Policies and the European Union. Moderator: Alberto Grimelli.
B/OPEN -The organic food market was worth 260 billion dollars in 2022 and 4.4 billion euros in Italy, of which almost 3 billions from exports (source: Nomisma). Hypermarkets and supermarkets cover the majority of sales with 1.4 billion euros by July 2022. Discount outlets rank second by size, with sales of 272 million (up 14% over the previous year). Independent outlets take third place with sales of 159 million euros. E-commerce continues to grow and posted sales of 78 million euros (IQ Nielsen data). Overall, the Italian organic sector is holding up better than conventional agriculture which, in the period January-May 2022 posted a drop in sales of 2.9% against 0.4% for the organic field. In terms of value, conventional food lost 1.9% while organic actually grew by 2.3%. These facts and figures are the starting point for the round table discussing the topic "The growth of organic farming and out-of-home consumption: synergies for sustainability”
(4 April - Talk Area - Sol&Agrifood Show Hall - 11:30). Moderated by Lorenzo Tosi, this meeting will open with a focus presentation looking at the size of the sector in 2022: The President of Assocertbio (Association of Organic Certification Bodies), Richard Cozzo, will present a recent quantitative scenario survey, while Riccardo Uleri of Longino&Cardenal will provide a genuine overview of industry trends to find points of entry.Valentina Quattro, of 'TheFork', will illustrate the results of a recent sustainability survey involving more than 1000 users and restaurants. The Undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture - Masaf, Hon. Luigi D'Eramo, will outline the policy for achieving the "Farm To Fork" objectives.
CRAFT FOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY - Sustainability interpreted as environment, economy, social and cultural aspects. All features that describe the need for our common life to share - not only as evidence in museums - the expertise, knowledge and values that evolved over thousands or years. This is where we find the role of artisans, since they are closely linked with the territory and consequently an assurance of respect for the environment and social-economic protection, especially in a country like Italy renowned for its creativity. Craftsmanship not only means skill but also continuous mental exercise to keep human creativity always at the heart of our life on the planet and the ability to manage artificial intelligence rather than be controlled by it. Against this background, the round table will investigate the topic “The fundamental role of food artisans for sustainability” (Talk Area – Sol&Agrifood Show Hall – 5 April, 11:30). Speakers include Francesca Petrini, CNA, Roberto Bava, former President of Compagnia del Cioccolato, Walter Massa, wine artisan and farmer, Giampaolo Sodano, President of the Masters of Oil Association, and Massimo Spigaroli, butcher and owner of Antica Corte Pallavicina. Moderator: Guido Stecchi, President of the 5T Academy.
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