The upcoming edition of Plant Nursery will focus on developments in avocados, mangoes, minor tropical and subtropical fruit species, organic nursery production, rootstocks, horticultural innovation, and plant variety rights. The event is scheduled for 21 to 23 April 2026 at the Rimini Expo Centre, where breeders, nurserymen, producers, technicians, and researchers will exchange technical knowledge.
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Now in its fourth edition, Plant Nursery is organised by the Italian Society for Horticultural Science and the Interprofessional Centre for Nursery Activities, coordinated by director Luigi Catalano. The exhibition has built a reputation for its specialised approach centred on the fruit and vegetable nursery sector, with attention to new varieties, breeding, research, plant variety rights, and commercial strategies.
Macfrut 2026 will host four scientific conferences. The programme begins on 21 April with Mango and Avocado Day, which will examine research updates, production trends, and market developments. On 22 April, the focus will shift to tropical and subtropical fruit species such as papaya and other minor crops, topics that are attracting interest in southern Europe as climate conditions change. The afternoon session will cover organic nursery production of fruit and vegetable species.
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The final day will address grafting and innovation in horticulture, including genome editing and applications in the field. Topics related to plant variety rights for new varieties will also be discussed, with implications for the competitiveness of production chains.
According to coordinator Catalano, the conferences will explore current issues relevant to the nursery sector. He noted that avocados and mangoes will receive particular attention, while minor species such as papayas, cherimoyas, and macadamias will also be examined due to rising market interest. These crops are expanding in Italy, where demand for plants exceeds availability for new orchard establishment. Innovation in nursery and horticultural practices, including rootstock use and organic cultivation techniques, will be a recurring theme.
Catalano added that plant variety rights and upcoming regulatory changes for new genetic improvement techniques will be part of the discussions, given their potential impact on future production systems.
For more information:
Elena Vincenzi
Macfrut International
Tel: +39 340 5588 732
Email: [email protected]
www.macfrut.com
