The Italian Horticultural Community

• Italy among the top world players in the production of several horticultural produces
• Around 330.000 horticultural farms
• Around 2.3 million ha of fruit trees (including vineyards and olive groves)
• Around 500,000 ha of vegetable crops
• Average yearly production, around 10 million t fruits, 14 million t of vegetables.
• Share of organic farming, around 17%
• Value of fruits, vegetables, nurseries and ornamental plants >16 billion euro per year (around 17% of EU). Value of the export, around 8 billion euro
• Yearly production of around 54 million hl of wine and 400-600.000 t olive oil, corresponding to >8.5 billion euro per year (>30% of EU)
• > 100 horticultural products with EU geographical indications like Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Advanced multi-leader apple training system (Guyot) to allow a precise orchard management and a reduction of plant protection products thanks to multi-purpose fixed sprayers.

Courtesy: Edmund Mach Foundation

New prototype of fruit gauge sensor.

Courtesy: University of Bologna

Inside the Dolomite caves, an underground-refrigerated storage system for apples, the only one in the world. Apples are stored in a hypogeal environment at controlled atmosphere, with a stable temperature. season. A natural refrigerator hidden inside the Dolomite Mountains. An eco-friendly storage system with low CO2 emissions and energy consumption.

Courtesy: Melinda

An example of circular economy – Tomatoes and biogas.

https://www.h2orto.it/fri-el-green-house/

A production site for 365 days a year, with a saving of 70% surface area and 70% water for the cultivation of tomatoes. The heating derives from the adjacent biogas plant.