FRUTECH 2026 PRESENTED AT MASAF: SICILY APPLIES TO BE A MEDITERRANEAN AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION HUB

From 25 to 27 November 2026, the third edition of the international event dedicated to technology, sustainability and global fruit and vegetable markets will take place at SiciliaFiera in Misterbianco (CT).

ROME, June 18, 2026

Presented at MASAF “Frutech 2026”, the international fair dedicated to technological innovation for the fruit and vegetable and agri-food sector, scheduled from 25 to 27 November 2026 at SiciliaFiera in Misterbianco (CT).

Frutech confirms its increasingly strategic role as a forum for discussion between businesses, research, institutions, and markets, with the aim of supporting the sector’s transition toward more innovative, sustainable, and competitive production models.

The choice of Sicily is no coincidence. The leading Italian region in terms of fruit and vegetable production and the national leader in organic acreage, the island is one of the main drivers of the Italian agri-food industry. This heritage translates into 67 Geographical Indication products, 19 of which are fruit and vegetables, and a PDO economy worth over €550 million, in addition to its nomination as a European Region of Gastronomic Excellence 2025.

Frutech was created precisely to enhance this centrality, transforming Sicily into a platform for dialogue between Mediterranean production chains, technological innovation, and new scenarios in international trade.

“Frutech represents an important opportunity to showcase the quality of Italian products, but above all to put innovation, sustainability, and research at the center,” said MASAF Undersecretary Luigi D’Eramo. “The strength of the Italian agri-food industry lies not only in the excellence of its products, but also in the territories, landscapes, and communities that generate them. Events like this also contribute to strengthening the strategic role of inland areas and the entire national agricultural system.”

For Nino Di Cavolo, president of SICILIAFIERA, the third edition aims to consolidate the event’s role as an international benchmark for innovation in the fruit and vegetable supply chain: “Only through dialogue between research, businesses, and the local community will it be possible to build more resilient and competitive production models capable of leveraging the contribution of a region that represents approximately 18% of Italian agricultural production and boasts over 220,000 farms. The event’s growth and interest is also confirmed by the results of the 2025 edition: approximately 150 exhibitors, nearly 4,000 profiled and industry visitors from Italy and abroad, and over 20 conferences dedicated to the most current topics in agricultural innovation.”

One of the distinguishing features of Frutech 2026 will be its strong international focus. “Italy is a world leader in agri-food processing technologies, with a market share close to 18% and over €5.2 billion in exports,” emphasized Maurizio Forte, Central Director for Export Sectors at ICE, the Italian Trade Agency. “This is why we have chosen to support Frutech with an incoming program that will bring 30 qualified professionals from 15 countries to Misterbianco, from Eastern Europe to the Balkans, from the Mediterranean to Latin America and the Gulf States.”

“We enthusiastically support this showcase of excellence, which promotes sustainable innovation and paves the way for new, fruitful bilateral and transnational collaborations in the agri-food sector,” continues Giovanni De Luca, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria for Eastern Sicily. “As Consul, I am proud that Frutech finally allows Sicilian companies to network and showcase their agri-tech excellence here in Sicily, reducing travel costs to the North or Europe. This is a historic step in directly connecting our supply chain to Bulgaria and the Mediterranean.”

The agricultural sector is also looking with interest at the event’s growth. “Companies are being called upon to be increasingly competitive internationally, sustainable, and technologically advanced,” emphasized Sandro Gambuzza, vice president of Confagricoltura. “Fostering the transfer of innovation, internationalization, and the valorization of local excellence is a priority today. Thanks to its agricultural vocation, location, and entrepreneurial capacity, Sicily can play a central role in the Mediterranean agri-food dialogue. Confagricoltura will therefore continue to support Frutech, contributing to the development of a project focused on the future of Italian agriculture.”

Among the most popular initiatives of last year’s edition was the “University Students Meet Businesses” project. “Frutech allows students to come into direct contact with the world of production and allows companies to tap into new skills,” explained Stefano La Malfa, full professor at the University of Catania. “At the same time, it allows the general public to learn about real agriculture, which involves innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurial skills.”

Alongside the exhibition area, Frutech 2026 will offer a rich calendar of conferences, workshops, and technical-scientific seminars dedicated to the sector’s key themes: varietal innovation, sustainability, digitalization, mechanization, nursery supply chains, protection of typical products, business competitiveness, and new prospects for international markets.

Institutional sponsorships: Regional Department of Productive Activities, Metropolitan City of Catania, Municipality of Misterbianco, Municipality of Mazzarrone, Chamber of Commerce of South East Sicily, Catania Metropolitan Transport and Parking Company SPA, CAAB Bologna, MAAS – Sicilian Agri-Food Markets.

Technical sponsorships/trade associations: Coldiretti Sicilia, Compagnia delle Opere Sicilia, Order of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors of the Province of Catania, National Association of Agri-food Trade Entrepreneurs, Italian Society of Nematology.

Academic sponsorships: University of Catania, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Department of Agriculture of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Job Placement.