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🌱 At TUTTOFOOD Milan 2025 (May 5-8, Rho Fiera Milano), 12% of international exhibitors will be from Asia-Pacific, including China. The event has been influenced by the "The Italian Aperitivo" roadshow in Japan, involving over 1000 decision-makers in the food & beverage sector across ten international stops. A significant Japanese delegation will participate, facilitated by ITA Tokyo and Koelnmesse Gmbh. TUTTOFOOD will feature more than 25% foreign exhibitors and welcome around 90,000 visitors, including over 3,000 top international buyers. NielsenIQ data shows a +2.7% organic value growth in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024. Italian products like powdered coffee, dry pasta, oil, and tomato concentrate saw volume growth between +2.3% and +8.1%. TUTTOFOOD Week (May 3-8) will complement the event with food culture experiences around Milan.

🌿 Barilla launched the Accademia del Basilico to promote sustainable agricultural practices and precision farming in basil cultivation, in partnership with DINAMICA and Open Field S.r.l., involving 21 partners across seven lessons. With a 40.4% global market share in pesto production, Barilla's Pesto is made with ISCC PLUS-certified basil from its Rubbiano (PR) sustainable facility. The initiative aims to foster an innovative agricultural model, enhance soil health, reduce agrochemical use, and support digital tools like the DSS system for disease management. Barilla's supply chain upholds ISCC PLUS certification principles, collaborates with the University of Bologna and CeRSAA to develop advanced agricultural practices, and uses the Basilicum app to optimize harvest and minimize waste. The company also ensures soil fertility through crop rotation, dedicating 3% of fields to biodiversity. Barilla's three-year agreements with farmers guarantee production continuity, economic stability, and reward sustainability. From 2023, Barilla Pesto alla Genovese's traceability across 14 European markets is ensured by Connecting Food's blockchain. Sustainability efforts extend to packaging, with "mezzo bianco" jars containing up to 65% recycled glass, decreasing CO2 emissions by 28%, and an aim to use this packaging for all products, with over 43 million jars already produced.

🌺 CIRFOOD Retail, part of the Italian leader group in collective and commercial catering, will manage the catering at Euroflora – the 13th International Flower and Ornamental Plant Exhibition in Genoa from April 24 to May 4, 2025. The event will feature 15 dining points across three strategic areas offering local Ligurian specialties, such as Focaccia di Recco IGP and Pesto di Pra’. Sustainability is a focus, with all materials used being recyclable. Over 150 staff, mostly from the Liguria region, will be employed to cater to the event, which combines tradition with dynamic food and beverage offerings.