Association of Italian manufacturers of implements
Press release

Tropical crops can be successfully grown in the regions of Southern Italy, provided that precise rules are followed both in agronomic management and in post-harvest storage. This is what the conference "Cultivation of tropical fruit in Southern Italy" illustrated at Agrilevante.

After recording a 15% increase in the number of visitors in the first two days, with almost 27,000 visitors, the exhibition of agricultural machinery sees a large audience participation also today, as we await the Sunday that closes the festival.

The thousands of islands in the Mediterranean, 800 of which in Italian waters, generate high quality and highly typical agricultural products. However, the farming is often carried out under difficult conditions, due to the lack of water, the quality of the soil, the slopes, the exposure to the winds, and the difficulty of adapting the machines to the particular agricultural situations. This is the central theme of the conference entitled "Sustainable mechanization and supply chains in the Mediterranean islands". During the meeting, experimental projects presented to implement circular economy systems.

The care of dairy cows, both in nutrition and in the management of the stable, is essential to make farms profitable. This is the recommendation that emerged from two livestock conferences held at Agrilevante.

A detailed project was presented for the dissemination of safety in agriculture, carried out jointly by the Inail Central Prevention Directorate and by the Universities of Tuscia, Udine and Catania. The aim of the project is to put the knowledge and data on security into a system and to disseminate it to the operators' communities.

The regional association of agricultural technicians and researchers Arptra takes stock, at Agrilevante, of the state of research on the epidemic that has hit the olive groves. Scientific acquisitions must be accompanied by timely political action with clear indications to farmers.

The 2020 edition of the Bastia Umbra exhibition was presented at Agrilevante. From agricultural machinery to livestock displays, the event is organized with the aim of involving the entire agricultural supply chain. This is the successful formula which has allowed the event to double the number of visitors in just a few years. The 2020 edition of Agriumbria aims at leading also in the livestock field with an exhibition of 750 head of cattle.

The next edition of Enoliexpo, the biennial exhibition dedicated to wine and olive oil production chains, was presented to Agrilevante and will be held in Bari from 19 to 21 March 2020, organized in partnership with FederUnacoma. The synergy with the association of manufacturers will highlight the importance of machinery and mechanical technologies for olive and wine production, products of excellence of our country and of the Puglia region.

Operator safety in the use of agricultural machinery and the environmental safety of agricultural machines. This was a central theme, and fully consistent with an event like Agrilevante, of the second workshop on innovation in mechanics and system engineering applied to agro-food and forestry biosystems.

The seminars of Itabia, Chimica Verde Bionet and Federcanapa on agro-industrial chains open the sixth edition of Agrilevante at the Bari exhibition. Avocado, mango and small fruits such as raspberries and blueberries can find effective development in the Italian regions.

The growing dissemination of specialized crops, resulting from a profound change in dietary styles, is creating a new demand for agricultural machines dedicated to high quality crops. The evolution of dietary habits and the cultivation guidelines - claims the president of the Puglia Region Emiliano - represents a strategic indication also for the purpose of preparing the new rural development plan.

Innovation is the strong theme of Agrilevante, the exhibition of machines and technologies for Mediterranean agriculture. Held in Bari, it is attended by all the major manufacturers, as well as many medium and small businesses that are highly specialized and capable of producing innovation.

Bologna's review of the agricultural machinery opens the registrations with an impressive number of subscribers.In just over two days, 620 registrations have already been completed, with a surface demand of one third of the total."The smoke screen raised by the Sima in Paris - commented the leaders of FederUnacoma - did not confuse the sector's industries".

A large section dedicated to native livestock breeds and technologies for the management of stables and fodder characterizes the 2019 edition of the international exhibition that takes place in Bari from October 10 to 13. More than 500 heads of cattle, horses and sheep and goats are on display at the exhibition, as an example of the rich livestock biodiversity of Southern Italy.

Decarbonizing the economy is a crucial step to combat climate change. Agriculture is the optimal context for putting into practice the principles of the circular economy, activating innovative crops and supply chains and minimizing the impact on the agro-ecosystems. The central role of mechanization.

The international exhibition of machinery and technologies for agricultural supply chains takes place at the Bari exhibition centre from 10 to 13 October. Organized by FederUnacoma, the exhibition presents a wide range of technological solutions and is aimed at an audience of farmers, mechanization technicians and foreign operators attending with delegations from 45 countries organized in collaboration with the ICE Agency.

A comparative survey was presented during the annual FederUnacoma assembly on the performances of the major agricultural machinery exhibitions at the international level. In comparison with the SIMA in Paris, the Bologna exhibition shows better indices on all the parameters considered. The segment of the so-called "apostles" (86.2%) is remarkably high as far as EIMA is concerned, that is to say those operators who are so convinced of the validity of the event that they are active supporters participating in the construction of the event's good reputation.

During the Assembly of the associated industries, the votes were held to elect the president of the Federation and the presidents and vice-presidents of the five associations that comprise it. Among the priorities specified for the next two years, a greater presence in political workgroups and the further development of trade fair activities. The relaunching of the "made in Italy" guiding theme of the public part, which saw the participation of the MEP Paolo De Castro, of the chief economist of Confindustria Andrea Montanino, of the general director of ICE Roberto Luongo, and of the managing director of GRS Ricerche Enrico Gallorini.

The decline in exports for tractors leads to a decline in "made in Italy" production, while it grows with regard to other types of machines, including incomplete tractors and parts of tractors. Turnover is at 7.9 billion euros (+1.5%), to which we must add an amount for components estimated at 2.7 billion and for gardening estimated at 800 million, for a total production value of about 11.4 billion euros. The Italian market accounts for 18,442 tractors, less than half of the sales of used vehicles.

Data on sales in the main countries indicate consistent growth in the United States and India, while China and Turkey are in decline. Europe closes 2018 with a 10% drop in registrations, but is confirmed as the main exporter of agricultural machinery with a share of over 60% of the total world exports for a value of 36 billion euros. The trend of recent years sees a lower incidence of tractors on the global market, and a growth in equipment and processing machines due to the greater specialization of crops.

During the General Meeting of CEMA, the European Committee of agricultural machinery manufacturers, FederUnacoma replies to the statements made by the French organizers about an alleged "approval" of the Italian federation on the change of dates and on the overlap of the SIMA and the EIMA of Bologna. The statements on the positioning of the Paris exhibition are also groundless, while inconsistencies emerge between the technical data provided by the French organizers and those actually certified.

At the end of the year, sales of machines and equipment for gardening and landscaping showed an overall increase of 3.2%. The Comagarden/Morgan data relating to the main product types confirm the growth of battery-powered machines and equipment.

The 2019 edition of the showcase of technologies and machines for agriculture, to be held in the Bari exhibition centre from 10 to 13 October next, was presented in Bari. Growing numbers and a new section dedicated to animal husbandry, with the exhibition of fine breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and goats, characterize the review, organized by FederUnacoma and Nuova Fiera del Levante with the support of the Puglia Region Agriculture Department. Agrilevante confirms itself as a point of point reference for operators in the entire Mediterranean area, but also in Sub-Saharan Africa and some Asian regions.

Sales figures show a decline in 2018 compared to the previous year, characterized by an anomalous peak in registrations due to technical/statistical reasons. If compared with 2014, 2015 and 2016, sales are growing in the region, indicating a certain recovery in the demand. The sales of used machines were very significant, with negative repercussions on the efficiency and safety of the machine fleet. The Agrilevante event is a stimulus for the agricultural machinery market not only in the South, but in the countries of the entire Mediterranean basin.

Presented in Paris the two exhibitions dedicated to agricultural machinery that FederUnacoma organizes during the year. The Bari exhibition should register further growth, thanks also to the introduction of a livestock section. The exhibition in New Delhi takes place in the context of an impressive growth in Indian mechanization, which in 2018 reached 800,000 tractors sold on the national market.

The 2018 figures indicate a decline in sales in Europe, China and Turkey, and growth in the United States and India. The slowdown in French and German markets penalizes Italian exports. The slight improvement in agricultural prices could encourage investments, but the general trend of the Italian economy and the critical issues on the world scenario point to a difficult 2019.

After the effect of the "Mother Regulation", which triggered a race for registrations in 2017, pushing the market beyond its actual capacity, tractors sales are back to 2016 levels. Registrations have also declined, as far as other types of machines are concerned, and for the new year, the effects of the general negative economic trend are feared. In order to support the sector, the provision of the EU RDP funds continues, together with the € 35 million re-allocated by INAIL for the purchase of agricultural machinery with high safety standards.