Association of Italian manufacturers of irrigation system
Press release

The Bari exhibition lives up to its promise of acting as a beacon for Mediterranean agriculture. Record attendance with over 100,000 visitors. Cutting-edge technologies make for a qualitative leap in the area's typical products.

The section specializing in machinery and equipment for green maintenance made its successful debut at Agrilevante. Seventy Italian and international exhibitors occupied a total area of over 3,000 square meters, including the demo area outside the pavilions. Maintaining urban greenery is increasingly crucial for the well-being of urban centers and for combating the effects of climate change. Emerging markets

Agrilevante is known for its numerous awareness-raising and information initiatives regarding workplace safety, with particular reference to the use of agricultural machinery. The Apulia Region and the Local Health Authorities of Bari and Taranto, as well as INAIL, have been particularly active, while specific initiatives have been aimed at young people. The experience of a tractor overturning is very instructive, made possible thanks to a simulator that reproduces the driver's cabin and the physical movement of the mechanical vehicle in the event of an accident.

The circular economy offers a response to the many challenges facing Mediterranean agriculture. During the Bari event, ITABIA events highlighted some good practices that can improve the resilience and sustainability of agricultural activities in the basin, with a particular focus on renewable energy. Field trials were held in the bioenergy area.

Exclusively for exhibiting industries, the competition assesses the technological level of new offerings and their ability to meet the needs of typical Mediterranean crops. A total of nine models were awarded prizes, eight of which are in the “Agricultural Work” category and one in the “Garden Care” category.

The Mediterranean Agricultural Technologies Exhibition, currently underway in Bari, has opened an important window onto the world of livestock farming. Particular emphasis was placed on the topic of animal welfare, not only for ethical reasons but also because of the close correlation between animal health conditions, food safety, and human health.

Foreign businesspeople and journalists visited the model company located in the province of Foggia, which transforms agricultural waste into clean energy and is an excellent example of the circular economy.

Manufacturers and universities meet in the REAL area: labor shortages, safety, and simplified interfaces are the drivers of innovation. Drones up to 150 kg open up new possibilities

Italian olive oil production is unable to meet rapidly growing domestic demand. Super-intensive farming systems can help bridge the production gap, but they require large arable land and adequate access to water resources. The use of new-generation mechanical equipment is essential to optimizing processing and addressing the shortage of qualified labor.

A special meeting dedicated to the role of social networks and influencers in agricultural mechanization took place at Agrilevante. A survey conducted specifically among a sample of agricultural businesses and manufacturers – presented by Liana Agostinelli for Agia CIA and Simona Rapastella for FederUnacoma – shows how the quality of communication and the reliability of content creators are crucial in shaping the preferences of followers and the investments of agricultural machinery companies.

New trends in urban green spaces presented at Agrilevante. Urban planning, agronomy, and mechanical engineering are working to create and maintain green canopies that offer residents shelter, both inside and outside public buildings.

Large and small specialized and all-purpose robots are at work in Area 47 of Agrilevante, in the REAL exhibition space. These machines are not science fiction but rather a tangible reality that work intelligently and sustainably in our fields. The state of research in the sector and future progress are the focus of several conferences scheduled as part of the Bari event.

A round table discussion dedicated to the sector press was held as part of Agrilevante, with members of the national association and the European and global agricultural press associations taking part. The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the World Agricultural Press Congress, which took place in Italy in 1975.

The first day of the event featured business meetings for official foreign delegations, as well as numerous conferences on technical and scientific topics. It has been announced that Minister Francesco Lollobrigida will attend tomorrow.

The conference, "The New Africa: Education, Training, and Education for Agricultural and Agro-Mechanical Technicians," held today in Bari, featured a presentation of a study on the African school system. The initiative, promoted by FederUnacoma and the Internationalia publishing house, aims to develop educational and training programs in collaboration with African countries. Tanzania, Tunisia and Ghana are the pilot countries for the program.

The eighth Agrilevante international exhibition of agricultural machinery, equipment, and digital systems event opened this morning in Bari. A talk show opening featured speeches by Agriculture Minister Lollobrigida, ICE President Zoppas, Nuova Fiera del Levante President Frulli, Bari City Councillor for Local Development Pietro Petruzzelli, and FederUnacoma President Mariateresa Maschio.

The eighth edition of the international exhibition of agricultural technologies kicks off in Bari. From October 9th to 12th, the fairgrounds will host the major Mediterranean agriculture event. “This event features cutting-edge technology,” explains Simona Rapastella, “but also a busy schedule of “political” encounters to relaunch cooperation among the countries of the basin. Agrilevante is – points out Gaetano Frulli – an essential platform for the development of the entire Mediterranean area.

With the sole exception of combine harvesters (-15%), in the nine months between January and September, the main types of agricultural machinery recorded an increase in sales, after the declines of the last decade. Tractors increased by 7.2%, transporters by 49.6%, and telehandlers by 4.7%. Apulia ranks second in Italy for tractor sales after Veneto. This domestic demand is driven by government incentives.

In the first six months of the year, exports of Italian agricultural machinery to the United States decreased by 42.4%. The unfavorable economic situation has led to an overall decline in Italian exports of 10.4%. The Mediterranean market, where Italian industry plays a leading role, is holding steady, while the African market assumes strategic importance.

In a global economic context characterized by great uncertainty, the economies of the Mediterranean region are demonstrating strong resilience, with growth rates higher than global and European ones. This positive trend is reflected in the agricultural machinery market, which has seen significant increases in all the countries in the basin. Investments in technology are essential to exploit the region's agricultural potential while safeguarding environmental balances.

FederUnacoma takes part in the Como conference on economic relations between the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Technical cooperation is possible through greater market openness. Digital technologies are crucial for addressing the challenges of agriculture and the environment.

Sharp decrease in 2024 for Italian exports of agricultural machinery which, with a value of EUR 6.8 billion, experienced a 15.1% decline compared to 2023. Made in Italy products are impacted by the downturn in global demand and trade restrictions. At the end of the year, all major markets were in decline with the exception of India, which reported a loss of just 2%, with more than 900,000 tractors sold. The uncertainty of US tariffs.

The decline in exports and the negative trend of the domestic market are reflected in national production, which closed out 2024 with a total value of EUR 14 billion, a shortfall of 14.5% compared to the previous year. All types of vehicles are in decline, with higher percentages for tractors (-29%) and a more limited decline for operating machines and equipment (-9%). The only entry in the black (+0.6%) was that for gardening and green care machinery.

The sales trend in this first part of 2025 has not shown any significant deviations compared to the same period last year. Varying trend in different product categories. Snow blowers, blowers, hedge trimmers and line trimmers are on the rise, while lawnmowers, gas-powered brush cutters and chainsaws are declining. The Comagarden association does not foresee any reversal of the trend in the short term.

The Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, the President of Confagricoltura, Massimiliano Giansanti and the President of FederUnacoma, Mariateresa Maschio, met in Osaka to discuss the interactions between nature, landscape and agricultural activities. The conference, organized by the manufacturers' association for the week-long Expo 2025 agricultural event, was held this morning at the Italian Pavilion.

The eighth annual Bari exhibition dedicated to technologies for Mediterranean agriculture was presented this afternoon in Algiers. Focus on opportunities for the Algerian primary sector, which presents favorable conditions for growth but also demanding challenges. Mechanization is a key factor in improving crop productivity and sustainability. Agrilevante will showcase a complete range of vehicles, machinery and systems capable of satisfying every need of the Algerian agricultural economy.

The eighth annual Agrilevante international fair for agricultural technologies in Serbia and the Mediterranean area, was presented as part of the Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. The themes of the exhibition were described by the Deputy Director of FederUnacoma, Fabio Ricci, during a seminar on the topic "Cooperatives and Sharing of Advanced Technologies in Agriculture".

The eighth Agrilevante international exhibition of innovative mechanics and agriculture was presented in Athens. The organizational machine is running at full speed, with 90% of the total available surface area already allocated. New generation technologies for typical Mediterranean products, with operators and delegations from 38 countries expected. The Levante Green showcase for green care, and the meeting of the Club of Bologna are new features at this year's event. There is close cooperation between Greece and Italy.

The eighth annual exhibition dedicated to technologies for use specifically in Mediterranean agriculture was presented in Dubai. Several new features are planned by the organizers of FederUnacoma, starting with the REAL space for robotics and the Levante Green Showcase dedicated to gardening. Some 120 foreign delegates are expected in Bari to take part in B2B meetings with Italian exhibitors. The Bari exhibition is an event of interest also for the United Arab Emirates market which is experiencing a prolonged growth phase.

The eighth annual exhibition dedicated to specific technologies for Mediterranean agriculture was presented this morning in Riyadh. Several new features are planned by the organizers of FederUnacoma, starting with the REAL space for robotics and the Levante Green Showcase dedicated to gardening. Some 120 foreign delegates are expected in Bari to take part in B2B meetings with Italian exhibitors. Agrilevante is also an event of interest for Saudi Arabia where the demand for agricultural machinery is expected to increase in the short and medium term.

The meeting entitled “Agrilevante: technologies and training for Mediterranean agriculture”, sponsored by ICE Casablanca in collaboration with FederUnacoma, took place in Meknès as part of the SIAM International Agricultural Fair. Morocco's agriculture has great potential, but - like other countries in the Mediterranean area - it has to deal with challenges related to climate change, lack of water resources and the availability of fertile lands. The Agrilevante expo is a platform for selecting technologies to enable a successful relaunch of agriculture, increase yields and reduce environmental impact.

All major vehicle types seeing drops in sales. Tractors fell by 7.3%, combine harvesters by 23.1%, trailers by 6.5%, and telescopic handlers by 7.9%. In contrast, transporters were up 36.9% compared to the first three months of 2024. The downturn in the domestic market and the drop in exports is causing a decline in the profits of sector industries, and is also putting investments in research and development at risk. The used vehicle market is still going up, significantly impacting for the worse the quality of technologies available to farms.

The 2025 Indian agro-mechanical exhibition sponsored by FederUnacoma and FICCI will be held once again this year in New Delhi, from 27 to 29 November. The exhibition will also be an important event for Italy-India relations, recently the subject of an International Forum. The sector market in India reported a setback in 2024, but is seeing significant numbers already in the first quarter of the present year.

The meeting between Minister Lollobrigida and the President of the Federation, Mariateresa Maschio, aboard the ship Amerigo Vespucci, during the Brindisi stop of the Vespucci Mediterranean Tour, marks the beginning of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the association. Mediterranean agriculture, foreign markets and innovation were at the center of a talk show moderated by journalist Gioacchino Bonsignore.

The main types of machinery for vineyard work are on display at Vinitaly. They include new generation vehicles and specialized robots to ensure high-quality wine production.

The eighth annual exhibition dedicated to machinery and technologies for the agricultural economies of the region was presented this morning at Agriumbria. The focus was on internationalization, robotics and sector policies.

The annual FederUnacoma Think Tank has wrapped up in Bevagna di Perugia, having outlined the economic and geopolitical scenario in which agricultural machinery companies find themselves operating today. Issues at the forefront of the discussion include the risk of duties and the diversification of export markets for Italian companies, as well as the new consumer trends that will have an effect on the agro-industrial supply chain.

After two consecutive years in the red, the sales of green machinery and technologies in 2024 returned into the black (+1.5%), with more than 1.37 million units sold. The increase was seen across all the main product types: from hedge trimmers to lawnmowers, brush cutters and blowers. Chainsaws and snowplows on the other hand saw a drop in sales.

The Agrilevante event this coming October confirms the Bari Trade Fair as a fundamental "hub" for the development of the Mediterranean region. This was the message put out during the press conference to present the agricultural machinery exhibition that will be held in Bari from 9 to 12 October.

Latest generation agricultural technologies are strategic to counteracting the effects of climate change in the Mediterranean region. The need to fill the mechanization gap or to overhaul an obsolete vehicle fleet is driving the demand for machinery. Investments in the Mediterranean basin will pick up again in the three-year period 2026-2028.

The eighth Agrilevante the international exhibition of innovative mechanics and agriculture is being held at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute (CIHEAM) in Bari. The organizational machine was running at full speed, with 75% of the total available surface area already allocated. New generation technologies for typical Mediterranean products, with operators and delegations from 40 countries expected. The Levante Green showcase for green care, and the meeting of the Club of Bologna are featured at this year's event states Simona Rapastella, General Manger of FederUnacoma.

The end-of-year results show a significant decrease in sales for all main types of machines. The drop is due to an increase in production costs combined with the difficulty of access to credit by buyers. The negative trend is also being seen in Europe and North America.