February 18, 2025 - The eight edition of AquaFarm successfully ended, marking the return of the unified event with NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm - respectively at theri sixth and fourth editions - under a single trade event at the Pordenone exhibition centre. The decision to bring together the three events has generated strong interest among operators and the public, leading to a significant increase in attendance: visitors increased by 30% compared to the 2024 edition.
The event saw the participation of over 110 exhibitors (on 7000 m2 of exhibition space) from Italy and abroad, confirming the central role of Pordenone Fiere as a point of reference for the sectors of aquaculture, innovation in plant and algae cultivation. The conference programme recorded an extraordinary participation, with 20 sessions and over 150 speakers who discussed the most current issues of the sector, from sustainability to food safety, up to new technologies for production and farms management.
Thanks to the collaboration with ICE Agency, this edition welcomed a delegation of 30 top international buyers from Brazil, North Africa, the Balkans and Greece, joined by other delegations, especially from the Baltic countries.
Renato Pujattti, President of Pordenone Fiere, stated: "We are proud that also this year the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry has chosen to participate in Aquafarm to reaffirm its commitment to promoting the fish sector. Masaf was present at the fair witha dedicated exhibition area, a conference room and a show cooking arena to promote the quality and sustainability of Italian fish products. Conferences, meetings and in-depth discussions addressed the crucial challenges of the sector: from the effects of climate change to the fight against 'fake seafood', up to the management of invasive species. Aquafarm, thanks to the collaboration with Masaf, confirms itself as an opportunity for operators to discuss innovation and development, and for visitors and young people to learn about an extraordinary sector".
Among the moments of greatest interest for AquaFarm, the sessions dedicated to sustainability in aquaculture, energy self-sufficiency and innovative solutions for the decarbonisation of the sector stand out. We also underline the sessions "Aquaculture and added value fishing products" with the leaders of the fishing supply chain as protagonists, along with the "EU-FEAMPA" session on European innovations that impact the sector.
NovelFarm attracted great public attention for the opening theme 'Indoor farming in Italy: technological greenhouses, vertical farms, urban agriculture between regulations, investments and the market', where players, consultants and representatives of the academic world took turns to discuss the evolution of controlled agriculture in urban environments.
Another moment of great interest was, with the closing of AlgaeFarm, characterised by the round table on the future of the algae supply chain, which explored the opportunities and challenges for the sector, from the food and the pharmaceutical field.
Matteo Leonardi, President of API - Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani, (Italian Fish-Farmers Association) declared: "These two days of AquaFarm 2025 that have just ended have been intense and extraordinary. Full of meetings, exchanges, emotions; we participated in conferences, hosted moments of dialogue, offered the delicacies of Italian aquaculture, trying to highlight the diversity of the species farmed. Two special moments were the delivery of the Davide Menozzi Award and the presentation of the first manual on the well-being of farmed fish. A huge thank you therefore goes to the members, professionals, friends, visitors and organisers of AquaFarm, for continuing on the path towards an aquaculture capable of offering healthy and sustainable food for all".
During NovelFarm, news arrived from the United States of the death of Dickson Despommier, the recognized father of the modern concept of Vertical Farm, divulged in the famous 2010 book 'The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century'. The book, reprinted in numerous editions, is credited, by all entrepreneurs and professionals in the sector, as the source of inspiration that gave life to a global cultural and economic movement. Dickson inaugurated the first edition of AquaFarm, which included conference events, later evolved into NovelFarm, with a memorable presentation that marked an era in our country, visited for the first time by the American luminary. The NovelFarm team and the entire Italian soilless community celebrates and remembers him with gratitude and affection.
AquaFarm, NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm therefore confirm themselves as an essential event for the sector, capable of attracting more and more operators and the public thanks to a format that combines exhibition, high-level professional updating and business opportunities.
On the official website of the event, you can consult the detailed programme where the presentations and the proceedings of the conference sessions will be published shortly.
The appointment is for February 18 and 19 2026, with the ninthedition of AquaFarm, which will always be held at Pordenone Fiere, still in a unified format with NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm.
The Aquaculturists
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