Interpoma, the international trade fair dedicated to apple production, will take place in Bolzano from 25 to 27 November. This year’s programme focuses on spraying and application technologies, precision in the field and more efficient use of resources. These topics will feature at the congress, in the Interpoma Award and in the exhibition area The Orchard of the Future.
Women across the apple value chain
One of the accompanying events is the session “Women in the Apple Sector: Stories of Female Leadership in Agriculture”, scheduled for 25 November at 16:00 in Foyer 0 of the Meeting & Event Center, next to the FieraMesse H1 Eventspace.
The discussion will cover women’s experience in production, cooperatives, industry associations and agricultural media. Held under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the session is part of the UN’s International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.
Participants will give short presentations based on a key word and a symbolic object. Cristiano Spadoni, a journalist with AgroNotizie, will moderate the session. It is organised by the Italian Women’s Fresh Produce Association, the South Tyrol Apple Consortium and the Laimburg Research Centre.
Spraying and precision application at the centre of the congress
The Interpoma Congress will take place on 26 and 27 November, during the second and third days of the fair. Walter Guerra of the Laimburg Research Centre developed the programme.
The first day, titled “New Approaches in Spraying Technology: Efficiency Meets Sustainability”, will examine solutions for more precise application, including sensors and drones for plant protection.
The second day will focus on Latin America. The session “Regional Opportunities and Global Challenges: Latin America in Focus” will look at apple production in Brazil, Chile and Mexico, as well as issues related to competitiveness and market access.
The Interpoma Award and The Orchard of the Future
The theme of the third Interpoma Award is spraying technology. The award recognises solutions designed to make apple production more precise and efficient, with a focus on sustainability. An international jury chaired by Professor Massimo Tagliavini of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano will select the winner. The announcement is scheduled for 26 November, after the first day of the congress.
In the exhibition area The Orchard of the Future, visitors will be able to see technologies used or developed for orchard management, from drones and precision spraying systems to sensors and solutions based on UV-C light.
On the first day of the fair, visitors will also be able to vote for the Visitors’ Choice Award, choosing the most interesting application technologies on display in the area.
Technical visits to growers and research centres
Ten guided technical visits in English will be organised across all three days of the fair. The programme includes fruit-growing businesses, research centres and cooperatives involved in fruit packing and marketing.
Topics covered will include digitalisation, organic production, variety trials, application technology, resource management and new solutions for apple storage.
Digital magazine and social media content
The fourth edition of ipoma magazine, the official magazine of the fair, will be available exclusively in digital format. The editorial programme is being coordinated by consultant Gerhard Dichgans and will cover trends, innovation and people across the international apple sector.
Interpoma has also announced social media content from three creators focused on agriculture and fruit growing: Italian farmer and digital communicator Matteo Fiocco (@matt_thefarmer), young farmer Federico Valgoi from Trentino (@valzioo), and Washington State fruit grower Kait Thornton (@applegirlkait).
Their content will present different perspectives on fruit production, from everyday work in the orchard and running a family farm to innovation and the relationship between growers and consumers.
World Apple Day
World Apple Day will be marked on 24 November, the day before the fair opens. The initiative was launched in 2022 through a partnership between Interpoma and the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA). After its first celebration at the fair, it was held in subsequent years alongside Apple Day in South Tyrol. This year, it returns to the Interpoma programme.
A press conference for Fruit Logistica 2027 is also scheduled for 26 November at 14:30 in the Startbase room at Fiera Bolzano.
Interpoma 2026 will take place from 25 to 27 November at Fiera Bolzano. Information about the programme and tickets is available at www.interpoma.com.
