Budapest – This was the theme of the bilateral workshop that brought together Italian and Hungarian producers of medicinal and aromatic plants to explore new opportunities for cooperation. The event took place recently in Budapest, connecting academic research, institutions, and industry professionals in preparation for the Spices & Herbs Global Expo, the trade show dedicated to spices, medicinal, and aromatic herbs, scheduled for Macfrut 2025.

The workshop was organized by Macfrut and FIPPO (Italian Federation of Medicinal Plant Producers), with logistical support from the ICE Agency in Budapest. Among the key speakers was Professor Emeritus Akos Mathe from the University of Budapest, a cornerstone of knowledge in the field, who opened the discussion on the future prospects of the sector. Zoltan Czirbus of GYSZ, the Hungarian Association of Medicinal Plant Producers, presented the current state of production in Hungary, a country with a long-standing tradition in the cultivation and production of medicinal plants.

Andrea Primavera, President of FIPPO, outlined the key aspects of Italian production, which boasts a market value of one billion euros, making Italy the third most important country in Europe for the consumption of raw materials derived from medicinal plants.

The mission to Hungary also included a visit to the Budakalász Research Center, founded in 1914, highlighting Hungary's long tradition in research on medicinal plants. The center continues to explore the world of medicinal plants with the same enduring passion, now combined with some of the most advanced methodologies in the field.

The visit concluded with important bilateral meetings with representatives from leading players in the fruit and vegetable sector, including the Budapest Wholesale Market and FruitVeB (Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Interprofessional Organization).