CIBUS 2022: agribusiness in times of international emergency

Thanks to the great success of the 2021 edition, the International Food Exhibition will return to emphasize the relevance of the Italian agri-food business – especially in this extremely challenging moment.

By Sara Migliorini

Every year, Cibus, the most important strategic center for the food business, brings together companies from all over the globe to showcase their products and promote their business.
The 21st edition, hosted by Fiere di Parma and Federalimentare, will be the first major international agri-food expo to welcome back foreign customers. The easing of the pandemic emergency and the adoption of new laws that encourage fair participation by non-EU operators will allow purchasers and commercial operators from all continents to arrive.
The fair will be divided into several areas, each dedicated to a different Italian agri-food sector.

The war in Ukraine and the fragile international geopolitical situation is also affecting the food sector: the increases in gas and raw materials and logistical problems are, in fact, putting Italian food and beverage to a severe test. However, it is precisely because of this scenario that trade exhibitions like Cibus play such a delicate role.

“Cibus is a symbol of perseverance and the ability to restart, having been one of the first exhibits to reopen last year during the most severe phase of the global health crisis” stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio during the press conference dedicated to the event. “We are fully aware that the next few weeks will be complex to manage. In recent days, we have begun a reflection together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development to strengthen our support for the sectors most exposed to tensions with Russia. I would like to reiterate once again that you can always count on the constant commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in favor of the internationalization of Made in Italy”.

The impact of international tensions on the agri-food sector was central to Ivano Vacondio’s statement as President of Federalimentare: “Cibus serves to emphasize the importance of our food industries, which, despite terrible conditions, continue to produce and seek new solutions, conscious that quitting is not an option. Cibus thus reminds us of the significance of food and drinks in ordinary and, much more so, extraordinary circumstances”.

Cibus stands out among the activities scheduled for the Parma fair in 2022 due to the size of the display space and the number of exhibitors engaged: around 60,000 professionals are anticipated to attend, with 3,000 firms presenting. According to a press release sent by the organizers shortly after the conclusion of the 2021 edition, all those present had confirmed their commitment to Cibus 2022. And registrations are open; to become an exhibitor at Cibus 2022, you can contact the organizers directly by following the instructions on the site.
In addition to the actual exhibition, the My Business Cibus portal is back online.

Cibus 2022 will take place in Parma from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 May 2022.