The SOI Actinidia Working Group's Technical Days stop in Calabria: two days dedicated to innovation in Italian kiwi cultivation.
On September 7 and 8, 2026, Calabria will host the Technical Days of the SOI Actinidia Working Group, an event dedicated to technical and scientific updates and discussions between the world of research, industry professionals, and companies in the kiwifruit supply chain.
Promoted by the Actinidia Working Group of the Italian Society of Horticulture (SOI) , in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture of the Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria (UNIRC), the event will be divided into two complementary days with the aim of encouraging dialogue between research and the production world, sharing the latest knowledge on the critical issues and opportunities of the sector.
The initiative will kick off on Monday, September 7th, with a technical field workshop in Rosarno, during which participants will visit several local production facilities. Tuesday, September 8th, at the UNIRC Department of Agriculture in Reggio Calabria, will be dedicated to technical and scientific presentations. The program includes researchers from universities and research institutions, as well as technicians from companies in the sector, who will present the latest findings on highly topical issues for the supply chain.
Topics covered include kiwifruit decline, new rootstocks, precision irrigation strategies for soil-plant health, agronomic techniques aimed at improving fruit quality and post-harvest shelf life, analysis of emerging plant health problems, and field strategies to improve production sustainability and competitiveness.
The two-day program was designed to facilitate the exchange of experiences among all stakeholders in the supply chain, also in view of the XII International Symposium on Kiwifruit of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), scheduled to take place in Matera from September 5 to 10, 2027. The initiative therefore represents an important opportunity for the Italian kiwifruit growing community to connect within a broader international context.
The event is open to technicians, researchers, professionals, companies, and students in the sector. Participation is free, but registration is required via the dedicated link, preferably by August 20, 2026. Agronomists and Forestry Specialists will receive Professional Training Credits (CFP) in accordance with current legislation.
The organizers would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all the authors who submitted technical and scientific contributions and who will participate in the Technical Days by presenting their work, enriching the program with their expertise, experience, and research and experimentation results. Special thanks go to Retilplast, the initiative's Platinum Sponsor, and to Zespri, Apo Conerpo, Agrintech, Alzchem Group, Jingold, and Dalmonte Vivai, Silver Sponsors, whose contributions demonstrate their shared commitment to promoting innovation, research, and knowledge transfer for the benefit of the kiwifruit supply chain. Sincere thanks also go to the initiative's supporters—Agricola Internazionale, Apofruit, SipcamItalia, Ecosearch, Koppert Italia, and Karposia—for their invaluable support in organizing the event.
The detailed program, registration procedures, and organizational information are available on the event's dedicated webpage .