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HortiFlora Expo 2026 to spotlight Ethiopia’s expanding horticulture industry. (Image credit: HPP Worldwide)

Event News

HortiFlora Expo 2026 will take place from 24 to 26 March 2026 at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, bringing global attention to Ethiopia’s growing influence in the horticulture and floriculture industries.

The event aims to highlight the country’s role as a vibrant centre for horticulture in Africa, while welcoming growers, exporters, buyers and agribusiness professionals from across the world.

The expo is organised by HPP Exhibitions in partnership with the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers Exporters Association (EHPEA). This year’s edition reflects a broader vision for the sector, presenting not only flowers but also fruits, vegetables, seeds and a range of modern agricultural technologies. By widening its focus, the event seeks to mirror the expanding capabilities of Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape and the increasing diversity of its export products.

HortiFlora has long attracted strong international participation, and the 2026 edition is expected to continue that tradition. Industry representatives from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and across Africa will gather in Addis Ababa to explore trade opportunities and strengthen partnerships. The expo will provide an active meeting point for businesses through organised buyer and seller discussions, networking events and market exploration activities. A strong emphasis will be placed on product quality, traceability and dependable supply chains, factors that are becoming essential for global buyers.

Another important development is the event’s expanded scope and renewed annual rhythm. While floriculture remains a core strength of Ethiopia’s export sector, the inclusion of fruits and vegetables reflects the country’s increasing production and market reach in fresh produce. This shift signals a new phase for the expo as it supports economic growth and employment within the agricultural sector.

Ethiopia’s favourable climate and continuing investment in infrastructure have played a key role in the rapid progress of its horticulture industry. As the nation broadens its export portfolio, HortiFlora Expo 2026 stands as an important platform for international cooperation, knowledge exchange and the future development of sustainable horticulture.

Vaccine arrival strengthens South Africa’s fight against foot and mouth disease.

Livestock

South Africa has stepped up its response to Foot and mouth disease with the arrival of one million high potency vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport.

The shipment was received under the supervision of John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister marking a significant boost to the national vaccination drive already under way in affected regions.

The vaccines were supplied by Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina and form part of a broader supply programme. Further consignments are expected in the coming weeks from BVI in Botswana and Dollvet in Turkey. By the end of March, more than five million doses from these three international suppliers are set to arrive in the country.

At home, the Agricultural Research Council has committed to producing 20 000 vaccines per week, with plans to increase output to 200 000 per week in 2027. The expanded supply will allow authorities to move beyond targeted outbreak response and work towards wider suppression of the virus in high risk areas.

Steenhuisen said, “Vaccination has already begun in affected areas, but supply has limited the speed and coverage. With this arrival, we can now accelerate protection across priority provinces and stabilise the livestock sector.”

Outbreaks have been reported in every province, prompting quarantine measures, movement restrictions and ongoing surveillance. A risk based vaccination strategy will focus first on outbreak centres in KwaZulu Natal and parts of Gauteng, Free State and North West, before extending to other high risk and border regions.

The initial one million doses will be shared across all provinces, with KwaZulu Natal and Free State receiving the largest allocations. However, the minister warned that vaccines alone will not end the crisis.

“Quarantine rules, movement permits and biosecurity measures exist to protect every farmer in the country. Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector. Where there is wilful non compliance, we will work with law enforcement authorities and the full might of the law will be applied,” Steenhuisen added.

He will visit Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal on 27 February to vaccinate dairy cattle alongside veterinarians and farmers. “The dairy industry has been among the hardest hit with significant production losses, disrupted markets and immense strain on farming families. That visit marks the practical beginning of recovery at farm level. Each vaccinated herd means stability returning to a business, wages returning to workers and milk returning to shelves.”

“We are moving step by step from crisis management to control,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded. “Vaccines are arriving, the system is scaling up, and compliance will be enforced. Working together, we will stabilise the sector and rebuild confidence in South Africa’s animal health system.”

Africa's trade revolution:AfCFTA and AGRA join forces to put farmers first.

Agriculture

Africa's ambition to feed itself and trade its way to prosperity took a meaningful step forward on 14th February, when two of the continent's most influential institutions made their collaboration official.

On the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and AGRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding, setting the stage for a deeper, more purposeful working relationship. The agreement signals a deliberate shift from paperwork to practice, placing agriculture at the heart of Africa's continental trade ambitions.

With 50 countries now having ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, the conversation is no longer about whether Africa will trade more freely. It is about how. And for millions of smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and food processors across the continent, the answer to that question matters enormously.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said, "The AfCFTA offers Africa a historic opportunity to shift from exporting raw commodities to building regional value chains that create jobs, raise farmer incomes and strengthen food security.Our partnership with AGRA is about moving from ambition to execution, ensuring that agricultural trade delivers tangible benefits for producers, processors and consumers across the continent."

The partnership will be guided by the AfCFTA Agri-Trade Action Plan, a practical framework targeting the reduction of non-tariff barriers, stronger trade facilitation, investment in regional value chains, and greater emphasis on value addition within African borders.

For AGRA President Alice Ruhweza, the real test lies in making trade work for the people who grow Africa's food. "Trade will not transform Africa's food systems unless farmers and agri-enterprises are able to produce competitively, meet international quality standards, and connect to reliable markets," she said. "This partnership is about making intra-African food trade work in practice — linking policy to delivery so that agriculture becomes a driver of inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity."

Together, both institutions are betting that a well-functioning continental market is not just good economics — it is the foundation of a more food-secure, self-sufficient Africa.

Understanding the shifting landscape of global agriculture.

Technology

Global agriculture continues to expand, yet the agricultural machinery market is navigating a period of turbulence.

Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies are reshaping where and how farm equipment is bought and sold. This evolving landscape was outlined during the press conference launching the 47th edition of EIMA International, the world’s leading exhibition for agricultural technologies, set to take place in Bologna from 10 to 14 November.

Mariateresa Maschio, FederUnacoma President, said, “Protectionist policies in some countries, economic sanctions, interference with trade routes, and tariff wars have led to market fragmentation and a sharp slowdown in trade which is weighing on the performance of the agromechanical sector.”

Traditional markets are feeling the strain. The United States recorded a 10 percent fall in tractor sales in 2025, while Germany, France and the United Kingdom also posted double digit declines. In contrast, southern Europe is showing renewed momentum. Italy and Spain both closed the year with strong growth, signalling cautious optimism within the European agricultural machinery industry.

India remains the standout performer. With tractor sales exceeding 1.1 million units, the country continues to dominate the global market. According to Maschio, this growth reflects deeper structural demand rather than a short term spike. “Over the past fifteen years, output in the primary sector has grown significantly,” said Mariateresa Maschio, “but to meet the needs of the world’s population it will have to grow by a further 14% by 2034, especially in India and in those countries of North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East that are experiencing the highest demographic growth.”

A new geography of agricultural production is emerging, driven by mechanisation, digital farming solutions and expanding demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Chinese manufacturers are rapidly increasing their presence across these regions and even gaining ground in Europe.

“In the coming years we will have a highly segmented agromechanical sector, with low-cost basic technologies alongside highly advanced technologies for complex operations,” added Mariateresa Maschio, underlining the importance of innovation, policy support and international cooperation as the sector looks ahead.