The 24th edition of Eima, the global exhibition for agricultural machinery, opens in Bologna with 1, 750 exhibitors, nearly 700 of which are international.
The event aims to surpass the 2022 record of 327, 000 visitors, reflecting the industry's focus on sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
Despite a 12% global decline in tractor sales in the first half of the year and a projected 20% drop in Italian production volumes, these trends are attributed to cost pressures and geopolitical uncertainties rather than structural weaknesses.
According to Mariateresa Maschio, president of the National Federation of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, the demand for agricultural technology will grow as the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, necessitating a 50% increase in agricultural production.
The 130, 000 square meters of exhibition space at BolognaFiere, fully booked, will become a 'Factory of Innovation' until November 10, focusing on AI, big data, and robotics.
These technologies are key to connecting field activities with weather forecasting systems, monitoring products and machinery, and managing supply chains, thus maintaining agricultural competitiveness and addressing global ecological concerns.
Despite market declines, optimism prevails, with significant drops in tractor sales in countries like Russia, Turkey, and Japan due to rising costs and geopolitical tensions.
Agrievolution predicts that 2024 will see the lowest global tractor sales since 2016, with Italy experiencing a 19.5% revenue drop.
However, growth is anticipated in Southeast Asia and Africa, where rapid population growth is driving agricultural demand.