Representatives from Italy’s national nursery exporter association, Associazione Nazionale Vivaisti Esportatori (ANVE), will deliver a compelling message at the Four Oaks Trade Show about how rising global temperatures are fundamentally changing the European landscape, and drought-resilient Mediterranean plant species may hold the key to the sector's future.
Climate change: The impact on nursery productionwill take place at the Four Oaks Trade Show on 2 September (2.45-3.45pm). It will be chaired by HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and feature industry experts also including the ANVE’s Moreno Pinto and Luigi Pagliani.
Sponsored by ANVE.
Presenting to industry stakeholders, ANVE president Moreno Pinto and past president Luigi Pagliani will outline both the statistical weight of Italian nursery production and the strategic shifts necessary to adapt to accelerating climate pressures.
Pinto will discuss with HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby how Italy is a reliable partner to respond to the new needs of the UK market.
Pagliani will talk about how Brexit has changed the type of plants imported into the UK.
This will start a discussion on topics such as production, plant health, phytosanitary requirements, peat-free production, and more.
Italy remains a dominant force in European horticulture, leading the continent with 31,800 hectares dedicated to nursery cultivation. The Italian nursery production sector is valued at €3.25 billion, representing 4% to 5% of the country’s total agricultural output. Exports reached €1.6 billion in 2025, driven primarily by outdoor plants (59.1%) and fruit plants (18.6%).
The primary export markets for Italian nursery stock include France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Pinto will emphasise that Italy spans diverse climate zones—from Alpine regions to subtropical Mediterranean conditions—allowing specialised regional hubs to produce a wide spectrum of plants.
Pagliani will challenge traditional landscape design philosophies, arguing that shifting European weather patterns demand a broader view of plant selection.
Cold-adapted and traditional species like Norway Spruce (Picea abies), European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), and Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) are projected to experience notable habitat declines across central and southern Europe. Heat and drought-tolerant species like the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), Cork Oak (Quercus suber), and Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) are moving progressively northward.
Pagliani will note that extreme weather events and emerging pathogens pose distinct operational risks to growers, but also drive demand for climate-adapted greenery in urban forestry and public landscaping.
Addressing ongoing debates surrounding native versus non-native species, ANVE will stress that performance, urban tolerance, and climate resilience must guide future planting decisions.
Pagliani will state that the vast majority of non-native ornamental plants used in Europe are non-invasive and crucial for maintaining green spaces amid rising temperatures. Mediterranean species—characterised by small, leathery, light-reflecting leaves, deep water efficiency, and high heat tolerance—are increasingly becoming the pragmatic choice for continental Europe. ANVE will conclud that the future of resilient urban and natural landscapes lies not in rigid geographical definitions, but in selecting the "right plant for the right place and the right future".
