Agricultural mechanics and research, experts from around the world for the XXX Meeting Club of Bologna

The association, which since 1989 has brought together leading international scholars in the field of agricultural mechanics, is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary at EIMA, the international trade show for the sector. Since the year of its establishment, it has covered more than 270 topics concerning innovation, sustainable development of the supply chain, technology transfer to companies by research centres.

 Since 1989, when it was set up on the initiative of FederUnacoma to support research and innovation in the field of agricultural mechanics, it has tackled and discussed 277 issues affecting the sector, from the need to support and enhance technology transfer to companies by research centres to sustainable development. Now the Meeting Club of Bologna is celebrating its 30th anniversary at EIMA, the international exhibition of agricultural and gardening machinery currently taking place in the halls of BolognaFiere.

For two days, top experts in the sector from all over the world will meet to make a contribution to the growth of the agricultural machinery industry. “When we were born there were 51 of us, today there are 94”, explained the president of the non-profit association, Paolo Balsari, from the University of Turin, opening the meeting. Also in attendance, Alessandro Malavolti, president of FederUnacoma, which gathers agricultural machinery manufacturers in Italy.

“The establishment of the association was one of our best investments in expanding the industry,” Malavolti said as he brought his greetings. Most of the members of the Club of Bologna Meeting (58%) are university professors from the best universities in the world and researchers. They will also be joined by representatives of government agencies, as well as industry associations and federations involved in research and innovation and support for industrial growth.

A total of 28 countries are represented. In addition to Italy, these include the United States, Russia, Germany, Norway, Spain, Argentina and Brazil. The Meeting Club of Bologna was created with the aim of promoting discussion and exchange of experiences between scholars, companies and international organizations on the best practices worldwide.

This year, three major themes are addressed during the celebrations: the sustainable growth of agricultural mechanization, the world market and new demand, and machines dedicated to specialized crops, such as viticulture. Among the projects there is also that of increasing the participation of experts from Africa and Oceania, to further expand the association’s range of action.