HortiFlora Expo 2027 to Bring Global Floral Leaders to Ethiopia

HortiFlora Expo 2027, scheduled for March 23–25 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is one of Africa’s leading horticultural trade fairs. The event brings together industry leaders, innovators, and growers from around the world.

As HortiFlora continues to expand in scale and scope, it reflects the broader momentum of Ethiopia’s horticulture sector—dynamic, resilient, and increasingly global. With growing international participation and a strong focus on sustainability and quality, the expo has firmly positioned itself as a key meeting point for the industry.

The opening session of HortiFlora Expo 2026 went beyond the traditional ribbon-cutting, setting a tone of excellence, innovation and forward thinking for the industry. A key highlight was the recognition of outstanding performance, as Gold Level Certificates were awarded to top-performing EHPEA member farms for their consistent compliance with the EHPEA Code of Practice for sustainable horticulture production.

Fourteen member farms received this prestigious recognition, reflecting their unwavering commitment to international standards, environmental stewardship and strong social responsibility. The awards underscored the growing importance of sustainability as a cornerstone of global horticulture competitiveness.

Across the Expo, side-stage discussions brought together leading experts from around the world to explore the future of the sector. These sessions tackled critical themes shaping horticulture today, including sustainable financing, smart logistics and transport, AI-driven tools and emerging technologies. Conversations also delved into global market trends in fruits and vegetables, sea freight dynamics, circular solutions, gender inclusivity, consumer behaviour and food safety—offering a comprehensive outlook on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

HortiFlora Expo 2026 also stood out as an inclusive platform, actively promoting participation by youth and women entrepreneurs. Micro and start-up businesses led by these groups leveraged the Expo to showcase their innovations, build visibility and establish valuable market connections.

Women smallholder farmers from rural communities were equally present, using the platform to exhibit their fresh produce and engage directly with buyers and partners. For many, the Expo provided a rare and impactful opportunity to step into larger value chains and forge meaningful business linkages.

EHPEA’s engagement throughout the three-day event reflected a strong commitment to collaboration and sector advancement. Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie led a series of high-level meetings and a roundtable discussion with regional and international partners, focusing on unlocking opportunities for Ethiopia’s horticulture industry.

Discussions with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) explored pathways for member farms to access finance and technical support. Engagements with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) centred on leveraging Ethiopia’s potential in high-value fruit production, while talks with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) highlighted opportunities to strengthen food systems, enhance food safety and boost the competitiveness of Africa’s food processing sector through shared expertise.

A notable milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The partnership will support tailored capacity building and training programmes for students and industry players, ultimately strengthening the sector’s skills base and global competitiveness.

HortiFlora Expo 2026 concluded on a high note, leaving behind renewed energy and clear momentum for the industry’s next phase. Notably, this year marked a strategic shift, with the Expo transitioning from a biennial to an annual event—an indication of its growing importance as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth in horticulture.

HortiFlora looks forward to welcoming participants again in 2027, from Tuesday, March 23 to Thursday, March 25, at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.