One of the most anticipated events in the global apple industry returns. To coincide with the 14th edition of Interpoma – the only international trade fair dedicated exclusively to apples, taking place between 25–27 November 2026 at Fiera Bolzano – applications have officially opened for the Interpoma Award 2026. This prestigious honour will recognise the best application technologies for more precise, efficient and sustainable apple growing.
The 2026 edition will focus on a theme that is currently crucial for the entire supply chain: spraying technology. This encompasses treatment application technologies, with a particular emphasis on advanced spraying systems, sensors, drones and digital tools capable of making products more targeted, efficient and sustainable. This choice addresses one of the most urgent challenges for the sector: the optimisation of production factors to make them more precise and sustainable. Open exclusively to exhibitors, the Interpoma Award remains an international platform for visibility designed to showcase high-impact technological innovations capable of providing solutions to the sector’s evolving needs.
Applications will be evaluated by a technical jury chaired by Prof. Massimo Tagliavini, Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and the long-standing scientific lead for the initiative. The jury is composed of international academic experts, including Fabrizio Mazzetto (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano), Luigi Sartori (University of Padua), Ester Poppa Pedretti (Polytechnic University of Marche) and Jens Karl Wegener (Julius Kühn-Institut, Germany).
The winner will be announced at the end of the first day of the Interpoma Congress on Thursday, 26 November, before an international audience of trade professionals, buyers, researchers and industry stakeholders. The winner will receive a visibility package comprising various communication initiatives.
“With the Interpoma Award 2026, we want to put the spotlight on one of the most topical and sensitive aspects for the future of apple growing: treatment application technologies. In a context where the sector is called upon to combine sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness, innovating how we operate in the field means taking a concrete step towards more responsible fruit growing. Interpoma was created to anticipate industry transformations, and in this sense, the Award represents a strategic tool for showcasing those solutions that can truly deliver a positive impact along the entire supply chain,” explains Massimo Tagliavini, Jury Chairman.
All exhibitors wishing to nominate their technology for the Interpoma Award can view the entry criteria on the event website and complete the online Application Form by 30 September 2026.
Following the success of the previous edition, the public will once again have the opportunity to cast their vote. Through the Visitors’ Choice Award, trade professionals and industry experts can vote for the most interesting application technologies on display within the “Orchard of the Future” in the FieraMesse H1 Eventspace.
For more information, please visit : https://www.fierabolzano.it/en/interpoma/interpoma-award
