News » 12.10.2026 - AIPH International Horticultural Expo Conference showcases horticulture's global reach
Wetland gardens, coastal restoration and plans for a new green district in Baghdad demonstrated horticulture's global reach at the AIPH International Horticultural Expo Conference in Bari on 14 September. Organisers presented progress towards exhibitions designed to engage millions of visitors and leave lasting benefits for host communities.
"An Expo takes horticulture beyond our industry and puts it in front of millions of people," said AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio, welcoming delegates to his home region of Puglia. "It can introduce people to plants and gardens in ways that inspire them. It can stimulate investment, tourism and trade."
Bari's historic castle, Castello Svevo, hosted the conference, organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). It formed part of the 78th AIPH Annual Congress, supported by Host Partner and Italian member ANVE.
Preparing to welcome the world
With GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama, Japan, opening on 19 March 2027, Executive Director Ryuichi Wakisaka reported that more than two million admission tickets had been sold six months before opening. Under the theme "Scenery of the Future for Happiness", the Expo will combine Japanese horticultural traditions with green technology. A Japanese garden will demonstrate green infrastructure, local planting and biodiversity, alongside international exhibitions and programmes involving residents and young people. Organisers also reported ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.
Opening sooner, on 1 November 2026, Thailand's Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo draws its "Diversity of Life" theme from its wetland setting. Lotus, aquatic plants and native species will introduce visitors to water management and biodiversity. Running until 14 March 2027, the Expo will feature gardens from 20 countries and organisations, 13 Thai corporate gardens, academic exhibitions, horticultural competitions and more than 200 cultural performances.
"We want this Expo to be more than a place to see," said Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs, Director-General of Thailand's Department of Agriculture. "We want it to be a place where horticulture comes to life."
Green City Conferences and symposia will bring growers and researchers together, extending the Expo's educational role from public discovery to professional exchange.
For Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA, plans span five climate zones, with four proposed biodomes, international gardens and pollinator education. Wendy Meadley emphasised designing the legacy before opening day, with facilities intended to serve communities beyond 2031.
Thailand's Expo 2029 Korat organisers outlined their ambition to connect horticulture with education, innovation and wider social and economic benefits.
Gardens with a lasting purpose
The 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo in the Republic of Korea will take participation beyond its exhibition grounds. Plans include 96 gardens by citizens and students, 45 by overseas participants and invited artists, and 33 corporate gardens. Plant exchanges and gardens along streets and the riverside support its ambition to become "a sustainable garden city created together by citizens, nature and the world".
Representing Expo 2029 Garden in Baghdad, Iraq, Muhammed Ali Macitoglu presented plans alongside the delivery team. Striking architectural proposals draw on Iraq's art, crafts and heritage, with a design team that includes former members of Zaha Hadid Architects, the practice founded by the celebrated Iraqi-born architect.
The Expo forms part of a proposed 375-hectare development, with more than 60 per cent allocated to open space, including landscaping. Organisers are targeting 50 international participants and 12 million visitors. Water management, modern agriculture, green cities and innovation underpin plans for permanent parks, gardens and educational facilities.
On Türkiye's Aegean coast, Expo 2027 İzmir will build on the restoration of land once used to dump construction debris. The İnciraltı Urban Forest, beside Çakalburnu Lagoon, was created through rehabilitation and tree planting. Preparations include addressing salinity damage, developing drought- and coastal-resilient plantings, and protecting the neighbouring wetland ecosystem.
A concentrated exhibition route will limit the development footprint. International partners can submit garden designs for the municipality to build, while schools, students and professionals will also have opportunities to create gardens.
Attendees also heard about past Expos. The 2026 Taean International Horticultural-Healing Expo explored "Healing & Future: from Nature", bringing horticulture, forestry and marine resources together to show how nature can support wellbeing. Its coastal setting, healing gardens and hands-on programme encouraged participation, with activities designed to attract younger audiences alongside traditional flower enthusiasts.
The organisers highlighted the move from viewing displays to active participation as a success. Held at Kkotji Beach Park in Anmyeon-eup, Republic of Korea, from 25 April to 24 May 2026, the Expo attracted approximately 1.83 million visitors.
Creating the visitor experience
Conference sponsors addressed how Expos can reach wider audiences and prepare their teams for delivery. Neil Hudd, Business Development Manager at Associated Press Content Services, explained how organisers can draw on the international news agency's production expertise and distribution network to bring their stories to newsrooms worldwide. Photography, video and sponsored content can showcase an Expo and its host city, with compelling human stories, accurate captions and newsworthy facts helping editors recognise their relevance.
Dr Emma Abson of Trivandi outlined how structured onboarding and training can prepare Expo staff and volunteers, particularly when teams deliver an event of this scale for the first time. Modules covering operations, sustainability, cultural awareness and practical decision-making build a shared understanding of the event and how teams work together.
AIPH is working with Trivandi to develop a learning platform for horticultural Expo organisers and their workforces. Drawing on the company's major-event experience, it aims to strengthen preparations and leave host communities with skills they can use beyond the Expo.
Visitor experience was the focus for Living Hospitality Global, whose work brings together catering, retail and garden design. At Taean, its collaboration with AIPH at Taean, combined planting, hospitality, retail and storytelling in the association's exhibition space to connect visitors with plants in everyday life.
That collaboration will continue through AIPH's Garden at GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama. The company also outlined its wider plans for the Expo under its vision of "where gardens meet the table".
Concepts include a hanging-garden afternoon tea café, a family café with an Alpine garden inspired by Heidi, Johanna Spyri's classic children's novel set in the Swiss Alps, and menus showcasing produce from Kanagawa Prefecture. Resource reuse also features, with used restaurant chopsticks collected for transformation into furniture and everyday products.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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