Italy brings nature's goodness to Dubai

Organic produce has become so popular in Italy that it is dispensed from vending machines in schools and offices, and a recent natural produce fair in Rome attracted no fewer than 700,000 visitors.

Now, Dubai residents can experience the best of Italy's cheese, wine, bakery products, fresh vegetables, and traditional recipes when 20 companies from the Lazio region take part in the Middle East Natural and Organic Products Expo.

They are among more than 400 international exhibitors taking part in the fifth edition of the event which has more than trebled its floor space in four years, underlining the soaring global growth in organic products markets.

At least 35 countries will be represented with national pavilions from Germany, France, China, New Zealand and Australia, USA, India, and Korea as well as Italy's Lazio and Rimini regions.

Lazio now has more than 2,700 organic farms occupying 70,000 hectares, more than 10 per cent of the region's cultivated land and twice the national ratio of biological farms.

Daniela Valentini, assessor of agriculture for Lazio, said: "The tastings of the regional products that we are bringing to Dubai represent a sustainable model of agriculture that we are supporting by promoting our high-quality biological products on national and international markets.

"Dubai is a prestigious showcase for us - a chance to show the world the goodness of our products and our farmers who care for the land and maintain the secrets and traditions of natural excellence."