This is how nature transforms into economic power

The first World Botanical EXPO to be organized in Turkey has started on April 22 in Antalya and it will be open for six months. The organization has adopted the motto of “Cultivating a Green Life for Future Generations” along with the theme “Flowers and Children.”

At a time when the nature-human balance is totally disrupted, the fact that the expo is based on concepts such as return to the nature and sustainability is a significant message.  

One of the expo’s important guests is Italy. In the 1,100-square-meter exhibition space, an Italian garden will be located. The project has been prepared by Italy’s famous landscape architect Giuseppe Lunardi and the design of the garden belongs to architect Marco Servalli. 

Italy is one of those countries that has been able to transform its key values stemming from its history and nature into economic power. Italy’s mild climate enables several different plants to grow; the entire country has mind-blowingly beautiful natural conditions. 

Instead of destroying its nature, Italians have upgraded these suitable natural conditions and have turned themselves into an expert country of ornamental plants and arboriculture. 

Even though arboriculture has been present for centuries, it is the beginning of the 20th century and mid-century when this line of business truly accelerated when huge family companies were formed, with tree and ornamental plant factories producing for the whole world. The need to provide the street and parks that would make cities more beautiful was the time when the sector prospered. 

In Italy, the state totally supports arboriculture, thus Italy is able to transform the tools its nature offers into an important valuable export with the driving force of the state. 

Those who have visited Italy know that the taste of the vegetables and fruits eaten there are unique. It would make you remember those you ate when you were a child in Turkey. 

Italy’s nature, meanwhile, is magical; it takes you off your feet. I wish this mentality of cherishing and spreading the country’s seeds, nature, climate and fertile soil would also set an example for Turkey. 


Go and see the Italian garden

Italy’s EXPO 2016 pavilion will give the visitor a multifaceted Italian experience with its activities for children, film shows, workshops and Italian tastes. Italy’s presence in the fair is also significant in terms of its relations with Turkey. 

A short while ago, Turkish and Italian agriculture ministries signed a protocol to facilitate the trade of ornamental plants. Thus, Italy targets to strengthen its relations with Turkey through the fair and increase it trade relations. 

Meanwhile, Turkey is currently one of the biggest clients of Italian arboriculture and ornamental plant firms. Many of the ornamental plants and trees of all sizes you see in several parks, in shopping malls such as Zorlu and large residential and office projects are provided by huge Italian firms such as Vannucci and Vivaio Dei Morini.

While visiting those key companies at the center of Italy’s gardening tradition and meeting agriculture experts such as Dr. Nicola Gialdini Porro Savoldi and Dr. Aniello Musella, the head of Italian Foreign Trade and Promotion Agency and Italy Country commissar, we wished that they would also develop their relations not only in terms of trade but also in terms of sharing knowledge and experiences. 

Countries such as Italy that were able to transform their natural assets into economic power should be inspiration to all of us. 

We indeed need to benefit from the experiences of those who were able to protect history and nature in a fertile country for centuries, and improve ourselves on these values.