A visitor ® tastes cheese at the booth of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Agriculture is an industrial pillar of Italy, a country which uses 56 percent of its land for agriculture. The country is home to about 1.6 million farm-based businesses, many of which make agri-food products prized worldwide for their quality and craftsmanship. Italian agri-food companies see the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) as a key gateway to the world's second-largest consumer market, where they seek greater space for sales and partnerships.
People visit the booth of Italian Food and Feed Export Promotion Association at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
People visit the booth of an Italian pet food firm at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
This photo shows the booth of Italian Food and Feed Export Promotion Association at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
A staff member of biotechnology firm Sacco System works in a laboratory in Saronno, Italy, Oct. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
A staff member conducts probiotics test at the headquarters of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, in Moretta, Italy, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
A woman visits the booth of Italgel, a leading producer of gelatin and hydrolyzed collagen, at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
A staff member packs products at the headquarters of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, in Moretta, Italy, Oct. 30. 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2025 shows dishes made with dairy products of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, in Moretta, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
This photo shows products displayed at the booth of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, on Nov. 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Liu Jiaqi)
This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2025 shows the headquarters of Inalpi, an Italian dairy company, in Moretta, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)■