HISTORY

Another year has passed and, as tradition calls for, I feel the need to pause for a moment and put a few thoughts on paper.
This time, however, things feel different: in May 2026 my term as President will come to an end — an intense, rich and, above all, shared journey.

If I had to capture these years in just a few words, I would choose four: together, union, growth and Europe.

Together, because no nursery — alone — can face the challenges of a sector as complex, technical and global as ours.
Union, because an Association is strong only when its enterprises recognize themselves in a community of intentions, visions and shared values.
Growth, because every milestone is never a final destination, but a step toward a more solid, modern and international tomorrow.

And then Europe — the word that, more than any other, has expanded our horizon.
Europe as openness, dialogue and active presence where green policies are shaped. In recent years, ANVE has strengthened its international role, at European level through an ever-closer collaboration with ENA, and globally thanks to its continuous relationship with AIPH, the international association of horticultural producers.
Europe, therefore, not only as a geographical space, but as a vision — a willingness to participate, to contribute, to represent and to carry the excellence of Italian nursery production beyond every border.

These four pillars — together, union, growth and Europe — have guided every choice, every meeting, every challenge faced in these years. And it is thanks to them that today our sector can look ahead with even greater strength, awareness and momentum.

The year 2026 will mark a special milestone: ANVE’s 20th anniversary.
An important anniversary that tells not only the story of an Association, but also the evolution of an entire sector that has learned to react, innovate, protect its identity and amplify its voice.

If today ANVE is recognized in Italy, in Europe and across the world, the credit goes to those who had the courage to imagine all this when nothing yet existed.

This is why I wish to leave space to those who first sparked this journey: Maurizio Lapponi, ANVE’s first President and founder, and to all those who served before me — because certain stories are not meant only to be remembered; they must be passed on.

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THE HISTORY OF ANVE

How ANVE Was Born – The Spark of 2005

(by Maurizio Lapponi, Founder Member and ANVE President 2006–2014)

The story of ANVE began almost by chance, on an ordinary evening in 2005, during a dinner among friends. Someone remarked that obtaining support from institutions would be much easier if the nursery sector, too, had its own national association. I explained that no such thing existed — only fragmented local groups. The conversation seemed to end there.

The next day, however, everything changed: a phone call announced a meeting in Rome to present the “new national association of Italian nurserymen you are founding.” The problem was… it didn’t exist yet.

From that moment on, everything accelerated: phone calls, drafts of the statute, colleagues brought together in just a few hours. And on Monday morning, in front of the executives of Confagricoltura, we presented a project that still had no name, but already had a clear objective: to unite Italian nursery producers.

“If you can bring order to this sector, you will have all my support,” said the national President, Federico Vecchioni — the push we needed.

Months of intense work followed: meetings in nurseries, discussions with the families of the founding members, the drafting of the statute and the definition of its mission.

On March 4th, 2006, in front of a notary, ANVE was officially born. Seven companies from the North to the South of Italy gave life to a new reality: national, authoritative, independent.

Its mission was clear:
• to defend the sector
• to create a network of information
• to offer qualified services
• to provide training
• to promote quality and leadership

No commerce, no internal competition — only shared objectives.

The first logo, the first website, the first trade fairs and institutional meetings soon followed.
That spark, born almost by chance in 2005, became a national reality in 2006.
Twenty years later, it has become a collective story, built by Presidents, members, families and companies who every day keep alive the founding spirit: uniting to grow.

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A LOOK AT THE PRESIDENTS WHO FOLLOWED

The Roots of a Shared Identity

Marco Cappellini – ANVE President 2015–2018

Taking on the presidency in 2015 was both an honour and a profound responsibility. The sector was facing changes and challenges, and ANVE had the task of providing direction, support and representation.

We expanded the membership base across most Italian regions and strengthened relationships with other organisations in the sector, which joined ANVE as Supporting Members. We worked to offer more opportunities to our members, enhancing services through agreements with highly qualified partners. Communication also grew significantly: a new website, social media channels and a periodic newsletter helped keep members constantly informed.

On the institutional front, we reopened crucial dialogues and contributed to important tools, such as the new customs codes specific to the nursery sector — a historic step for the recognition of our identity.

We faced phytosanitary emergencies, regulatory challenges and customs issues, bringing the sector back to national and European attention.
They were intense years, during which I saw not only ANVE grow, but the entire Italian nursery sector. Years that confirmed a simple principle: when we unite, we can look to the future with renewed confidence.

The Green That Unites – Growing Together Through Change

Leonardo Capitanio – ANVE President 2019–2022

My term led me through a complex and extraordinary period. The pandemic challenged our companies, but it also awakened a universal need for green. In those difficult months, ANVE showed its true strength: unity, listening, constant presence.

For me, this story does not begin in 2019. I have been part of ANVE since day one: I was young when I accompanied my father to the meetings, even helping choose the first logo. I have seen ANVE born, grow and change — and I have always chosen to be part of it.

During my presidency, we strengthened institutional representation, contributed to the Floriculture Bill, guided key technical processes and introduced new instruments to support businesses.

Internationally, we broadened collaboration networks: from the European Green Cities campaign to Italy’s participation in Floriade 2022, up to my appointment as Vice President of AIPH.

These were years of global transformation, in which the demand for plants became a true megatrend. ANVE understood this shift with vision and responsibility, positioning our sector as a key player in urban wellbeing, biodiversity and the future of our cities.

If I had to choose one word to summarise it all, it would be gratitude — for the trust, for the team, for a sector that still has so much to offer the world. And with gratitude comes another certainty: the best is yet to come.