On 24 November, the Italian Ambassador to Sofia, Marcello Apicella, inaugurated the traditional Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (SCIM) at the Italian Residence with an exclusive event dedicated to agri-food innovation and the promotion of Italian gastronomic excellence, entitled “Italian innovation supporting the development of the agri-food sector”.
Ambassador Apicella emphasised that “events like this aim to strengthen dialogue between Italian excellence and Bulgarian institutions and trade representatives, fostering collaboration between our countries, which already share important projects and successful bilateral cooperation in the sector”.
Now in its tenth edition, SCIM is the annual initiative organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Italian culinary traditions and high-quality agri-food products. The inaugural event began with a welcome by Ambassador Apicella, followed by a presentation from experts of the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food on the digitalisation of the local agricultural sector. The programme continued with a presentation by Roberto Mancini, CEO of Diagram S.p.A., an Italian agritech company backed by CDP Equity (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group), Trilantic Europe, and BF Agricola. Diagram has established itself as a leader in the European agritech sector, offering services in precision agriculture, irrigation sensor technology, soil mapping, and resource management for public administrations. During his presentation, Roberto Mancini addressed an audience of public administration officials and representatives of the agri-food sector, highlighting opportunities to modernise agriculture and improve water resource management—topics of particular relevance in Bulgaria.
“We are honoured to represent Italian agritech innovation in such a prestigious institutional context,” said Mancini. “Bulgaria is a rapidly evolving market, and collaboration between Italian technologies and local agricultural enterprises can generate immediate value. Digital transition is no longer a future prospect but a strategic lever for competitiveness and sustainability in agri-food supply chains”.
Italian Trade Agency Director D’Andrea also spoke, noting that “Diagram Group represents a Made in Italy excellence in agritech, bringing tangible innovation to agri-food supply chains. The presence of CDP, the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, and key Bulgarian industry players confirms the strategic value of this initiative. Events like this are the most effective way to bring Italian technologies closer to the Bulgarian market and foster new growth opportunities for Italian companies”.
Guests then enjoyed an immersive 360-degree interactive experience featuring advanced technologies and virtual reality. The evening concluded with a tasting of premium Italian gastronomic products, prepared by Chef Carlo Luzzani and accompanied by wines from the Friuli-based Fantinel winery. Among the attendees were, among others, the President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, and senior representatives from the Executive Forests Agency, the Food Safety Agency, the Meat Processors Association, the Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association, and the National Grain Producer Association. A substantial delegation of the Italian system in Bulgaria was also present.
The event was organised by the Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the Italian Trade Agency in Sofia, in collaboration with Confindustria Bulgaria and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria.
