The Italian Society of Horticulture (La Società di Ortoflorofrutticoltura Italiana - SOI) was founded on the 12th December 1953 in Florence.
It is a non-profit society established to develop scientific and technical cooperation and the exchange of ideas and knowledge between scientific researchers, entrepreneurs, professionals and even amateurs engaged in vegetable, flower and fruit cultivation, with the ultimate aim of encouraging progress in and the spread of horticultural activities.

Today there are more than a thousand members in the three sections of the society: Vegetable Crops, Floriculture and Ornamental Plants, Fruit Culture. The formation of Working Groups and of Committees is also provided for, with specific tasks of relevant interest within the scope of the Society.

• publishes and distributes, free to members, the journal Italus Hortus and Bulletin, Notiziario SOI di Ortoflorofrutticoltura.
• organises and sponsors conventions, symposia, exhibitions, meetings and demonstrations, as well as seminars and scientific and technical courses.
• Every three years, it organises the Giornate Scientifiche, (Days of Science) which have become the best attended meetings of the scientific community working in Italian horticulture. The Giornate Scientifiche tackle all the most relevant scientific subjects in sessions and workshops.
• It organises the Giornate Tecniche, (Technical Days), established and developed to encourage the exchange of ideas and information among scientific research, agricultural producers and specialist technicians.
• It collaborates with similar societies among which is the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).
• It is a Country-gatekeeper in the Hortivar Project.
• On March 2007 established the "Associazione Nazionale Città della Frutta ".
• Cooperate with Italian publisher Edagricole
• It maintains an up-to-date directory of all public scientific research institutions operating in the field of horticulture.