The Inaugural VertiFarm Showcases Next-Level Farming and New Food Systems
VertiFarm — the first trade show for next-level farming and new food systems — had a successful début at Messe Dortmund in Germany 27 and 29 September, with around 70 exhibitors from 17 different countries attending the kick-off show focusing on future cultivation possibilities. The supporting program was also well received by visitors.
“We’re delighted to have been able to create a platform for knowledge, technology, development and networking on this global topic of future importance by holding the first VertiFarm – a show dedicated to next-level farming and new food systems – in one of Germany’s key logistics hubs, and we’ve also been delighted at the large number of participants and the positive feedback from the industry right at this very first event,” said Sabine Loos, chief show organizer and Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe which owns and operates the Messe Dortmund venue, before adding: “The overall environment wasn’t exactly in our favor, with the global political situation, faltering supply chains, the Covid pandemic and visa problems certainly posing challenges to visitors, to exhibitors and to us as organizers. Against this backdrop, the huge success of this début event makes the future of VertiFarm look very promising.”
“Vertical farming is a highly complex topic,” added Christine Zimmermann-Lössl, whose organization – the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) – is the conceptual partner behind the new show. “This is where technology meets biology, and there are still major challenges associated with that. There’s still so much to learn, and a lot of pieces still to be added to the jigsaw puzzle. The multidisciplinary technology alone is very demanding. The value that VertiFarm adds here is to provide an overview of the players in this field and facilitate discussions with the different suppliers across the world.” AVF is a world-leading non-profit organization aiding the sustainable growth and development of the indoor/vertical farming movement by means of in-depth dialogue and partnership-based collaboration.
International Trade Audience
The comprehensive range of propositions at the new VertiFarm attracted 1,500 participants from the main core target groups and from business sectors such as agriculture, the food sector and the pharmaceuticals industry who came to Dortmund from across Germany and beyond. In fact, over 36% of trade visitors came from abroad, including countries such as the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, France, Denmark, Spain and the Czech Republic, as well as a host of long-haul visitors from North America, Asia, Africa and Australia who came to VertiFarm to gather information, make new contacts and conclude business transactions. Over 82% of trade visitors said they want to come back next year.
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Range of Propositions from Germany and Neighboring European Countries
The mix of exhibitors, including market-leading businesses from Germany, Sweden, the UK, China, the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia and Canada, presented innovations, technologies and systems relating to the cultivation methods of the future. At the world’s first trade show of this kind, the trade and everyone with an interest in this topic had the opportunity to come into contact with producers and suppliers and gain a compact overview of new subject matter such as aquaponics and hydroponics.
Top-Class Supporting Program
A three-day stage program of educational, partly interactive knowledge modules featuring experts from agriculture, science, industry and start-ups shed light on the future of nutrition and agriculture in transition – from food to pharmaceuticals – in a series of keynote talks and panel discussions.
Complementing the offerings on the VertiFarm stage was the high-content AVF Summit 2022 (27–29 September). The wide range of topics at this annual conference included technology innovations, new food systems, financing change, holistic business models and consumer adoption regarding insects, fungi, cell meats, algae bioreactors, fermentation, AI, robotics and automation. The Retail Day (28 September) – aimed especially at retailers and resellers – featured key topics such as urban development, energy efficiency, sustainability, regionality, ROI, profitability and best practice. It was organized by the retail trade’s climate protection campaign in collaboration with the North Rhine Westphalia & Münsterland Retailers’ Association. On the third day of the show (29 September), the VertiFarm stage was handed over to students, universities, start-ups and new projects that had the opportunity to present themselves under the banner of Vertical Farming and New Food Systems.
The show’s technical partner was the German Agricultural Society (DLG). This international trade organization for the agriculture, agri-food and food sectors also assisted the supporting program with technical expertise on innovative agricultural production systems and the transformation of agriculture.
The date for the next VertiFarm has already been set. The next show will take place between 26 and 28 September 2023 – once again at Messe Dortmund, naturally.
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