Bright showcase of technological progress and an international discussion platform for market participants
On September 3 and 4, the PotatoEurope 2014 exhibition for potato growers was held in the area of Bockerode near Hanover, which became a meeting place for industry professionals.
The PotatoEurope exhibition has been held in Germany since 2006. The organizer of this event is annually one of the four countries of the eurozone: France, Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands. In Germany, the exhibition was organized for the third time, previously it was also held in the Bokerode area in 2006 and 2010.
This year the event was attended by about 10 guests from more than 000 countries of the world, and every third visitor was from abroad. As noted by the CEO of DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft / German Agricultural Society - organizer of the exhibition) Dr. Reinhard Grandke: “Particularly pleased with the impressive internationality of this leading potato event.”
Most potato growers came from the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland and the UK. But professionals from Asia, North and South America and Africa also took advantage of the exhibition. PotatoEurope 2014 for the intensive exchange of information about new and already tested varieties, seed, production and processing equipment, management and trade issues, strategies for plant nutrition and protection, as well as modern storage technologies.
High international attention to the exhibition, according to a member of the DLG board and chairman of the German Potato Union (UNIKA) Martina Umhauconvincingly underlines the great potential of potatoes for the future global food supply. According to Mr. Umhau, the PotatoEurope exhibition is not only an impressive showcase of technological progress in potato growing, but also, first of all, an international discussion platform for all market participants, as well as a forum for maintaining the image of potatoes.
Germany - 2014
The exhibition occupied an area of 30 hectares (demonstration areas were doubled compared to the previous forum).
On this territory there are experimental plots, platforms for demonstrating the operation of equipment and more than 200 stands of exhibitors from 13 countries of the world. Visitors could see first-hand practical solutions and choose the ones that fit their business.
The event was also distinguished by a rich business program: for example, everyone could attend the seminar "Marketing under control - risk management in practice", at which famous speakers made their predictions about the development of the situation on the German potato market for the coming year and talked about possible ways of risk management and increasing income.
Participants and guests of PotatoEurope 2014 were very pleased with the course and results of the exhibition. Many highlighted the fruitful business atmosphere, the high professional level of exhibitors and visitors. And, of course, everyone noted the excellent weather conditions: nature allowed to carry out all field activities in the full sense at the highest level.
Belgium - 2015
PotatoEurope will next bring together representatives of the potato industry on 2 and 3 September 2015 in the Cain district (municipality of Tournai, Belgium). It will be organized by the Fedagrim Association, an association of Belgian suppliers, manufacturers and importers of agricultural machinery, buildings and equipment. In Germany, PotatoEurope will next take place in 2018.
The editors thank the German Agricultural Society (DLG) for the materials provided.