‘Next-level farming’ and ‘new food systems’ are key cornerstones of sustainable nutrition in tomorrow’s world

Messe Dortmund will be holding the second VertiFarm – the international trade show covering innovative, sustainable cultivation and breeding methods of the future – September 26th – 28th 2023. This information event and buyer-meets-seller platform will focus on resource-saving healthy alternative foodstuffs produced through the application of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Critical enablers for moving cultivation towards CEA are next-level farming and new food systems which the event will cover compactly and in some depth.

Dortmund, 16 December 2022 – VertiFarm, the proven industry platform and international trade show for next-level farming and new food systems, will be held between 26 and 28 September 2023 and will put the spotlight squarely on controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The urgency of a timely rethink on food production is underlined among other things, by a recent government-commissioned report by the Commission on the Future of Agriculture which showed that ecological damage to the tune of 90 billion euros is caused each year by agriculture in Germany alone. This is exacerbated by the speed of societal change, influenced by climate change, crop failures, supply chain bottlenecks, growing settlements, and increased traffic and transport space.

Sustainable solutions to critical challenges
Feeding the world’s population and providing sustainable food for people in urban areas are among the most pressing challenges of our time. With VertiFarm, Messe Dortmund is giving CEA – a diversified system for sustainable food production – a major platform for presenting innovative approaches to next-level farming and new food systems. Space-saving, vertical soilless- and fish farming systems, the cultivation of insects, fungi, ‘clean meat’ and algae in a controlled environment, can enable disruption-free supply chains, an improved waste footprint, and minimization of the high levels of greenhouse gases given off by the agricultural sector.

International exhibitors covering a wide range of subject matter
VertiFarm 2023 offers a comprehensive view of an international market for controlled production systems and the cultivation of alternative, new foodstuffs, and medicinal plants. Once again, many exhibitors have already confirmed their stand bookings, with more exhibition space. Among these is the Norwegian company Avisomo AS which offers a wide range of products for establishing plant factories and cultivation facilities using nutrient solutions (hydroponics). Swedish provider WIVID will be introducing itself as an expert in developing and producing energy-efficient surface-mounted luminaires. Also participating again will be Bosman van Zaal B.V. from the Netherlands, a specialist in plant production systems and ventilation and water treatment systems for the food, floriculture, and pharmaceutical sectors. Germany’s Menno Chemie-Vertrieb GmbH will be back in Dortmund showcasing its versatile expertise in hygiene management in plant production.

What exhibitors had to say about the maiden event in 2022
The statement by Johann Waldherr, Business Development Manager at Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG, shows that even at the inaugural show VertiFarm positioned itself superbly from an international perspective: “You can see there’s a big trade audience in attendance – everything you need in terms of innovation and technology for vertical farming. Young people in particular have been flocking in, bringing good ideas and perhaps just needing that extra push for their start-ups or manufacturing businesses. That’s a big issue for us and for the whole industry right now.” Lutz Kaiser, Product Development Engineer at Roko Farming GmbH & Co KG also gave an enthusiastic response to the new show, saying: “You can feel there’s a broad interest in holistic solution concepts such as our xFactory, and we’ve also been hearing a lot of favorable opinions from the other exhibitors at the show. We’ve been surprised to see how many international visitors there are. Trade audiences from different continents are coming together here.”

Become an exhibitor
Suppliers wishing to present their propositions at VertiFarm can click here for full information on stand bookings and the opportunity to register online.

Conceptual partnership
The Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) will continue in 2023 to assist as a conceptual partner to this forward-looking trade show, contributing its technical expertise in sustainable, people-centered agriculture.

All key information, updates, and developments concerning the show can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, on the show’s website, and via newsletter.