LIFE Farmitank attended VertiFarm international vertical farming event on 26–28 September, 2023 – Messe Dortmund, Germany.
The 7th Annual AVF & VertiFarm Summit recently served as a melting pot for ideas among 100 exhibitors from across the globe. The wide-ranging topics covered included automation, logistics, cosmetics, efficiency, research and development (R&D), and education. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) was highlighted as a significant focus for the future by Messe Dortmund CEO.
The world’s growing population poses new challenges to maintaining a dependable food supply. New food systems and technologies must be developed and introduced to maximize and secure yields, without neglecting ecological and social factors. At VertiFarm, industry stakeholders from across the globe met to network, exchanged ideas, and developed innovative concepts.
VertiFarm spans the entire vertical farming value chain. While at VertiFarm, we participated in the exchange of industry information and opportunities that are focused exclusively on vertical farming and how it contributes to the food needs of future generations, in an environmentally friendly way.
In her keynote, Christine Zimmerman-Loessl, Chairwoman of AVF, emphasized creating a robust platform for the agricultural industry. Reflecting on the substantial financial support allocated to aid farmers, she stated, “Billions have been allocated to support farmers who have been struggling for decades.” According to a study by Bayer, 71% of farmers are adversely affected by climate change, with rising fertilizer prices adding to the challenges. Christine underscored the potential of CEA, stating, “production is marginal for now, but the perspective is interesting” in combating climate change and an aging farmer population. She also stressed that “tech plays a pivotal role today” in controlling various parameters, though food waste remains a major issue to tackle.
The 7th Annual AVF & VertiFarm Summit encapsulated this spirit of collaborative innovation, portraying a ready and receptive agri-tech sector. The summit underscored the collective resolve to embrace novel technologies to surmount impending challenges, carving a route towards a greener, efficient agricultural paradigm. This synthesis of insights and forward-thinking discussions at the summit manifests a sector ripe for collaborative advancements, steering towards a sustainable agricultural horizon.
