Green Week in Berlin – agriculture, horticulture and food industry from around the world

After a break of almost three years, the International Exhibition “Green Week” has returned to the exhibition centre in Berlin. For 10 days, from 20 to 29 January, 1,400 exhibitors from Germany, Europe and the rest of the world will present regional products, innovations in agriculture, culinary delicacies and new developments in horticulture. The focus of the exhibition in Berlin is on three main themes: agriculture, horticulture and the food industry.

“The International Green Week, which is held in Berlin, is an exceptional opportunity to bring together in one place producers of agricultural products, gardeners and representatives of the food industry with consumers. Because the way we eat has a significant impact on what and how world agriculture produces. Over the past year we have been working intensively towards sustainable agriculture based on the principle of green policies. I am looking forward to and am curious about my first International Green Week as Federal Minister of Agriculture,” said Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany, at the opening of the exhibition.

In his speech, the European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski underlined the central themes of the fair – food security and climate protection, as leading in Europe.

photo: © Messe Berlin

Extensive programme – from bee houses to a bakery

This year as well, visitors can enjoy the usual diversity of Green Week: from the splendour of different plant species in the flower hall (2.2), the hall of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (23), to encounters with farm animals (25 and 26) and the food industry. Not to be missed is also the largest indoor equestrian event in Berlin – “HIPPOLOGICA“.

For culinary enthusiasts, the Street Food Market in hall (1.2) will offer innovations and temptations in the food sector, while in the halls dedicated to agriculture (5.2, 6.2, 20, 21, 22 and 23) visitors will be fully immersed in a real agricultural environment. An attraction of the event are the bee houses and the bakery, created by the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries and the Food Association, whose motto for this year’s edition of the exhibition is “What does the future taste like?“.

In hall 3.2, the German Farmers’ Association will familiarise visitors with modern agriculture. At the Adventure Farm visitors learn what tomorrow’s agriculture might look like and which approaches to climate protection support the development of agriculture. Farmers from various agricultural regions of Germany are also present and provide detailed insight into their daily work.

Small helpers – huge effect

In the flower hall 2.2, bee houses are installed. Visitors learn how important these small but particularly efficient insects are for our nutrition: 30 percent of our food is actually on the table because plants are pollinated by bees.

At stand 215, the company Beehome presents its bee houses for wild bees, which anyone interested can acquire and thus contribute to the safe and sustainable pollination of plants.

New theme – world of “green living”

Hall 27 is home to the new thematic world of “green living”, where the focus is not only on agriculture and forestry, but also on ways to reduce waste and manage resources sustainably, as well as on the benefits of multiple use of items and materials.

Also present in this hall are the German Forestry Council and the German Hunting Association.

Fully in line with the Green Deal, interested parties have the opportunity to learn more about regional food, urban gardening, recycling and how to lead a life based on healthy nutrition and conscious use of food and resources.

Regionality and seasonality in the production and processing of food under ecological and socially fair conditions for those employed in this field are just some of the topics that visitors can expect.

The Federal Organic Farming Scheme offers opportunities to meet “organic farmers“. Agricultural producers provide information on the topic “Organic for the climate“ and present tasty organic products. Exhibitors demonstrate how clothes, furniture or other household products can be reused and recycled.

The company Faircup provides information on the new mandatory reuse requirement, which comes into force this year. In the hall of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of various thematic islands: desert and forests, soils and wetlands, rivers and lakes, marine and urban nature. For each ecosystem, knowledge is conveyed about natural climate protection and advice for your everyday life.

photo: © Messe Berlin

The gardens of Green Week

In the middle of winter, Green Week brings mood and colour. Flower and plant lovers can immerse themselves in this paradise at the exhibition. Thousands of early flowering plants, shrubs and trees were planted on the eve of the International Forum, and anyone who takes the time to view the rich collection of plants will discover a variety of native plants, exotic cacti and unusual plant species.

For those who not only want to admire the amazing plants but also improve their gardening skills, the Central Horticultural Association, which represents the interests of most German companies engaged in horticulture in the country, has prepared short training courses and on-site presentations.

In hall 3.2 visitors will also find the Federal Association of German Plant Growers, representing the interests of the agricultural regions in Germany, vegetable producers, ornamental plant growers and viticulture. This is the place to seek professional advice from experts on growing your plants.

photo: Ministry of Agriculture

Bulgaria participates for the 32nd time in the International Exhibition “Green Week” in Berlin

At the exhibition, our country is represented by 14 Bulgarian producers from the food industry. Bulgaria is taking part in the event for the 32nd consecutive time, and this year the country’s stand covers an area of 198 sq. m and presents products such as honey, wine, dairy and meat products, cosmetics, organic products and others.

During his visit to Germany, Minister Yavor Gechev will hold discussions on current topics with his counterparts from other European countries.

Minister Gechev will also participate in the Agriculture Ministers’ Summit on Saturday (21 January), which is organised by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany. It is dedicated to the topic “Transforming food systems. A global response to multiple crises”.