International Green Week begins in Berlin

From January 20th to January 29th in Berlin, International Green Week will offer a taste—both literally and figuratively—of the state of the world's food, agriculture, and horticulture at the world's biggest fair of its kind. Since 1926 the fair has offered more than 78,000 exhibitors and 30.5 million visitors the opportunity to connect and communicate about food and its production. This year, in partnership with Romania, the fair will feature its biggest-ever display and premiere exhibits from Gabon, Liechtenstein, and Pakistan.

Flags of the International Green Week Berlin 2012 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds will be streaming into the wind until January, 29. Photo courtesy IGW

This 77th Green Week will be debuting a new concept: “Federal States' Street.”  This aspect of the exhibit will give visitors the chance to try regional German culinary specialties from the coast to the Alps.  But the gastronomic fan-fare doesn't stop at Germany's borders—more than 1,634 exhibitors from 59 countries and every continent will also be offering a taste of their own specialties.

“Never before has the Green Week presented such a diversity of regional specialities from almost every part of Germany,” elaborated MesseMesse
This word sounds messy, but in fact is has nothing to do with making a mess; or canteens for that matter. A Messe is a trade fair. And Germany is full of Berlin GmbH CEO Dr. Christian Göke.  “The emphasis on the regions is a highly topical theme at the Green Week. And that is why this trade show appeals to visitors’ tastes, in the truest sense of the word.”

While fair visitors enjoy the flavors of food from around the world, the ministers of agriculture from 75 countries will be meeting with leading figures from agriculture, the food industry, and representatives from science and civil society to discuss a wide range of problems.  A key issue this year for both industry leaders and consumers is the humane treatment of livestock, reported German news website The Local.

The fair's thematic offerings don't stop at food however and will also include 8,000 pets and small animals and a sea of 30,000 flowering plants.  The “Green Week young generation” program will offer the 15th “Temporary Campus” for the next generation of professionals in the agriculture, horticulture, and food industries.

“Our farmers were confident at the start of 2011. Agriculture has emerged from the economic and financial crisis in a stronger position. It is investing in innovative technical equipment, in new livestock housing to provide improved animal welfare and better health and safety conditions for the workforce, and it is embarking on new ways of supplying society with energy at a time of energy transition. Now and in the future the industry is facing a worldwide rise in demand for foodstuffs and energy, as well as the challenges of protecting the climate and the environment,” said President of the German Farmers' Union Gerd Sonnleitner.

Links

Green Week website