A fruitful platform for the European fruit growing industry

Fruchtwelt Bodensee (19-21 February 2010) offers a platform for international exchanges that is ideal for everyone who is interested in fruit growing, distilling and hops. Over 200 exhibitors provide visitors with information on the latest developments, products and manufacturing techniques. Current topics like direct marketing, crop protection and climate change are the focus of the 34th Bodensee-Obstbautage lecture series, which takes place in conjunction with the international fruit growers' trade show in Friedrichshafen. The event also includes the International Distilling Conference and information on beer and hops. Following the successful premiere of agrarwelt in 2008, this trade show will also be held as a parallel event in 2010.

"Fruchtwelt Bodensee has established itself as an important meeting place in the fruit growing industry and has received an enormous response thanks to its combination of professional presentations, seminars and a comprehensive range of products in the sector," says Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann. At the trade show, which takes place every two years, visitors can find out about the latest developments and products in the areas of fruit growing, distilling, harvesting machines, crop protection, tree nurseries and hops. The event will also take place in conjunction with the agrarwelt trade show for the second time. "Thanks to thematic crossovers, the combination of both exhibitions generates an added value that visitors and exhibitors appreciate," says Project Manager Petra Rathgeber. "In the second edition, we have increasingly focused on the commonalities, as is reflected in the supporting program, for example."

Comprehensive: 34th Bodensee-Obstbautage lecture series
With topics that appeal to visitors of both trade shows, the Bodensee-Obstbautage lecture series is jointly supported by the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau-Bodensee (KOB) and the Lake Constance fruit region. On the opening day, Professor Dr. Georg Backhaus will give a presentation focusing on the issue of crop protection. The President of Germany's Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants is an expert in the area of crop protection and addresses the issue of conventional crop cultivation in the context of global food security. This is followed by a lecture delivered by Professor Reiner Doluschitz dealing with organized marketing in the farming industry. The Director of the Research Center for Agricultural Cooperatives and the Institute for Farm Management at the University of Hohenheim will talk about how important it is for farmers to forge networks to boost their economic performance. The three-day presentation program includes over 30 expert presentations and seminars.

Existential: crop protection is a key issue
Crop protection agents are essential products for worldwide agricultural production. Under the title "Crop Protection: Changing with the Times," Prof. Dr. Backhaus will examine a contrarian view of the public debate on this issue. He will address the issue of crop protection and the progress that has been made in this area, focusing on the global challenge of supplying food for the world's people.

Breaking news: fire blight in the tri-border area
Protecting crops from fire blight in Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be the topic of an international series of presentations on Saturday followed by panel discussions with experts from diverse countries. Agronomist Georg Bantleon will present his research results on the spread of this plant disease and efforts to combat it. The focus of this project is a new active substance that looks highly promising.

Consulting: presentations on direct marketing
A number of presentations on the topic of regional marketing are tailored to the needs of trade visitors at Fruchtwelt Bodensee and agrarwelt. "In our region with its strong tourism sector, we can use activities that go hand-in-hand with organized marketing to cultivate niches and new sources of revenue," says Dr. Manfred Büchele, Director of the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau. The presentations shed light on existing structures as well as the success factors that come with enhanced structuring. Dr. Richard Dietrich from the Association for the Promotion of Orchard Fruit in Vorarlberg, Austria will present ideas and approaches from the neighboring country. Mechthild Högemann, from Produkt + Markt Agribusiness Consulting, will offer an "advertising check" for direct marketers that is practice-oriented and uses advertising samples to demonstrate hidden factors that have a negative effect on consumers. The audience will learn how typical advertising mistakes can be avoided and how professionals in the sector work to increase sales.

Meteorological: presentations on the topic of climate change
Fruit growers are highly concerned about the ramifications of climate change, since yields are highly dependent on weather conditions. A series of presentations on Sunday will focus on the effects of climate change on fruit growing, examine weather data from the past few decades, and outline the impact of these developments as well as initiatives have been taken in the field for pome fruit and berries.

Another aspect of climate change is hail storms, which have measurably increased over the past 20 to 30 years. A series of presentations on Sunday will provide information on how hail protection nets affect plant growth, focus on issues concerning cultivation techniques and examine the ideal way to install netting.

Strong stuff: all about distilling
The fifth Distilling Conference (Sunday, 21 February 2010) is an important meeting place at the trade show for all issues concerning "strong stuff." Association representatives from southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be on hand at the event, which focuses on the future of distilling in Europe. On Saturday, 20 February 2010, makers of fruit brandy and owners of small distilleries can attend a presentation by Dr. Thomas Senn on the new EU legislative provisions for distilleries where production is estimated for tax purposes based on the amount of raw materials used. Afterwards, there will be a tasting seminar where visitors can learn the techniques for correctly assessing the quality of a brandy. (Registration for presentation and seminar at +49.7541-708362).

August Kottmann, a board member of the State Association of Small Distilleries and Makers of Fruit Brandy in northern Württemberg, and a restaurant owner, will demonstrate how aroma distillates can be effectively used to season food. Every day exhibitors will display the latest products from the areas of distilling and distillates. Award-winning brandies from 2009 will be available for tasting at the stand of the Northern and Southern Württemberg Distilling Associations.

Flavorful: hops as a taste experience
If you've come to dive into the world of "green gold" and learn how to appreciate the diversity of German beers, then the tasting seminar hosted by Walter König is the right place for you. On Sunday, 21 February, the secretary of the Bavarian Brewers' Association will initiate members of the audience to the secrets of differentiating beer varieties and show them how to use all their senses to experience beer more fully. (To register call +49 7541-708362). Visitors to the cooking show staged by Bernd Reutemann will find out how beer can be used in the kitchen to add flavor to food. In addition to making recommendations on which beer goes with which type of food, the manager of the Bischofschloss Hotel in Markdorf, Germany will show how sauces made with beer can give a finishing touch to delicious dishes.

Nostalgic: special show of old-timer tractors
Visitors can take a trip back in time thanks to a special exhibition with 30 meticulously and lovingly restored tractors and other agricultural equipment. Tractor fans from Argental show rarities like a tracked vehicle by Ransomes from the year 1940 and a Hanomag Perfekt 401 with a cable winch. The equipment exhibition shows how farmers worked the fields in the old days, for instance, there is a Kramer tractor with a band saw from the year 1951 on display and an Eicher Tiger with an orchard sprayer. In addition, experts will be on hand to answer all your questions about the exhibited items and historical agricultural techniques.

Fashionable: women's farm fashions
For the first time, farm women will show the latest trends for this spring and summer at a fashion show integrated into Fruchtwelt Bodensee. With styles ranging from sporty to elegant, the models authentically display today's women's farm fashions for work, leisure and festive occasions.

Simultaneously: the parallel show agrarwelt
After a successful premiere in 2008, the agrarwelt trade show will take place in conjunction with Fruchtwelt Bodensee. Under the motto "Farm - Land - Future," agarwelt addresses the needs of full and part-time farmers as well as interested consumers. The focus is on the topics of bio-energy, regional cultivated landscapes and agricultural technology. Additional information on exhibitors and the presentation program is available at www.agrarwelt-bodensee.de.

Admission fees and opening hours
Fruchtwelt Bodensee is open Friday through Sunday, 19-21 February 2010. Opening hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A one-day pass costs €9 and includes admission to agrarwelt.