Productive duo of trade shows to cover fruit cultivation and agriculture

The trade shows will focus on the further development of fruit cultivation and offer information about new trends in business management and agricultural techniques. A broad supporting program of lectures featuring international experts will cover essential topics for the industry, offering an update on the current state of the economy and agricultural policy, as well as an overview of future developments.

“Fruchtwelt Bodensee has established its position in the global industry, and attendees have responded positively to its comprehensive offering of products, seminars and specialist presentations,” says Klaus Wellmann, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen. Over 300 exhibitors from 13 countries are expected to attend the two trade shows on Lake Constance.

Competent and up-to-date: the 35th annual Bodensee-Obstbautage
The traditional Bodensee-Obstbautage lecture series will be offered for the 35th time, featuring specialist presentations and discussions on fruit cultivation. Project manager Petra Rathgeber explains: “The opening of the trade show on Friday morning will focus on agricultural policy, including a new kickoff event in the West Foyer. The event will be the center of attention as visitors arrive at the exhibition.” Eugen Setz from the marketing association Obst vom Bodensee and Dr. Egon Treyer from the Marktgemeinschaft Bodenseeobst industry association add: “The lecture series will cover current topics, such as the effects of global free trade, resource management and sustainability, and organic agriculture.”

Global developments in the apple industry
Friday afternoon will feature a major attraction of the lecture series: Dr. Desmond O’Rourke, a leading market analyst from Washington, D.C., will come to Lake Constance to speak at the exhibition. His presentation on the opening day, which will be simultaneously translated into German, will focus on trends in apple production and export marketing activities by leading producers. O’Rourke embodies the American belief in self-regulating mechanisms in the free market economy, as well as globalization and free enterprise. As a native of Ireland, he worked as a professor at Washington State University for 30 years, after which he founded Belrose Inc. in 2000. Currently he serves as the company’s president and CEO, in addition to publishing the annual journal World Apple Review.

His counterpart in Europe is Helwig Schwartau, also an established fruit industry expert, from the Hamburg-based company Agrarmarkt Informationsgesellschaft (AMI). Schwartau is a master of data analysis and interpreting market developments. In addition to serving as moderator of the discussion with O’Rourke, he will also give a lecture on the status of the European apple market, with a focus on current developments in volumes and prices in individual European countries. A forecast for harvests and exports from the most important countries in the Southern Hemisphere will also be offered.

Sustainable resource management
On Saturday the exhibition will focus on the environment. Presentations will be offered on topics such as “New developments in plum rootstocks” by Olaf Möller from the Weinsberg State Institute for Teaching and Research (LVWO). Further lectures include “Results of experiments in cherry breeding” by Michael Zoth from the Bavendorf Competence Center for Fruit Cultivation (KOB), as well as “Business management for fruit cultivation” by Esther Bravin from the Swiss research institute Agroscope in Wädenswil (ACW) and Timo Hirrle from the KOB.

Monika Möhler from the Teaching and Research Institute for Horticulture (LVG) in Erfurt will give a presentation on the efficient use of water resources. She will use research results to show how some fruit cultivators can reduce their water usage while still achieving optimum yields. Gunthild Muster, an expert in berries at the Weinsberg State Institute for Teaching and Research (LVWO), will offer a presentation on raspberry crop management with a focus on irrigation, in which she will share her experiences in periods of high temperatures and drought.

Organic trend continues to grow
Organic agriculture has now become an essential part of any symposium on fruit cultivation. The Lake Constance area is becoming increasingly well known as Germany’s top producer of organic apples, accounting for over 40% of production nationwide. But the organic label isn’t the only thing that customers desire: choosing the right varieties is essential in order to guarantee a high level of demand. Dr. Ulrich Mayr from the KOB will discuss new apple varieties for organic agriculture that can be successful with consumers and cultivators alike. Once again in 2012, Helwig Schwartau will shed light on the current situation in the European apple market and discuss the developments in volumes and prices of organic apples in individual European countries, as well as tendencies and developments in various sales methods for the retail trade.

Dr. Katrin Zander will round out the exhibition’s lectures on organic agriculture with a discussion of market structures and competition in the German market for organic apples. Her presentation will focus on a new report. Until recently, there has been hardly any scientific research on the market for organic apples in Germany. Dr. Zander will analyze the developments in organic apples in the German market and foreign trade. She will show how these market developments can offer recommendations for how German growers can react to the worldwide growth in supply. Until recently, Dr. Zander worked at the Department of Organic Agriculture at the University of Kassel.

Efficient strawberry cultivation and healthy eating
Two specialist presentations will complete the series of discussions on Sunday morning. Alexandra Richter from the LVWO will give a presentation entitled “Strawberry cultivation in plastic tunnels.” In order to meet the demand for earlier harvests, higher yields and better quality, each cultivator must consider the necessary investment costs. The second presentation will appeal not only to specialists, but also to the public at large: Annerose Herm from the Bad Waldsee Center for Nutrition will speak about the importance of fruit in a healthy diet.

Nostalgic show featuring classic 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. The tractors will be provided by enthusiasts from the Argental area, and will show how farmers used to work in the fields.

Focus on agriculture at agrarwelt
Thanks to an overlap in the topics covered at the two trade shows, the parallel event agrarwelt offers a fitting complement to Fruchtwelt Bodensee. The exhibition’s third edition will cover topics such as bioenergy and wind power, regional cultivated landscapes, and agricultural technology. The supporting program will offer overall business strategies, with presentations by the consultant Johannes Willburger on financing and liquidity planning in agriculture, as well as farm transfers and meeting the challenges of business development. Also, Heiner Klett, legal officer at the Baden-Württemberg Farmers Association, will speak about legal requirements and options for farm transfers, and Rudolf Schmutz from the German Wind Energy Association will give a presentation entitled “Wind energy in the region.”

Admission fees and opening hours
Fruchtwelt Bodensee will be open from February 24 to 26, 2012. Opening hours on Friday and Saturday are 9 AM to 6 PM, and on Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM. A one-day pass costs €9 and includes admission to agrarwelt.