“We see, especially here in Germany, a steady trend from open field strawberries to covered cultivation. This was the main reason for us to participate, as many soft fruit growers do traditionally come to Karlsruhe.” That’s what the team with Looije Agro Technics shared when asked about their debut on the expoSE / expoDirekt, which took place this week in Karlsruhe, Germany. The trade show, focusing on the strawberry and asparagus, have broadened considerably, and again counted 60 companies making their debut, resulting in a mix of traditional suppliers and, more and more, greenhouse companies. For example, an international supplier may be positioned next to a local farm shop. “But oh well, that is also the charm of this event,” one exhibitor aptly summed up the uniqueness of the expoSE/expoDirekt.

On both days, it was pleasantly busy in both exhibition halls where 426 exhibitors from 16 countries presented their novelties and products. Most exhibitors are still from Germany and the Netherlands, although French, Polish, Italian, Spanish and some Eastern Europeans also took part.

© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com

New exhibitors predominantly positive
At the same time, there are also exhibitors who return after several years, including machine supplier Top Control from South Tyrol. “For us, it may have been 10 years since we last had our own stand. Back then, we still had a limited portfolio, which put us a bit out of place here. Meanwhile, we have grown fast and this is just the perfect platform for us. So, we’ll definitely come back next year.”

Covered soft fruit growing on the rise, asparagus growing in transition
As some exhibitors point out, protected growing is on a steady rise, particularly in Germany, but also in other countries in western and central Europe. Consequently, due to the disappearance of traditional outdoor growing and the scaling up of mostly smaller, but more efficient crops on racks and under foil tunnels, the total protected acreage is declining. Growers who do not keep up with the pace of change will eventually mostly disappear, experts and suppliers predict.

Meanwhile, a similar development is taking place within the asparagus sector. “Previously, you could still see growers literally and figuratively letting older plots bloom. Nowadays, these kinds of plots go out earlier and are replanted, mostly with more modern varieties,” reports one planting material supplier. In terms of variety innovation, however, things are not keeping up: Limgroup took the opportunity to present the new variety Ruralim and Enza Zaden is also working on a new variety for North-West European cultivation, which will be marketed from next season and has no official name as yet.

Sustainable packaging alternatives needed
A hot topic in the sector at the moment is the dreaded PPWR packaging law, effective from 2030 across the EU. Suppliers are already responding to this after several years without too many innovations with new, sustainable packaging and are massively calling on the industry to switch to PPWR-compliant packaging and associated machinery in time. This necessary switchover is also expected to continue in the coming years until its official introduction on 1-1-2030, although the urgency does not yet seem to have dawned on everyone, suppliers said.

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For more information:
https://www.expo-se.de/