Berlin, 02 January 2024
The clock is ticking; and Messe-Berlin, in the spirit of its Motto, will soon be “Hosting the World”.
The International Green Week, one of the world’s largest trade fair for food, agriculture and horticulture is gearing to open its doors once again in this month, to be exact – from 19th to 28th January 2024.
The 88th edition in the series, the Green Week also serves as a starting point for the prestigious Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA).
The GFFA, the 16th in the series, has since established itself as the leading international conference on key issues for the future of the global agriculture and food industry which is further enriched by the presence of more than 70 ministers of agriculture.
The ten-day 2024 edition of the International Green Week will again serve as a meeting point for potential trading partners, end-users, trade visitors and the general public.
The International Green Week has also transformed itself into a major media event, attracting over 1,900 accredited journalists from around 25 countries.
The fair, at which products from more than 1,400 exhibitors from 60 countries with around 300,000 visitors in 2023 is expected to draw an even greater number of visitors this year, offering a taste of current developments in the global food trade.
The 2024 edition of the Green Week will be attended (as at the time of going to press), by the following African countries – Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia.
The International Green Week boasts a threshold of history behind it emerging as arguably the most traditional and best-attended trade fait in Berlin and one of the best known events in Germany.
The Green Week holds the record as one of the most regularly held trade shows in Germany involving over 101,900 exhibitors and 34 million visitors since 1926.
A bit of history here:
When the German Agricultural Society (DLG) held its winter conferences in Berlin at the end of the 19th century, green clothing dominated the cityscape for a whole week. At the same time, trade and industry offered profession-specific articles and consumer goods on the open street in the conference district. As this wild “trade and change” took on ever stronger forms, the farmer Hans-Jürgen von Hake, at the time an employee of the Berlin Tourist Office, had the idea of linking the conference with an agricultural exhibition on Kaiserdamm for the first time in 1926. “Grüne Woche” – the term was probably coined by journalists – was born.
This move met with unanimous approval at the time. Previously, riding and driving competitions, small animal exhibitions, a seed market and hunting shows were scattered all over Berlin. These were now presented for the first time in a compact 7,000 square metre space in a radio hall and a car hall and attracted more than 50,000 visitors in the opening year. At that time, the German capital itself still used a fifth of its territory for agriculture and horticulture. The city was home to 45,000 horses, 25,000 pigs, 21,000 dairy cows and more than half a million poultry. 200,000 Berliners owned an allotment garden. The largest exhibit at the first show was an iron-tyred universal tractor with 100 hp. The four-metre-high monster with wheels the size of a man’s head was seen as a sign of the beginning of mechanisation in agriculture.
About the Green Week
Green Week is one of the most traditional trade fairs nationwide and one of the best-known events in Germany. Founded in 1926 in the Berlin of the Golden Twenties, it is unique as the leading international trade fair for food, agriculture and horticulture. Exhibitors from all over the world present an extensive range of products on ten event days. In addition, Grüne Woche gives current social issues such as climate protection, circular economy, resource conservation and sustainable land use a stage. The 88th edition of Grüne Woche took place from January 19to 28, 2024. Grüne Woche is the starting point for the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA for short). The GFFA is the leading international conference on key issues for the future of the global agriculture and food industry. The highlight is the meeting of more than 70 ministers of agriculture.
About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair destination for 200 years, and has been one of the most important such hubs for many decades. Messe Berlin – the state’s own trade fair company – conceives, markets and organises hundreds of live events every year. It strives to be an outstanding host for visitors at all events, generate optimal business stimuli, and provide fair conditions for everyone. This concept is reflected in the company slogan: Messe Berlin – Hosting the World.
Text: AM with additional resources from Messe-Berlin
Photo Credit: Messe-Berlin