FRANKFURT, Germany — More than 2,400 exhibitors from 49 countries have already registered to participate in this year’s top international trade fair for agricultural machinery and equipment, Agritechnica, 2015, which features several exciting new ventures.

As a prime innovations platform, Agritechnica 2015 in Hanover, Germany, from November 10-14, (preview days on November 8-9) will transmit new and positive impulses for the international agricultural machinery and equipment market, says event Project Manager Freya von Czettritz.

“The registration results so far are roughly at the same level as those for the record event two years ago. In particular the early enquiries from exhibitors, as well as from visitors, document the great interest in the world’s leading trade fair, Agritechnica”, adds Ms von Czettritz, who adds that “many trailblazing innovations for professional crop production can be expected this autumn”.

Among the other exciting “firsts” at Agritechnica 2015 will be the new modules for Smart Farming, a special “Major Crops Worldwide” section, an “International Dealer and Service Provider Centre and a separate “Campus & Career” sector covering all aspects of jobs, training, education and careers.

International Participation Increases

International participation at Agritechnica is continuing to rise and currently lies at 54 per cent. The largest contingents of the 1,280 international exhibitors registered so far come from Italy (344 companies), followed by the Netherlands (112), Turkey (92), France (91), Austria (65), Poland (61), China (50), the USA (46), Spain (42), Denmark (41), the United Kingdom (40), Finland (38) and Canada (36).

The organizing body, DLG, considers the high level of international participation is a clear sign of the further increasing global alignment of the companies and agribusiness with their worldwide interconnections. It believes the companies aim to use the Agritechnica platform specifically in order to tap into new markets.

Global Innovations Forum

Other reasons for the outstanding demand on the part of exhibitors lie in the event’s leading position as the meeting place for the agricultural machinery and equipment industry, attracting business farmers, contractors, dealers and traders from all over the world. Two years ago, for example, around 450,000 visitors – including 107,000 international visitors – came to Agritechnica to gather information.

The high level of demand is also due to it being regarded as is the world’s innovations showcase for the manufacturers. They align their innovation cycles with Agritechnica and present their new products to the global market there.

Furthermore, Hanover is an excellent site, with the world’s largest exhibition grounds offering optimal conditions for both exhibitors and visitors. In addition, with its top-flight technical program incorporating a large number of international events such as congresses, forums and press conferences, Agritechnica is considered to be the most important future forum for the agricultural sector, where technology trends are highlighted and all key future-related issues for agriculture and agricultural engineering are addressed.

Among the new features this year will be:

New Modules for “Smart Farming”

One of the most important prerequisites for producers and manufacturers is to know one’s production factor ‘site’ – soil quality, nutrient supply, water availability, yield capability etc. – and to establish crop stands to match this. The broad thematic complex of Smart Farming offers digital solutions that expediently link and interpret the collected data here.

How can farmers find the right solution that will optimize their own individual management system from among the wealth of possibilities available? Answers to this question will lie at the heart of the Agritechnica Special “Digital Cropping: Decode your site – understand your yield”. Manufacturers will be presenting the appropriate technologies and systems, in a unique information platform that will allow visitors to compare systems and offerings under one roof.

New: “Major Crops Worldwide”

Rice, soy, sugar cane, cotton, etc. cover millions of hectares worldwide, but yields still need to be increased to meet future demand for foodstuffs, feedstuffs and renewable raw materials. Farmers, consultants and political decision-makers are all looking for the latest technical solutions, strategies and experience drawn from practice. The new Agritechnica Special “Major Crops Worldwide” will provide an excellent opportunity for exchanging opinions and experiences with exhibitors and decision-makers from many countries about appropriate potential solutions. 

New: “International Dealer and Service Provider Centre” 

DLG, the German dealer association LandBauTechnik-Bundesverband and the association of European machinery dealers CLIMMAR are working together to set up a pioneering “International Dealer and Service Provider Centre” at Agritechnica 2015.

Expert service companies from the segments of financing, insurance, logistics, used machinery platforms, transport forwarders, customs handling and personnel services etc. will be presented In the integrated service centre, providing an excellent platform for establishing contacts worldwide, for instance to buyers interested in used machinery.

A new facet in 2015 will be the daily feature talks, for example on questions relating to machinery insurance or customs formalities when exporting used machinery and equipment.

Special “Workshop LIVE” 

In co-operation with the German machinery dealer association LandBauTechnik-Bundesverband, Agritechnica 2015 will also include a new edition of the Special “Workshop LIVE,” with practical demonstrations of maintenance and conversion work on the latest machinery and equipment. This will be accompanied by an expert commentary, to illustrate what demands are made at the different qualification levels (apprentice, service technician and master craftsman) of agricultural and construction machinery mechanics. An extensive range of information on this profession will be available from the training providers.

New: “Campus & Career”: Training – Job – Science

With its innovative new “Campus & Career” section at Agritechnica 2015, DLG is organizing a separate career sector in Pavilions 33 and 35 under the large wooden roof this year. It will offer job seekers and young career starters a central port of call for occupational orientation in the agricultural machinery and agricultural sector.

“Campus & Career” covers all aspects of occupations and jobs, further education and training, careers, as well as science and research. Alongside exhibitors’ stands for personnel recruitment, established features such as the Young Farmers Day, Campus and DLG Career and Job Counselling will be available. This sector’s technical agenda with its stage, red sofa and action areas, supplements all this with a broad and fascinating program – not only for newcomers to the agricultural machinery sector. Exhibitors here will also have the opportunity to conduct personal interviews with candidates in special meeting rooms in the Lounge.

“Systems & Components”

Due to popular demand, Agritechnica is again staging its international platform for presenting systems, modules, components and accessories for agricultural machinery and equipment and related industries with its “Systems & Components” sector.

This gives visitors the opportunity to get to know new products in the fields of motors and engines, hydraulics, axles, drive technology, cabs, electronics, replacement and wear parts, and corresponding software. At the same time the platform opens up diverse opportunities for dialogue between experts, discussions on cooperation and establishing business contacts.

Future Forum of the Ag Sector – Top-Flight International Program

With its top-flight technical programme incorporating a large range of international events including congresses, workshops and forums, Agritechnica is considered to be the most important future forum in the agricultural sector.

This is where the latest technology trends are highlighted and all key future issues of agriculture and agricultural machinery are addressed – and this year is expected to be even better, as several new areas will be highlighted.

For instance the international congress “LAND:TECHNIK - AgEng 2015” organized by the knowledge forum VDI Wissensforum will be presenting and discussing the current developments in agricultural machinery and equipment, as well as the latest results from research on November 6-7.

And following its successful start two years ago, the international event series “Ag Machinery International - Access to emerging markets” will again be the focus of interest for many visitors.

On different days of the trade fair, attention will center on Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Tanzania and Belarus. Market potentials, access to the markets, financing frameworks and technology requirements will be explored.

A “Systems & Components” event on component markets with a focus on the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – will also be launched this year. In addition, the European Young Farmers and Student Day organized by Young DLG together with national and international partners for Agritechnica 2015 will attract great attention.

A rich international technical program will be offered in various exhibition halls with special forums, in German/English/Russian (simultaneous interpreting). Representatives from the fields of science, consultancy, industry and practical farming will present current trends and major developments in industry-related fields in five different forums every day: 

• Forum 1 “Crop Production “ in Hall 15
• Forum 2 “Technology and Management" in Hall 8
• Forum 3 “Major Crops Worldwide” in Hall 21 (in English)
• Forum 4: “Systems & Components” in Hall 16 (in English)
• Forum 5: “Campus & Career” in Pavilion 33, under the large wooden roof

International Contact Forum “Match & Meet”

Once again there will be an international “Match & Meet” contact forum at Agritechnica to help establish co-operation and business partnerships. From September onwards, exhibitors and visitors can register online with their profile and their specific search data or offerings. A special software will compare supply and demand and initial meetings can be arranged at Agritechnica.

New – International Visitors’ Lounge in World Expo Pavilions

A new “International Visitors’ Lounge” will provide a central meeting place for visitors from all over the world at Agritechnica 2015 in Pavilion 32 under the large wooden roof (south of Hall 26), directly next to the large DLG Information Stand. Visitors from home and abroad can meet their business partners, hold discussions and plan their tour of the exhibition there. Furthermore, free internet connections will be available so visitors can check their emails and contact their companies and business partners all over the world.

Multilingual Information Service on the Internet

DLG has set up a special, multilingual information service on the internet so that all interested can gather information about Agritechnica 2015 quickly and comprehensively. The current Agritechnica internet pages include information on the exhibitors, travel service, innovations (as of late September/early October) and the international technical program. To help plan visits optimally and for orientation in the Exhibition Grounds, reminder lists with route functions through the individual trade fair halls will be available as of September. The web address is: www.agritechnica.com.