Meet onsite again: Fruit Logistica 2022 will welcome over 2000 exhibitors

Anticipating FRUIT LOGISTICA, one of the largest and most important fairs of the fresh produce industry, which will take place on April 5-7 in Berlin, Germany, Fructidor chose to talk to Kai Mangelberger, Director of this trade show.

Mr. Mangelberger, how do you see the future of huge trade events in times of the pandemic?

- We have seen in recent months that international events can be held safely. Messe Berlin (the venue where Fruit Logistica usually takes place - ed.note) has also proven that the safety and hygiene concept is working. I know from talking to industry representatives that the desire for face-to-face encounters at a physical event is huge. Precisely because this has not been possible for so long. That's why our motto this year is "Meet onsite again".

Will there be limitations on the number of participants at Fruit Logistica (as it was announced in 2021)?

- The size and variety is what FRUIT LOGISTICA is all about. Therefore, a reduction in the number of participants is not foreseen for April. Especially since the capacity of the exhibition grounds is sufficient. Rather we are relying on other measures like admission controls and mandatory masks. We will announce exactly which measures these are in good time before the event.

What innovations would you like to bring to Fruit Logistica from InnoTrans, the leading international trade fair for transport technology?

- Over the past twelve years, when I was working for InnoTrans, there was a constant exchange of ideas and strategies between both FRUIT LOGISTICA and InnoTrans. Both shows are quite similar: they started only in the 1990s and developed within a few years to the world’s leading platforms of their industry. The goal is clear: to continue to offer the fresh fruit industry an international market platform of the highest quality. This includes a constant effort to develop and improve the show, especially by identifying new trends and developing new formats.

What will be new compared to previous shows in February?

- This year for the first time there will be a new format specifically for digital topics that’s called Smart Agri. We will have a dedicated area in hall 5.1 for this important and future-oriented topic, where companies will present digital solutions for pest control, AI technology for estimating fruit yields, intelligent reports and reliable forecasts, decision support systems, flying autonomous robots for fruit harvesting, and much more.

Do you already have a forecast on the approximate number of participants / exhibitors?

- We‘re expecting over 2,000 exhibitors from 80 countries. But FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 will not only be very international but will also reflect the entire value added chain for fresh produce across 25 halls, from producers to the point of sale, as well as key players in the industry.

If you wish to participate in FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 or have other questions, send your inquiry today