The world's leading forum for the future of the agricultural industry, Agritechnica 2011, has started with record participation by exhibitors. Up to and including Saturday, November 19, 2011, the Exhibition Grounds in Hanover will be the meeting place for the global agricultural sector. Altogether 2,748 companies from 48 countries, comprising 2,698 direct exhibitors and 50 additionally represented companies, are presenting a complete program of agricultural machinery and equipment.

The number of exhibitors has grown by 17 percent compared with the last event in 2009. At the same time the floor space occupied by the exhibition has grown by 17 percent too. With these outstanding attendance results, Agritechnica impressively bolsters its leading position as largest international exhibition for agricultural machinery and equipment.

The stand bookings reflect the upswing and increasingly global interlinkage of the entire agricultural industry, as well as the distinct rise in the economic significance of agriculture. Agriculture and agricultural machinery represent the future and assume the key role in feeding the growing world population.

Outstanding international participation

The international participation in the exhibition has grown outstandingly by almost a quarter compared with 2009. The largest contingents of the altogether 1,372 foreign companies come from Italy (322 companies), the Netherlands (112) France (92), China (82), Austria (76), Turkey (72), Denmark (59), the USA (54), Canada (49), the United Kingdom (44), Poland (41), Spain (39), India (36) and Finland (34). It is conspicuous that numbers from nearly all countries have increased. DLG rates this as a clear indication that international manufacturers are increasingly using Agritechnica as the gateway to global markets.

At the same time, DLG sees this as confirmation of its marketing campaign, with Agritechnica run-up events held in many countries and further expansion of the travel service, this being reflected for instance in 14 official country pavilions.

Agriculture a key industry in the 21st century

Agriculture is "in" throughout the world. It is one of the key industries of the 21st century. Within just a short space of time there has been a paradigm shift. World demand for agricultural commodities is increasing steadily.

This development has led to new self-confidence throughout the agricultural sector. ‘Farming is future’ – this slogan expresses the currently ongoing upswing. And agriculture is perceived as one of the essential sectors of the macro-economy. It is acceptable in society and possesses the competence for solving fundamental questions relating to the future, namely sufficient quantities of high quality foods and safe, low-cost energy for electricity, heat and mobility.

Mood among European farmers certainly positive

The new self-confidence of farmers is based on the distinctly improved economic situation and is reflected in the positive mood that can be felt today.

This is also revealed by the results and trends pointed up by the Trendmonitor Europe survey that DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) conducted in autumn 2011 together with Europe's leading agricultural market research institute Kleffmann (Lüdinghausen, Westphalia).

According to the results of the survey, farmers in Germany, France and the United Kingdom consider their current business situation to be stable at a high level. Looking at the trend over several years, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary also display a positive assessment of the present business situation. These countries have evidently "arrived in Europe" and are orienting large parts of their production to global frameworks.

As the results for Germany, France and the United Kingdom also show, expectations of future business development remain at a high level despite economic uncertainties. And the farmers and investors in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are expecting positive business developments for their enterprises in future. This shows the optimism that characterizes businesses in the agricultural sector.

Unique technical program

With its unique range of information covering all aspects of agricultural machinery and equipment and its many information events on the key issues that will be affecting us in future, Agritechnica provides orientation for forthcoming decisions. It is an indispensable forum for the future for the entire agricultural sector, for this is where the world's expertise from industry, agriculture, academia and the consultancy sector gathers in concentrated form.

The exhibition is thus not only an innovations platform for the latest in modern machinery and equipment, but also a provider of ideas and impetus for the prime questions of the future concerning agri-business and agricultural machinery and equipment. In a large number of international events such as congresses, workshops and forums, machinery and equipment trends will be pointed up and all key questions relating to the future of agriculture and agricultural machinery will be addressed.

Furthermore, representatives from academia, the consultancy sector, industry and practical farming will be presenting current trends and important developments, discussing interesting themes of the industry in five forums set up in the Agritechnica halls.

Agritechnica 2011: Meeting place for young farmers from all over Europe

It is impressive how the young generation is accepting the challenge of the future and facing up to its demands. Young farmers are seeking concepts for the future in order to set the course for themselves and their farms successfully for the next ten to twenty years.

This year the young farmers from many different European countries will be shaping the picture of Agritechnica more than in previous years. With a separate information program addressing European young farmers and students on 17 and 18 November, DLG offers an ideal platform for this. It is marked by international panel discussions and job forums. Once again the "Young Farmers Party" on 17 November in the TUI Arena next to the Exhibition Grounds will be a highlight. The 3,500 tickets are sold out.

High numbers of visitors expected

Steering the correct course to navigate the new opportunities and challenges results in an exceptional demand for information among farmers from Germany and other countries. DLG therefore once again expects high visitor interest, as at the preceding event in 2009 with its roughly 350,000 visitors, including 80,000 international visitors.