Agritechnica 2019: global and responsible agriculture

The Hanover exhibition, the international showcase of agricultural vehicles and equipment, presents itself once again with large numbers. There is also a rich schedule of meetings, with a focus on sustainable agriculture. The Innovation Award is back and there is a new prize for components. Other side activities include a Farming Simulator League tournament

Exhibitions continue to represent a fundamental exchange channel of commercial and know-how for producers, operators and users of every nation and product category, and in particular for agricultural machinery and equipment. One of the most important events for the sector is undoubtedly Agritechnica, which animates once again the Hanover exhibition complex in Germany, from November 10 to 16. The numbers that characterize the event are always significant, with 2,750 exhibitors from 51 countries, a total surface area of 394 thousand square metres, 23 pavilions, and visitors expected from all over the world (450 thousand attended the previous edition in 2017, of which 110 thousand came from 130 foreign countries). Organized by DLG, the German Agricultural Society, Agritechnica’s theme this year is “Global agriculture - Local responsibility”, with various insights on the sustainable future of agriculture thanks to “smart” technologies adapted to the characteristics of various regions of the world. The various meetings organized by DLG for this edition include the “Ag Machinery International” events, scheduled for November 13 and 14, dedicated respectively to the markets of Russia, Canada and Brazil, and of France and the United Kingdom. The latter will include discussions about European agriculture post-Brexit.

Components play an important role in the innovation processes of agricultural machinery and vehicles, and Agritechnica pays special attention to this sector with a show within the show - Systems & Components - with a rich calendar of events alongside the exhibition, for a dialogue on the most important issues that concern the products on show. The German showcase also dedicates an ad hoc prize for components - the System Components Trophy 2019 Engineer’s Choice - with a jury composed of engineers, developers of companies exhibiting at Agritechnica, choosing among all the submitted proposals. The result is a shortlist of 20 projects able to introduce product innovations, from which an online vote will determine three winners which will be announced on November 10. 

In terms of technical innovations, we also note the traditional Innovation Award, which this year saw the award of a gold medal and 39 silver medals, out of 291 submitted projects. The main award went to John Deere for the eAutoPower e8WD gearbox for high-powered tractors. The silver medals include the three that went to New Holland Agriculture for the Power Shift Function transmission line for high density giant balers, for the new threshing system of the CX Threshing combines, and the Baler Control System for the T7 tractors. Two other silver awards went to Forigo Roter Italia for the ModulaJet, a modular system for burying seeds on plastic film, and to Hortech srl for the Ventum self-propelled harvester. The Tractor of the Year award ceremony is also scheduled November 10, promoted by Trattori magazine, which sees five open field tractor finalists in the Tractor of the Year 2020 category, five vehicles for Best Utility 2020, and four for Best of Specialized 2020. All the finalists participate in the new Sustainable Toty award.

FederUnacoma is present in Hanover with an institutional stand (Hall 5, no. E12), which also aims to be a reference point for the 110 exhibiting member companies. The Federation will then present its upcoming exhibitions to the international press and public, in particular EIMA International 2020 (November 11/15), during a press conference scheduled for 12:30 on Wednesday November 13 in Room 15/16 of the Convention Centre of the Exhibition Complex. During the seven days of Agritechnica, Hall 32 hosts the Farming Simulator League tournament, which sees 150 teams compete in one of the most popular eSports games, with simulations of farming and breeding activities.  A prize pool of 12 thousand euros is up for grabs.