Visitors, particularly the approximately 4,000 farmers, and exhibitors welcomed this addition. The collaboration with DLG Benelux was undertaken to accelerate the professionalization of the BioMechaTech. In addition, DLG will recruit visitors among its German members, particularly in North-West Germany. This is expected to further increase the number of visitors.
The BioMechaTech, as part of the Bio-beurs, presents technical innovations, machines, systems (including barn systems), and services that support the specific needs of organic farmers. Themes such as optimum animal-friendliness, soil fertility, water management, combination crops, soil carbon sequestration as a contribution to climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation are some of the key topics of organic farming. Mechanization and technical innovations that provide related solutions strengthen the concept of organic farming. Thanks to the growth of organic farming, providing solutions to the mechanical and technical needs is also becoming increasingly profitable.
A further increase in the number of visitors to the Bio-beurs is expected in 2019. In the span of a year there are now hundreds more organic farmers and the number of farmers in transition is increasing every year. Moreover, the Bio-beurs is increasingly visited by mainstream farmers who are orienting themselves on organic practices. DLG is going to invite its German members to the Bio-beurs. We expect the number of farmer visitors to increase from around 4,000 in 2018 to 5,500 in 2019. The total number of visitors to the Bio-beurs was 10,000 in 2018 and will grow to 12,000.
Paulien Hoftijzer from DLG Benelux says, ‘DLG is a farmers' association with more than 28,000 members in over fifteen countries. We organize fairs ourselves in Germany and elsewhere. Through the collaboration with the Bio-beurs we can introduce our members to developments in the Dutch organic sector.'
Bavo van den Idsert, speaking on behalf of Bio-beurs b.v. and Bionext, says, ‘Collaboration with DLG gives a boost to our ambition to quickly take the BioMechaTech to a higher level and thereby strengthen the Bio-beurs for the organic farming sector. The aspect of regional internationalization is also good: North-West Germany and the Netherlands have a lot in common.'
