The new initiative is aligned with Agritechnica's guiding theme for 2019, "Global farming – local responsibility", which has been chosen to point visitors towards a sustainable future in agriculture. This will require sufficient food to be produced for a growing world population while natural resources are conserved, something that can only be done by using the latest innovative and smart technologies adapted to meet local conditions of agricultural regions worldwide.
Soil loss, low-quality seed, poor crop protection practices, lack of water and high yield losses affect many regions of the world, and the Acre of Knowledge will provide a stage for companies or institutions offering information transfer, operating concepts or development ideas with the potential to improve cultivation systems, enhance livelihoods or promote efficient crop management in all types of farming systems.
Agritechnica's organiser, the DLG (German Agricultural Society), has started signing up exhibitors to take part in the Special Feature, which will run throughout this year's trade fair from 10th to 16th November. Areas of expertise it is targeting include:
- simple methods for soil analysis and disease detection;
- improving tillage systems and planting for better crop establishment;
- plant protection principles for better crop health and operator safety;
- reducing water losses through improved resource management;
- advice on nutrient management and application technology;
- harvest and post-harvest technology for reducing yield losses;
- quality standards for improved market access and sustainable income.
The DLG says that participation in the Agritechnica Acre of Knowledge Special Feature will allow exhibitors to enter into a dialogue with professional visitors to this year's event, and allow them to introduce their concepts and ideas via a high-profile, forward-looking platform on a topic that touches every farmer worldwide. The Special Feature also supports the DLG's non-profit goal, in place since the organization started in 1885, which is to share practical international agricultural knowledge in order to optimize and improve farming methods.
Acre of Knowledge will be part of Agritechnica 2019, taking place at Hanover's Exhibition Grounds, Germany, from 10th to 16th November (with special preview days on 10th and 11th November). Two years ago, this prestigious event attracted a record attendance of 458,000, including 110,000 international visitors from 128 countries.
