Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

From 27 to 30 January 2026, Messe Essen will once again become the beating heart of the global green industry as it hosts IPM ESSEN 2026.

The world-leading trade fair will bring together the entire horticultural value chain, offering a comprehensive look at plants, technology, floristry, garden features and the emerging trends shaping the horticultural future. This upcoming edition places strong emphasis not only on new products, but on the strategic transformation of the industry itself.

Visitors will explore how horticulture can embed sustainable business practices, harness the growing influence of artificial intelligence, captivate modern consumers and attract the skilled professionals and young talent the sector urgently needs. As Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, explains, “IPM ESSEN is the place where the green sector collectively tackles global challenges – in a practical, international and inspiring way. Our visitors experience not only trends but also viable solutions – from climate-resilient plants and new training concepts to sustainable technology.”

With around 1,400 exhibitors from 45 countries expected, the fair will serve as a major platform for ordering, networking and knowledge-sharing. Familiar industry leaders such as Florensis, Scheurich, Soendgen Keramik and Koopman International will return, showcasing the innovative products and services that continue to shape international horticulture. As in previous years, the exhibition grounds will be fully occupied and clearly organised by theme, ensuring smooth navigation for professional visitors.

The plant halls will display the sector in all its diversity—from perennials and young plants to herbs, balcony plants and cut flowers. A core focus will be plants that can withstand the realities of climate change, including drought-tolerant and heat-resistant species. Hall 2 will welcome the Gardener Forum, offering expert lectures on production, marketing and technology. A new highlight, the Wood Arena in Hall 7, will explore future-proof tree assortments for cities, forests and private gardens, alongside biodiversity-enhancing hedges. Messe Essen will also host the Green Cities Europe Award for the second year, celebrating impactful urban greening projects. Additionally, the Landgard Order Days | Spring Edition return in Hall 1A, providing a compact, inspiration-filled ordering platform.

Technology remains central to the future of horticulture, and IPM ESSEN 2026 will showcase cutting-edge solutions in automation, digitalisation and resource efficiency. The Horticultural Technology Innovation Center in Hall 4 will present forward-looking approaches to energy saving, water optimisation and logistics. The Cannabis.NET special area, led by the University of Hohenheim, will give insight into scientific developments in cannabis research. Hall 4 will also host the Horticultural Information Center, featuring practical demonstrations on peat-free substrates, biostimulants and novel cultivation techniques, and will present the IPM Novelties Showcase, awarding the top plant innovations on the first day.

Country pavilions from across Europe, Asia and the Americas will highlight global expertise and trade opportunities, with participation from Turkey, France, Denmark, Italy, the UK, Poland, Portugal and Israel. A stronger focus on the next generation will be seen through Training Day, the Careers + Future Forum, and the debut Young Entrepreneurs Day, featuring a keynote by musician and entrepreneur Joey Kelly.

Alongside the fair, the Congress Center Essen will host the BdB seminar and the “GaLaBau Outlook” congress, offering professional insight into urban greening and landscape architecture.

A major African Development Bank Group–funded programme is transforming fisheries management and boosting regional trade, improving the lives of nearly three million people across Southern Africa.

The Program for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE) has revitalised aquatic resource management and expanded cross-border fish commerce, with trade volumes now exceeding 500,000 tonnes over the past four years. This progress is driving job creation, strengthening food security, and enhancing climate resilience across 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations.

Backed by a $9.2 million ADF 15 grant, the initiative has delivered training, equipment, and technical support to more than 250,000 beneficiaries across seven African Development Fund countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Capacity-building programmes have covered a wide range of areas, including fish value chain development, post-harvest utilisation, SME growth, genetic improvement of indigenous tilapia species, policy harmonisation, and nutrition-focused fish product development. Support has also extended to fish stock assessments in shared water bodies, vessel monitoring systems, and improved collection of catch statistics.

During World Fisheries Day on 21 November, SADC, the African Development Bank Group, and partner organisations gathered in Gaborone to highlight the programme’s achievements since its 2022 launch. The celebration showcased tangible improvements in regional fish value chains and stronger consumer markets linked to enhanced governance and blue economy investment.

Domingos Gove,Director speaking for SADC Deputy Secretary for Regional Integration Angele Makombo Ntumba, said: "We are indebted to the African Development Bank Group for providing funding to implement this project within the Blue Economy space. This support has demonstrated our capacity to improve aquatic food systems for the benefit of over 380 million people in the region."

 Neeraj Vij,The African Development Bank’s Regional Sector Manager for Feed Africa Operations for Southern Africa,added: "The PROFISHBLUE project has shown best practices in regional integration of blue economy trade corridors and cross-border fish trade… This project demonstrates how strategic investment in fisheries governance can create competitive value chains that provide jobs and livelihoods while eradicating extreme poverty, especially in rural areas."

Key partners including FAO, UNIDO, WWF, WorldFish and ARSO have contributed crucial expertise. Regional leaders praised the programme’s role in providing a platform for shared learning, with testimonials from women in fisheries underscoring its inclusivity. One participant from Tanzania reflected: "We embarked on an investment journey that few smallholder entrepreneurs would consider piloting technology in seaweed farming. We appreciate the opportunity..."

Up to 300,000 smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda are set to benefit from a US$2mn technical assistance programme aimed at increasing cotton yields, strengthening value chains, and boosting rural incomes in a region where the crop is a cornerstone of livelihoods.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors approved the funds on 9 December 2025 to support the Cotton Value Chain Project in Northern Uganda. Financed by the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA)—a multi-donor trust fund hosted by AfDB—the initiative provides grants for technical support to enhance Africa’s private sector. The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, with a strong focus on revitalising rural economies and improving household incomes.

Cotton is central to Northern Uganda’s local economy, yet many farmers face low productivity due to limited access to quality inputs, weak market linkages, and outdated processing facilities. The project seeks to tackle these challenges by optimising performance across the entire cotton value chain, from farm production to processing and marketing.

Targeted interventions will help farmers increase yields through improved seed varieties, better farming practices, and expanded access to extension services. Cotton mills and cooperatives will receive support to modernise equipment and raise quality standards. At the same time, stronger connections between farmers, processors, and buyers are expected to stabilise prices and increase household earnings.

The initiative is expected to deliver broad benefits across local communities. In addition to the 300,000 direct beneficiaries, more than one million people including cotton growers, women, youth, and workers along the processing and trading value chain are projected to benefit.

Dorsaf Zangar-Labidi, AfDB Manager for Industrial Development, Trade and Investment Climate Division, emphasised the project’s people-centred approach: “This project will bring new opportunities to farming communities and thereby restoring dignity and improving livelihoods,” she said. “As a significant cash crop, investing in cotton means we are investing in jobs, incomes, climate resilience and even food security.”

Higher farm incomes are expected to enable families to invest more in education and healthcare, while new employment opportunities along the cotton value chain should encourage greater participation by youth and women. Strengthened farmer organisations will also provide producers with a stronger voice and better access to finance and markets.

Sustainability is a key focus of the programme. Training in climate-smart agriculture will equip farmers to cope with weather shocks and protect soil health. Overall, the project is projected to deliver higher cotton productivity, improved lint quality, expanded processing capacity, and stronger private sector engagement. By boosting local value addition, the initiative aims to retain more economic benefits within Uganda and reduce export losses.

“Over time, the gains expected from this project will contribute to poverty reduction, economic resilience and regional stability in the region,” Zangar-Labidi concluded.

European spraying innovation has taken a bold leap into the South African agriculture sector with the arrival of Vicar mist blower sprayers, a technology reshaping the way growers manage crop protection.

Developed over 40 years ago by Italian engineer Vincenzo Caroli in collaboration with LTS in Germany, this advanced sprayer design has become synonymous with intelligent airflow, high efficiency, and exceptional coverage. Now imported by Ikapa Trading in Grabouw, Vicar sprayers are fast becoming a favourite among farmers seeking smarter, faster, and more precise spraying solutions.

What sets the Vicar system apart is its pioneering radial turbine technology, which independent consultant Mike Heath who has witnessed decades of machinery evolution believes to be a game-changer. Unlike conventional axial flow sprayers that rely on propeller blades and lose speed as air moves through housings and deflectors, Vicar sprayers use a single turbine resembling a water wheel. This turbine sucks air in from both sides and moves it radially at a 90° angle, producing a consistent, high-velocity air stream.

The uniquely designed cast aluminium housing forces air through calibrated outlets only, resulting in a uniform exit speed of 250km/h to 280km/h at 540 PTO. Crucially, this system achieves optimal spray delivery while requiring up to two to three times less air volume than axial flow designs dramatically improving efficiency.

Vicar sprayers are also fitted with 360° rotating spray heads, each equipped with up to eight nozzles that move with the airflow for precise application. Heath explains that this makes every model adaptable: vineyards, orchards, tree crops, flowers, vegetables and dense plantations can all be targeted with outstanding coverage. The Vicar 540 reaches 12m per side and 25m in height, while the Vicar 450 covers 4m per side and up to 15m high ideal for vineyards and orchards. The 456 model enhances multirow spraying for modern high-density crops.

Vicar’s airflow control technology also allows operators to manipulate spray direction and prevent turbulence. Upper outlets can create an “air ceiling” to keep spray low for young crops, while lower outlets deliver targeted protection. With reduced drift up to 90% less environmental pollution, as tested by the Julius Kühn-Institut—Vicar ranks among the few sprayers meeting Germany’s strict regulations.

Heath adds that the sprayers’ ability to work faster at high air speeds means farmers can double their operational pace compared with axial fan sprayers. “Being able to work faster and spray multiple rows is allowing Vicar clients to substitute at least two conventional sprayers with one Vicar sprayer,” he notes.

Built for stability, especially on hilly terrain, Vicar’s trailed models feature double-axle frames, three-point linkage attachment, adjustable wheels and a short-turn system that improves manoeuvrability. Tanks include clean-water reservoirs for easy flushing, reducing contamination risks and enhancing longevity.

Despite being pricier than traditional sprayers, co-owner Neels Thiart says the machines pay for themselves quickly thanks to superior performance and durability. In Europe, their second-hand value remains exceptionally high: “In Europe you are able to sell one of these sprayers second-hand for almost the same price as you bought it,” he says.

With unmatched penetration, reduced drift, precision airflow and long-term value, Vicar sprayers are proving to be a formidable investment for South African farmers striving for smarter, more sustainable crop protection.