IPM ESSEN, one of the world’s leading events for horticluture which was scheduled for 25-28 January 2022, has been postponed to 24-27 January 2023, in light of rising COVID-19 cases worldwide
Messe Essen, the organiser, said that in close consultation with the partner associations, the event will enable exhibitors to transfer their registrations to IPM ESSEN 2023. In addition, the company also announced a two-day IPM Summer Edition from 13-14 June 2022, offering a mix of showcase and networking meetings.
Oliver P Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, explained, "While we have been working at full speed towards IPM ESSEN 2022, the situation of the pandemic has worsened considerably in the last few days with regard to the planning and realisation. Despite all the anticipation for the most important platform of the green sector, the uncertainty among the exhibitors and visitors is presently significant. We are therefore giving all companies that have registered so far, the opportunity to transfer their registration to the 2023 edition."
IPM Summer Edition in June 2022
According to Messe Essen, in order to meet the urgent demand for a communication platform next year, the IPM Summer Edition will provide the green sector an opportunity for exchange in trade and business relations. The event is said to be held both on-site and on a dedicated online platform.
Sabina Großkreuz, head of marketing at Messe Essen, provides an outlook on the summer event, "The IPM Summer Edition will be held as a two-day showcase with a networking character. We want to give market participants the opportunity to meet and present innovations. Experience shows that the pandemic situation relaxes in the summer so that this format can be realised in all probability. The IPM Summer Edition is not to be understood as a replacement for IPM ESSEN. The sector needs its usual date at the beginning of the year."
Eva Kähler-Theuerkauf, chairwoman of the advisory board and president of the North Rhine-Westphalia Horticultural Association added, "We are defying the pandemic and will see each other in June 2022 for the green industry information get-together with the format of a Summer Edition! We cannot imagine another year without IPM ESSEN. Last year in particular made us sorely miss the knowledge transfer, the personal discussions, the networking and also the emotional connection. The midsummer event is the new horticultural 'must-have' for our industry!"
Summer edition attracts reactions from the industry
Sebastian Heinje, an IPM exhibitor, said in favour of the two-day IPM Summer Edition, "Messe Essen has made the right decision to postpone IPM ESSEN 2022 by one year. In addition, the IPM Summer Edition will also offer the industry a platform in 2022 to present its products and innovations. The date in summer is perfectly chosen – we as Diderk Heinje Pflanzenhandel will definitely be there."
Deutsche CUXIN Marketing GmbH managing director Magnus Hoveling said, "We welcome the postponement of IPM ESSEN 2022 to January 2023. Against the background of the current Corona development, this decision was certainly without alternative. For us, participation in the IPM Showroom as part of the IPM Summer Edition in June represents an interesting opportunity: trendy, compact, very easy to implement and attention-grabbing thanks to the additional digital presentation."
