This year, I attended IPM Essen in Germany for the first time. With over 2,000 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors across a four-day event, it was unlike anything I’d experienced before.
The halls were filled with a vast array of industry experts from around the world—growers, breeders, machinery specialists, growing media suppliers, fertiliser companies, and more.
Having never attended the event before, I didn’t go in with a long list of expectations. My goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the European market, explore collaborations with UK partners, and catch up with several of my contacts.
One of my biggest takeaways was just how much I learned about the industry. Seeing the sheer scale of horticulture and its global impact was incredibly humbling. But beyond that, the level of innovation, passion, and forward-thinking among attendees and businesses left me feeling even more excited about the future of the industry.
As with any trade show, the face-to-face interactions were invaluable. Ironically, I ended up spending more time with people based in the UK in Germany than I do with them back home! But that’s exactly what these events are for, right?
I had the chance to reconnect with candidates and clients I’ve worked with previously, while also building new relationships both in the UK market and beyond.
Essen was packed with industry advancements—where do I even begin?
Air-Pot® launched a new generation of containers.
Selecta showcased an innovative propagation system using cuttings rooted offshore in paper bags without substrate. The samples I saw produced healthy plants with strong root systems.
Modiform introduced a new sustainable tray designed to accommodate multiple pot sizes, offering great benefits for growers with diverse crops.
And of course, there were countless new plant varieties, machinery developments, and more.
One key lesson for next time: plan meetings in advance and book them close together. I naively assumed I’d bump into people as I do at UK trade shows, but given the scale of IPM Essen, that wasn’t the case. In fact, I ran into more familiar faces at the airport than at the event itself!
For any other first-time attendees, here are a couple of my top tips: wear comfy shoes, everyone is in trainers, and I did 22,000 steps a day so comfy shoes are a must. Plan your visit strategically. It’s about a 15-minute walk between Hall 1 and Hall 8 so where possible, get meetings booked methodically! The app is one of the best I’ve seen. It has everything you need to know on there.
Attending IPM Essen reinforced the importance of staying immersed in the industry. Understanding new innovations and trends first-hand means that when we get back to the day job, we genuinely know what we’re talking about. Events like these help us continue to be true horticulture recruitment experts. So, on that note, drop me a message or let’s schedule a chat to talk through any of your horticulture recruitment needs!
Sarah Want | Horticulture
Team Manager
sarah@morepeople.co.uk | 01780 480 530
