Visitor numbers up 19 per cent for sixth edition of the fair
This year’s GreenTech Americas saw a 19 per cent increase in unique visitors compared to the previous edition. More than 7,000 visitors – including 250 exhibitors – attended the sixth edition of the trade show, held at the Querétaro Congress Centre on 24-26 March.
During the first day, Bionomic was announced as the winner of the new GreenTech Americas Innovation Award for its BioShield, a biological product that supports both organic and conventional agriculture. Second place went to Será, a dynamic platform that enables users to communicate and develop strategies for their greenhouse without needing to be autonomous.
Jorge del Toro, general director of Mexico’s Finka, commented: “GreenTech Americas was a great experience. I had the opportunity to reconnect with friends, clients, and suppliers, and also meet new people in the industry. It’s a great space to strengthen relationships and have meaningful conversations about where our industry is going”.
Suga Kumaravel, director of five-time Indian exhibitor Suga Coco, said: “We want to showcase our products to the South and Latin American markets because we expect a great deal from the Mexican market. At GreenTech Americas, we connect with growers. That’s why we are participating as exhibitors for the fifth time”.
In addition to the trade show, the event’s conference programme featured knowledge sessions addressing key challenges and opportunities in modern horticulture. Topics included financial planning, sustainable production, climate, water and energy management, automation and data driven cultivation. There was also a Leafy Greens Workshop.
For the third time a Power Day was organised with this year’s theme of ‘People First: Your people, your greatest asset’. It described how a corporate culture of strategy, planning and training generates efficiency, well-being and retention, with speakers Erik Pekkeriet of Wageningen University & Research, Jorge del Toro of Finka and Oscar Woltman of Phoenix Consultoría.
Pekkeriet said: “The Power Day shows how mature and professional the Mexican greenhouse industry already is. Strong management is in place; the next step lies in smarter implementation of technologies that support workers and drive quality and added value. Simple sensors, IT systems and a collaborative, coaching-led approach can significantly improve efficiency and appreciation across operations”.
