Key Takeaways
- AVF Summit 2025 will focus on knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration to advance vertical farming innovation.
- The event will feature sessions on global trends, climate action, urban agriculture, and investment in sustainable food systems.
- Confirmed speakers include representatives from greenhub solutions, Seoul Semiconductor, and Nando UAB, alongside academic and AVF leadership.
- A Start-up Challenge will showcase early-stage companies working on novel vertical farming technologies.
- Messe Dortmund and the Association for Vertical Farming continue to support industry development through the Summit platform.
AVF Summit 2025: Expanding Knowledge and Industry Dialogue
Since 2022, VertiFarm has served as a platform dedicated to the advancement of vertical farming innovation, facilitating knowledge exchange and showcasing developments within the industry. In 2025, emphasis will increase on fostering professional interactions among stakeholders, as the sector faces challenges primarily linked to scalability and energy costs.
The conference, organized alongside VertiFarm for the past three years, continues to support efforts to incorporate vertical farming innovation into sustainable agriculture. Hosted in Munich by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), the event promotes collaboration across business, science, and policy sectors, with the goal of shaping a future action plan for the decade ahead.
AVF Summit 2025: Key Topics and Program Overview
The AVF Summit 2025 will feature a program designed to address current challenges and opportunities in vertical farming innovation. The specialist agenda includes:
International Perspectives
Exploration of global trends, strategies, and examples from vertical farming projects across diverse regions.
Vertical Farming and Climate Action
Sessions will assess how vertical farming contributes to sustainability, resource efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction.
Investment and Innovation in Food Production
Presentations will focus on financing models, production breakthroughs, and operational barriers in the sector.
Cities as Agricultural Innovation Hubs
This segment explores the integration of vertical farming within urban food systems and smart city planning.
Start-up Challenge
Ten early-stage companies will pitch their solutions to a jury of investors, stakeholders, and institutions, encouraging visibility and feedback.
Science and Technology in CEA and Vertical Farming
Updates on recent research and emerging technologies in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and related systems will be shared.
AVF Summit 2025: Confirmed Speakers and Organizational Support
The AVF Summit will host a cross-section of professionals including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy experts. Notable confirmed speakers include:
- Alexander Jaworski, CEO of greenhub solutions GmbH (Germany), specializing in automated indoor farming tools.
- Marc Juárez Nicolau, Technical & Marketing Manager at Seoul Semiconductor Europe GmbH, an LED lighting manufacturer.
- Michal Slota, Marketing Manager at Nando UAB (Lithuania), a biotech company producing microbial products for agriculture.
- Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola, University of Turin (Italy), known for her work in vegetable crops and sustainable food chains.
AVF leadership will also participate. This includes:
- Prof. Joel Cuello, Ph.D., Vice Chairman of AVF and Professor of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona.
- Christine Zimmermann-Lössl, Chairwoman of AVF, who has been engaged in national and international vertical farming advocacy for many years.
Vertical Farming Innovation and the AVF Summit 2025’s Role
Christine Zimmermann-Lössl commented on this year’s theme, “Global Food Challenges: Vertical Farming as a Catalyst for Innovation & Climate Action,” highlighting the importance of recognizing vertical farming as an element within the broader agricultural system. According to Zimmermann-Lössl, fostering economic viability and sustainability in vertical farming requires increased collaboration and knowledge sharing—two goals the AVF Summit is structured to advance.
The event is organized with the continued support of Messe Dortmund, whose representatives emphasize the importance of creating a space for strategic exchange in response to global agricultural challenges.
“Companies – whether start-ups or established players – that dedicate themselves to this task deserve all the support they can get,” said Angelika Bauer, Head of Trade Fair and Exhibition Services at Messe Dortmund.
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