+ + + Peat reduction is an important forum topic today

A joint strategy will be published in the position paper, with the intention of inviting politicians and the trade to harmonize the goals for goal reduction in a constructive and viable way. Eva Kähler-Theuerkauf, Vice President of the German Horticultural Association (ZVG), Ulrike Wegener, Managing Director of the Gütegemeinschaft Substrate für Pflanzen (GGS), Niels Sommer, Bund deutscher Baumschulen (BdB) e.V., and Thomas Kramer, spokesperson for the Substrates, Soils, Raw Materials department at the Industrieverband Garten (IVG), will present the position paper and be available to answer questions at the press conference at the "Innovationscenter Gartenbautechnik". The event is open to the public.

The reason for the position paper is the existing dilemma in Germany regarding the different target formulations for peat reduction. The intention of the signatory organizations is to present solutions to conflicting issues, to increase sustainability in horticulture and to maintain economic competitiveness against imports. This is because growing media for professional horticulture and soils for the consumer sector form an essential basis for all horticultural activities. Peat as a raw material plays an ambivalent role here.

Other topics in the forum

The Horticultural Technology Innovation Center in Hall 4 is a forum where trade visitors can expand their knowledge of current and future-oriented technology topics such as sustainability, peat reduction, automation and energy. The forum will be accompanied by an exciting supporting program.

The following events are still on the program today:

• 11:00 a.m.- IVG expert discussion - Philip Testroet, Anik Keller, Peter Menke, Heribert Wettels: Water in the garden - active together for sustainable water use
• 11:30 a.m. - Hochschule Geisenheim University - Benjamin Spehle, M. Sc: WinUM 2.0 - Communicating the consequences of climate change in the virtual vineyard
• 12:00 p.m.- Gramoflor - Ulrike Fockenberg: For growth with a clear conscience: Gramoflor on the road to sustainability
• 12:30 p.m.- Kokosflora Substrate - Ramkumar Palanisamy, Sönke Hartkamp: Peat replacement products from overseas: kokosflora - a less carbon emission company
• 1:00 p.m. - HOT network - Prof. Dr. Paul Lampert, Johannes Grote, M. Sc: Model and demonstration project: "Hobby gardening with peat-reduced & peat-free substrates based on renewable raw materials" (HOT)
• 13:30- Meo Carbon - Katrin Jaeger: HORTICERT - Certification of sustainable peat substitutes
• 2:00 p.m.- Stauden Ring - Nicole Klattenhoff: Green Learning App (German/English)
• 15:00- Panel discussion - Sarah von Fintel (Global G.A.P.), Katharina Schwab (FairTrade), John Janssen (SMK/ Sustainable Florist), Maik Mandemaker (MPS), Dr. Karlheinz Kroell (BLUETENPRACHT Frischblumen GmbH): Certification of plants: license to operate, or lucrative step?