Three stages for knowledge, practice and innovation at IPM Essen 2026

From 27 to 30 January, IPM Essen 2026 will offer trade visitors a varied programme on three stages at Messe Essen: the Gardeners Forum in Hall 2, the Innovation Center Horticultural Technology in Hall 4 and the new Woodland Arena in Hall 7. All forums combine current research, practical know-how and forward-looking trends in horticulture.

The Gardeners Forum in Hall 2 will once again be one of the central knowledge platforms at IPM Essen in 2026. Industry experts, exhibiting companies and institutions will address the topics that are driving the market. Fred Kruisselbrink from Anthura will provide information on energy efficiency in horticulture and outline strategies for reducing CO₂ emissions. His sessions take place on Tuesday, 27 January, from 10.30 to 11 a.m.; Wednesday, 28 January, from 2 to 2.30 p.m.; Thursday, 29 January, from 2.30 to 3 p.m.; and Friday, 30 January, from 11.30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Floris Tas, Director of Sales at Selecta One, will focus on the sustainable substrate-free rooting system "RCS 2.0" in his presentation on Thursday, 29 January, from 1 to 1.30 p.m. Market potential and the legally compliant handling of cannabis will be addressed by Matthias Coufal, Managing Director of Hans Brainfood GmbH and BudVoyage, on Tuesday, 27 January, from 1.30 to 2 p.m., and again on Thursday, 28 January, from 2 to 2.30 p.m.

Leon Hünting from Brandkamp will speak on Tuesday, 27 January, from 11.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the topic "Customers of the future: How we as breeders prepare our partners for Gen Z." On Friday, 30 January, from 11 to 11.30 a.m., Oboya will bring international expertise to the forum, with CEO Robert Wu providing insights into how artificial intelligence is positively influencing the global horticultural supply chain. A panel discussion on Thursday, 29 January, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon will explore how Fairtrade is strengthening the position of women in global cut flower supply chains.

Other participants in the Gardeners Forum include Bailey Nurseries, Florensis, Fleurizon, Landgard, Pflanzentheke, WIR SIND GARTEN, Kekkilä-BVB, Staudenring, Ulmer Verlag and Haymarket Media.

© IPM Essen

The Innovation Center Horticultural Technology in Hall 4 will focus on digitalisation, automation and new technologies. PurPest will present innovative digital pest and pathogen detection on Tuesday, 27 January, from 3 to 3.30 p.m. Gramoflor Managing Director Stefan Kreft will speak on Thursday, 27 January, from 2 to 2.30 p.m. on the topic "Together. Reliable. Safe. Making peat substitutes manageable."

On Thursday, 29 January, from 4 to 4.30 p.m., Frank Höbener, Managing Director of NTIC Europe, will talk about the use of bio-based, soil-degradable polymers. Sapro Energy will give a presentation on Friday, 30 January, from 10 to 10.30 a.m. titled "Scientific validation: impact on soil fertility and mechanisms of CO₂ sequestration." In a joint presentation on Friday, 30 January, from 11 to 11.30 a.m., CEOs Eric Kaiser of Karuna Technology and Ron Richter of Klimafarmer will showcase new approaches to efficient urban greening and measurable climate impact using biochar substrates and satellite-based vegetation monitoring.

Additional slots in the Innovation Center are filled by partners such as the North Rhine-Westphalia Horticultural Association, Biobest Group, Boum Garden, Baum & Bonheur, Presciosa Ornela, Air Tray Technology, 420flow GmbH, the University of Hohenheim, Gartenbau-Versicherung, Evergreen Garden Care, greenhub solutions, hexafarms, Urban Greenery, Pflanztheke and the Julius Kühn Institute.

The new Woodland Arena in Hall 7 will focus on sustainable trees and shrubs, urban greenery and climate adaptation, addressing the future of trees in cities. Numerous partners will contribute to a varied agenda of lectures and panel discussions. The Association of German Nurseries will be represented four times, with Thorsten Krohn speaking on woody plants as underestimated heroes of landscapes on Tuesday, 27 January, from 11.15 a.m. to 12 noon. Holger Hachmann will discuss the future viability of rhododendrons on Wednesday, 28 January, from 10.15 to 11 a.m., Peyrik Möller will present plants for flood-prone areas on the same day from 2 to 2.45 p.m., and Christoph Dirksen will talk about trees for the future city on Thursday, 29 January, from 10.15 to 11 a.m.

Dr Andreas Wrede from the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Agriculture will report on the Federal woody plant inspection on Tuesday, 27 January, from 1 to 1.45 p.m. Claudia Taeger from the Bavarian State Research Center for Viticulture and Horticulture will present modern rose varieties and the ADR label on Tuesday, 27 January, from 2 to 2.45 p.m. Jonathan Ruhm from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation will focus on genetic biodiversity and the importance of regionally native woody plants on Wednesday, 28 January, from 1 to 1.45 p.m.

Dr Mona Quambusch from the Julius Kühn Institute will speak on Thursday, 29 January, from 11.15 a.m. to 12 noon on urban trees under stress, examining water availability, tree health and growth in urban environments. Annette Hackbarth will offer insights from the perspective of the trade journal Deutsche Baumschule on "Nurseries in the public perception" on Thursday, 29 January, from 1 to 1.45 p.m. Joana Gasper from the German Federal Association of Landscape Gardeners will discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing urban tree strategies as part of municipal climate adaptation on Thursday, 29 January, from 2 to 2.45 p.m.

Wolfgang Telöken from the University of Kassel will address climate-resilient urban development from the perspective of the housing industry on Friday, 30 January, from 10.15 to 11 a.m. The Center for Climate Adaptation at the German Institute for Urban Studies, represented by Moritz Frese, will demonstrate how local authorities can effectively implement climate adaptation through nature-based measures on Friday, 30 January, from 11.15 a.m. to 12 noon. Further presentations will be given by Prof. Martin Thieme-Hack from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and Claudia Daldrup from the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture.

The programme is continuously updated and is available at the link here.