According to estimates from the United Nations, around 9.8 billion people will need to be fed by 2050. And yet water, arable farmland and fossil fuels are in short supply. New forms of food production are required if we are to protect resources and not impact the environment any further. Many start-ups are working on ideas. 20 will put forward their strategies on the first Start-up Day at FRUIT LOGISTICA.

According to the FAO over 40 percent of food is being spoiled in developing countries due to a lack of storage. The Nigerian company ColdHubs offers new refrigeration cells that are operated using solar technology and are safe to walk on. They enable small producers to store their fruit and vegetables, reducing after-crop losses by 80 percent according to ColdHubs. Farmers earn more this way and are therefore able to better provide for their families. The Egyptian company SunCity also uses solar energy. It offers solar-powered pumps, which farmers can use to irrigate their fields, without having to resort to environmentally harmful and expensive diesel.

Many start-ups use robotics to simplify fruit and vegetable production. For example, over seven million tonnes of apples were harvested by hand in the USA in 2016. The harvesting robots of Israeli company FFRobotics is able to harvest 10,000 pieces of fruit per hour with their six, specially developed gripping arms and set them down gently on a conveyor. Software based on Artificial Intelligence makes this possible. The greenhouses of Canadian start-up Motorleaf also rely on AI. Data for lighting, irrigation, temperature and air humidity are continuously recorded and analysed. The accuracy of the harvest forecasts increases and the risk of pests damaging the plants is reduced.

Dutch start-up PATS Indoor Drone Solutions offers a flying innovation to combat pests. Mini drones independently identify harmful insects in the greenhouse and eliminate them. The benefit is fewer pesticides, less work and healthier fruit.

This year, for the first time, there is a Start-up Day. What do you hope it will achieve?

The Start-up Day is another building block with which we are reinforcing FRUIT LOGISTICA as a platform for innovation. Start-ups often think out of the box and can give valuable food for thought. This way, we are already addressing topics today that could be relevant for the entire industry in the future.

The fair is also offering a new platform for the Global Women’s Network. Why?

In the fruit and vegetable industry there are many women in management positions. We would like to give them a forum for exchange, inspiration and networking. Furthermore, five women from four continents will give lectures covering the entire value chain, in which they will share their expertise and experience.

And what comes after the fair?

We will definitely continue to develop both platforms. We are planning to host the next Global Women's Network event at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA. The Start-up Day will also be expanded further, as we have seen that it harbours an incredible amount of potential.

Just spotted at FRUIT LOGISTICA: new and extraordinary fruits and vegetables.

For three days, all attention was on fruit and vegetables at the trade fair in Berlin. The 27th FRUIT LOGISTICA was more international than ever, with exhibitors from 90 countries. For the first time ever, there was a Start-up Day and an industry get-together of the Global Women’s Network. In the final report, the organisers and exhibitors will be taking stock. It will be published on Tuesday, 12 February with a range of statements and facts about FRUIT LOGISTICA 2019.

www.fruitlogistica.com/Press/

Databases, artificial intellligence, mini drones and robots: 20 companies present innovations for the sector at FRUIT LOGISTICA’s Start-Up Day. They are the subject of the video on the third and last day of the exhibition. The FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award will also be presented today. The video about this and further impressions can be found on our YouTube channel.

All videos and interviews at:

www.youtube.com/channel/FruitLogistica

Mark your calendar: The next FRUIT LOGISTICA will take place from February 5 to 7.

Until next year! – Bis zum nächsten Jahr! - À l’année prochaine! - ¡Hasta el año que viene! - Ci vediamo l’anno prossimo! - Do zobaczenia w przyszłym roku! - Seneye görüşmek dileğiyle! - Увидимся в следующем году! - 明年见!  - अगलेसाल मिलते हैं!

www.fruitlogistica.com

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

Kind regards,

Your FRUIT LOGISTICA team

Messe Berlin GmbH
Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, Germany
fruitlogistica@messe-berlin.de
www.fruitlogistica.com

Management board: Dr. Christian Göke (Vorsitzender), Dirk Hoffmann
Chairman of the supervisory board: Wolf-Dieter Wolf
Amtsgericht Charlottenburg (District Court), HRB 5484 B (Commercial Code)