Slow German Covid-19 vaccination programme forces postponed Agritechnica

Organisers  of the world’s largest agricultural machinery show have made the tough but inevitable decision to postpone this year’s Agritechnica until March 2022.

Due to the latest extended Covid-19 restrictions prompted by a third wave going through Europe, organisers DLG made the respectful decision to hold the show later.

Originally planned for November 2021 Agritechnica will now be held from February 27 to March 2022.

A slow response from the German government to ensure a fast effective vaccination programme has also been cited as one of the reasons the show has been postponed.

In a statement the DLG (German Agricultural Society), said: “DLG is postponing the Agritechnica trade fair. Because of the continuing Corona pandemic as well as the progress of vaccination programs, both in Germany and abroad, the DLG, VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association and Agritechnica’s exhibitor advisory board have concluded that insufficient certainty for planning currently exists for the world-leading exhibition in November.

“The new dates for Agritechnica are February 27 to March 5 2022. With the four-month postponement of the trade fair, the DLG, as organiser, as well as the members of the VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association, believe that the participating companies have the necessary certainty required for planning.

Prior to this decision two big name exhibitors, John Deere and SDF, had already pulled out of the show while others were considering their positions.

Dr Reinhard Grandke, Chief Executive Officer, DLG, said: “As a world-leading trade fair, Agritechnica is the meeting point for the entire agricultural machinery industry, as well as a leading international business platform.

“The essential requirements for exhibitors, visitors and business partners to be able to gather again at Agritechnica are vaccine and test strategies that have been put into practice in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

“Our top priority is to offer exhibitors and visitors certainty in planning but this is not currently the case. As a consequence, the decision to postpone Agritechnica was taken by the DLG in close cooperation with Agritechnica’s exhibitor advisory board and VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association as industry partner.

“We are convinced that by late summer, which is the deadline for exhibitors to register for Agritechnica 2022, we will be able to give our exhibitors and visitors the clarity necessary for certainty in their planning,” he said.

Anthony van der Ley, chairman of the VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association, added: “For our industry, Agritechnica is and will continue to remain the undisputed flagship in the world of international trade fairs. In close cooperation with the DLG, we have done everything we can to develop a trade fair concept for this autumn that is fit for the pandemic.

“The third wave of the pandemic is currently in full force. But above all it is the disappointing vaccination policies in the German federal and regional governments, which have unfortunately slowed us down for the time being.

“We are now looking to spring 2022 with fresh momentum and renewed energy so that we can celebrate an Agritechnica together as we know it and love it.”