In just under two weeks, 345 companies, associations and organizations will be presenting their services at the Grieshaber & Schmid organic farm in Ditzingen-Hirschlanden on 14 and 15 June 2023. Visitors can find out all about innovations in agricultural technology, plant cultivation, animal husbandry and research at this meeting place for organic farming. The detailed programme with panel discussions, forums and guided tours shows what organic farming can do and where it is heading.

“Around 100 guided tours, 50 presentations in specialist forums on animals, plants, compost, markets and politics, special areas for machine demonstrations and on irrigation technology and agrivoltaics: the program is packed with solutions for sustainable agriculture and greater animal welfare,” says Carsten Veller, Program and Network Project Lead for the Öko-Feldtage. Visitors can plan their own personal visit to the trade fair on the website under the menu item Program with many filters.

Positive response
Veller is also pleased about the great interest shown by exhibitors, even though the Öko-Feldtage are now taking place two years in a row – in order to get back into the usual rhythm after the coronavirus pandemic. “We were expecting a small drop, but the opposite is the case. We are above the 2022 result and offer visitors a wealth of information and networking opportunities.”
Tina Andres, Chairwoman of the Board of the Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft, which is the patron of the Öko-Feldtage, congratulates the concept. “After a short time, the Öko-Feldtage have become a symbol of the radiance of organic agriculture throughout Germany. The state of Baden-Württemberg is way ahead when it comes to organic farming. At the Öko-Feldtage and with the topics presented there, it shows that we can achieve the ambitious goal of 30 to 40 percent organic on our fields.”
Field vegetable cultivation is a special focus of this year’s Öko-Feldtage. Machine demonstrations will provide insights into new hoeing techniques, including with autonomous machines: the keyword here is artificial intelligence. Visitors can also take a practical look at the directly adjacent area to see which irrigation systems are suitable for the site and how efficient, resource-saving and economical they are. Experts will also demonstrate various aspects of organic potato cultivation. They will show over 20 different varieties, including numerous new varieties, and their characteristics.

As part of the Agri-PV theme special, practitioners, the Agri-PV Baden-Württemberg model region and companies will present model systems and shed light on current issues from many angles. Under the motto “Regional diversity for big goals”, the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection BW will showcase the state’s activities in the field of organic farming at various points throughout the event and make them tangible for visitor groups. Journalists who would like to visit the Öko-Feldtage should apply for accreditation here.

Background
This year’s Öko-Feldtage are being held for the first time in Baden-Württemberg and for the first time on a private farm. The modern organic farm Grieshaber & Schmid northwest of Stuttgart focuses on arable and field vegetable cultivation as well as dairy farming. These and other topics are also reflected in the varied program of the Öko-Feldtage.

The event is a two-day meeting point for all organic farmers and all farmers who want to convert or are looking for new methods for environmentally friendly agriculture. The event offers players from the entire sector an ideal platform to discuss current topics with farmers and representatives from politics and business. The Innovation Show shows where organic farming stands and where it is heading.

The program of the Öko-Feldtage offers a mixture of practice and research in organic crop production and animal husbandry. In demonstrations, visitors can see machines in practical use. Innovation examples show prototypes and new developments.

New findings on challenges such as animal welfare and nutrient management will be covered in forums and discussed by scientists and practitioners. Numerous demo plots will showcase new cereal and legume varieties, heat-tolerant crops such as millet and chickpeas, catch crops and much more. Companies and associations will be presenting their equipment and advisory services. In the area surrounding the modern dairy cattle barn, exhibitors will be presenting all aspects of animal husbandry. There will be daily guided tours of the Grieshaber & Schmid organic farm on the topics of dairy farming and grazing as well as plant cultivation and the value chain. Another highlight of the Öko-Feldtage is the award ceremony of the Federal Organic Farming Competition of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Live music on 14 June from 20:30 with the band Malaka Hostel and culinary, regional delicacies in organic quality round off the program.