SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 8, 2025 – The 9th AVF Summit – powered by VertiFarm – will bring the global vertical farming community together in Munich this September, uniting top innovators, researchers, and industry leaders under the theme “Global Food Challenges: Vertical Farming as a Catalyst for Innovation & Climate Action.” As climate volatility and global food insecurity intensify, the event signals a strategic inflection point for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and vertical farming as scalable, sustainable solutions.
Driving Innovation Amid Climate and Resource Pressures
With extreme weather and resource scarcity placing increasing strain on conventional agriculture, the AVF Summit underscores the urgent need for climate-resilient food systems. Vertical farming, as a core element of CEA, offers a promising path forward. The event is organized by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) in partnership with Messe Dortmund, expanding the legacy of VertiFarm by focusing on deeper collaboration and high-impact knowledge exchange.
Christine Zimmermann-Lössl, AVF Chairwoman, highlighted the industry’s mission: “The theme of the 9th AVF Summit gets to the heart of our efforts to understand vertical farming as part of existing agriculture and food production and to recognize the outstanding role of a climate-independent production method in times of the growing climate crisis.”
Strategic Dialogue and Knowledge Transfer
Set to take place September 3–4 at the H4 Hotel München Messe, the AVF Summit 2025 will deliver a highly curated program aimed at addressing the scalability, energy efficiency, and commercial viability of vertical farming systems. The conference will act as a global think tank, enabling key players from business, academia, and government to shape the next phase of innovation.
Confirmed themes for the expert panels include:
- International Perspectives: Global vertical farming strategies and success stories.
- Vertical Farming as a Catalyst for Climate Action: How the sector supports carbon reduction and resilience.
- Innovative Food Production and Investment: Trends, funding challenges, and breakthrough technologies.
- Urban Agriculture: Integrating vertical farming into sustainable city infrastructure.
- Start-up Challenge: A competition spotlighting ten disruptive early-stage companies.
- Science and Technology: Latest research in CEA, automation, and sustainable production.
Industry Leaders and Global Voices
An impressive lineup of thought leaders will share insights into the operational, technological, and environmental dimensions of vertical farming. Notable confirmed speakers include:
- Alexander Jaworski, CEO of greenhub solutions GmbH, a specialist in automated indoor farming systems.
- Marc Juárez Nicolau, Technical and Marketing Manager Europe at Seoul Semiconductor Europe GmbH.
- Michal Slota, Marketing Manager at Nando UAB, a leading Lithuanian biotech company.
- Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola, a respected academic and honorary member of the International Society for Horticultural Science.
- Prof. Joel Cuello, Ph.D., Vice Chairman of AVF and Director of the BioImagineering Laboratory at the University of Arizona.
These experts will join a diverse group of stakeholders—from global corporations to regional start-ups—creating a cross-sector dialogue that reflects the sector’s growing maturity and complexity.
A Platform for Action and Collaboration
Messe Dortmund continues its strategic investment in the vertical farming space, reinforcing the importance of global cooperation to scale next-generation food systems. “The AVF Summit offers a unique opportunity for this in a highly qualified professional environment,” said Angelika Bauer, Head of Trade Fair and Exhibition Services at Messe Dortmund. “Companies that have dedicated themselves to this major and important task not only deserve our utmost respect. Above all, they deserve all the support they can get.”
By offering a protected and focused environment for industry exchange, the AVF Summit stands as a cornerstone in shaping a more resilient agricultural future.
Registration Open Now
The AVF Summit 2025 is now accepting registrations. The event promises to be a milestone gathering for those shaping the future of food production.
Learn more at https://www.vertifarm.de