SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 27, 2025 – The Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), in collaboration with Messe Dortmund, is set to host the ninth AVF Summit – powered by VertiFarm, from September 3–4, 2025 at the H4 Hotel München Messe. Framed under the theme “Global Food Challenges: Vertical Farming as a Catalyst for Innovation & Climate Action,” the summit positions itself as a premier platform for international decision-makers, researchers, and industry innovators shaping the next generation of food production systems.
Driving Innovation in Controlled Environment Agriculture
The 2025 AVF Summit highlights the expanding role of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in tackling climate, food security, and urbanization challenges. Speakers will outline practical pathways to integrate vertical farming into city planning, agriculture supply chains, and public procurement policies. With climate adaptation and sustainable nutrition high on policy agendas, the event is expected to attract strong interest from agribusinesses, urban planners, and policymakers.
Global Perspectives from Industry Pioneers
A diverse roster of speakers underscores the summit’s global reach. Tusya Gabribashvili, co-founder of Space Farms in Georgia, will present a vision of vertical farms integrated directly into urban infrastructure. She will also join the “Women in AgTech” panel alongside Besan Dahboor Engel, astronaut candidate and CEO of ReVora, who is advancing carbon-negative food systems with closed-loop hydroponics.
Other highlights include:
- Julia Rocha Romero (UNEP-CCC, Copenhagen): presenting strategies for embedding vertical farming into climate resilience planning.
- Peter Defranceschi (ICLEI, Brussels): sharing lessons from the Global CityFood Program on urban food policy and EU school food initiatives.
- Prof. Senthold Asseng (Technical University of Munich): discussing breakthroughs in indoor wheat and soybean production, a field recognized by the Werner Siemens Foundation in 2023.
- Fadi Sbaiti (Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi): focusing on AgTech innovation in arid-region food systems.
- Martin Parapatits (PhytonIq/Zelosplant): addressing energy efficiency as a decisive factor for vertical farm economics.
Industry Context and Market Relevance
The vertical farming sector is moving beyond experimental pilots into commercially viable systems. High-value crops such as leafy greens, berries, and niche specialty products are entering mainstream supply chains. Simultaneously, public and private investment is accelerating in digital agriculture, lighting systems, and automation to optimize yields while reducing resource use.
Against this backdrop, the AVF Summit serves as both a knowledge exchange and an investment signal. Its partnership with the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism reflects growing government interest in linking sustainable farming to regional innovation strategies.
Voices from the Summit
“Vertical farming has moved from concept to catalyst. The industry is not only tackling food security, but also reshaping how cities, businesses, and governments think about resilient supply chains,” said Peter Defranceschi, Director of ICLEI’s Global CityFood Program.
Strategic Value for Stakeholders
For agribusiness leaders, investors, and technology providers, the Munich summit offers a concentrated platform to benchmark innovations, forge partnerships, and evaluate business models that balance sustainability with profitability. Topics such as digital twins for farm monitoring, low-carbon infrastructure, and climate-resilient crops align closely with emerging EU Green Deal and global ESG frameworks.
Learn More
The ticket shop for the AVF Summit 2025 is already open, with full program details and speaker profiles available at VertiFarm Summit.