Since Sunday, February 3, 1985, when the first visitors in Agrotica’s history passed through the gates of the “newborn” exhibition, 30 years have passed
From Sunday, February 3, 1985, when the first visitors in the history of Agrotica passed the gates of the “newborn” exhibition, 30 years have passed.
That exhibition of 1985, which timidly took its first steps with 554 exhibitors, quickly grew and has now evolved into one of the most important events for the agricultural sector in Europe.
In 2008, the managing director of TEF-Helexpo SA, Dr. Kyriakos Pozrikidis, tells APE-MPE, the number of visitors was so great that the organizers were forced to open the large side doors, through which bulky exhibits and vehicles usually pass. to allow unimpeded entry for the flocking farmers to see up close the latest technological developments in the industry. “When the exhibition started, it had the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, with Kostas Simitis as minister at the time. Always, as early as 1926, there was a large participation of the agricultural sector in the September general exhibition, reaching 30%-40%. And in the 1980s, when industry exhibitions began to become an international trend, it was decided to create Agrotica, organized by TIF in collaboration with the ministry, the Association of Importers of Machinery Dealers (SEAM) and the Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers of Northern Greece (EKAGEM)” adds Dr. Pozrikidis, according to whom the “godfather” of the organization is unknown and was probably some advertising company.
Last night, on the occasion of AGROTICA’s thirtieth birthday, TIF-Helexpo SA carried out a journey into the past and the many years of the exhibition, as part of an anniversary event, in the “Emilios Riadis” hall of the International Exhibition Center of Thessaloniki. As the president of the company, Tasos Tzikas, pointed out during the event, the dynamics of the agricultural sector, which was present since the first organization of TIF in 1926, found the ideal ground in AGROTICA, in order to bear fruit and be the communication platform of farmers with businesses and the State, but also a springboard for collaborations. The progress of AGROTICA, added Dr. Pozrikidis, demonstrated in 1999 that it was necessary to cut off the exhibition section related to livestock, which found a home at the ZOOTECHNIA exhibition. The growth of AGROTICA was leaps and bounds and in 2008 – that is, four years after the establishment of its biennial organization – it attracted 1,800 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors, covering every available space of the exhibition center. During its duration, the agriculture ministers of the Balkans did not meet, highlighting in the best way its Balkan dimension.
Its upward trajectory continued, reaching its peak in 2020 with 2,080 exhibitors, while it also broke the “barrier” of 150,000 visitors for the first time, reaching 163,000. Despite the pandemic, AGROTICA in October 2022 managed to cope with the adverse conditions and returned stronger this year with more than 1,800 exhibitors and more than 40,500 square meters. During the anniversary event, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, was awarded for the ministry’s long-term support to AGROTICA, which is also under his auspices, while the minister then handed over an honorary plaque to the deputy director general of the International Food Union and of Agriculture of the United Nations, Maurizio Martina, but also to the presidents of SEAM and EKAGEM, Savva Baluktsis and Panagiotis Fotiadis. The Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, Stavros Keletsis, then awarded SPEL, also a long-time supporter of the exhibition, in the person of its general director, Dr. Fotini Giannakopoulou. A special mention was made to the late Pavlos Kontellis and Yiannis Higas, who supported AGROTICA since its first organization both institutionally and practically, as exhibitors. TIF-HELEXPO also reserved a big “thank you” for the farmers who have embraced the exhibition, awarding the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives and its second vice-president, Christos Giannakakis. The honorary plaque was handed over by the general secretaries of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
During the event, it was emphasized that agricultural innovation and technology have always been at the center of AGROTICA, which has always been up-to-date on all the latest developments in agricultural mechanization. The huge interest of the exhibitors remains undiminished to this day, while AGROTICA continues to be the favorite exhibition of farmers, attracting thousands of visitors from all over Greece and abroad at each event. For the sake of truth, today, during the first day of AGROTICA, the attendance of farmers is massive: farmers from all over the country rush to be informed and see up close the latest developments in their sector. Agricultural tractors, machinery and equipment of all kinds, services and training programs, robotics and artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, sustainability and sustainability coexist on the stands of hundreds of exhibitors.
This year’s event brings together 500 Full Hosted Buyers and trade visitors with group missions from Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Of the 500 trade visitors, 37 are individual Full Hosted Buyers, coming from 16 countries and the rest are from group missions. The anniversary 30th International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies “AGROTICA” counts 1,804 exhibitors (direct and indirect) from 49 countries and over 40,500 sq.m. exhibition space. It takes place under the auspices of the Ministries of Rural Development & Food, Interior (Macedonia-Thrace) and the Region of Central Macedonia with the support of EKAGEM, SEAM and the Association of Fertilizer Producers and Traders (SPEL). AGROTICA’s opening hours are Friday and Sunday 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 20:00.
Within the framework of the “Zero Waste Expo AGROTICA” initiative, exhibitors and visitors are recommended to take an active action, placing their waste in the special sorting bins with distinct markings, thus ensuring the correct deposit of both recyclable materials and organic waste. Waste is collected in three distinct categories: recyclable materials (objects made of clean paper, plastic and aluminum), organic (leftover food without packaging) and non-recyclable._
Source: Skai
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