REGISTRATION OPENS FOR INTERNATIONAL HORTI CONGRESS 2011

Distinguished speakers address global issue of 'Water'

Aalsmeer, 8 August 2011 - Registration for the International Horti Congress has opened. Visitors can enrol at www.hortifair.nl for this global horticultural congress in the Amsterdam RAI in the Netherlands on 1 November, the first day of the Horti Fair. The theme is 'Water'.

During the congress, State Secretary Henk Bleker of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation will give the starting signal for the HortiWeek. Chair of the congress is Agnes van Aardenne.

,,With the choice of Water as the theme of the congress and the trade fair, we are demonstrating the role that international horticulture can play and wants to play in this worldwide issue. And it interfaces with the International Water Week, which is also being held in Amsterdam during the International HortiWeek in the first week of November,’’ says Frans-Peter Dechering, director of the Horti Fair.

All continents represented

Speakers and visitors at the International Horti Congress represent all the continents of the world. Agnes van Aardenne, former Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation, permanent representative of the Netherlands to the FAO in Rome until the summer of 2011 and currently chair of the Dutch Product Board for Horticulture, will not just be chairing the congress on 1 November.

As introductory speaker, she will also be considering global challenges like energy, climate, well-being and water. The other speakers are Martin Kropff (Wageningen University), Gene Giacomelli (University of Arizona), Kees Reinink (Rijk Zwaan), Peter Westerveld (Naga Foundation) and Ahmed T. Moustafa (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICARDA).

Exchange of knowledge

With this congress, the Horti Fair and its organizing partners Rijk Zwaan, Flynth adviseurs & accountants, Wageningen University and Cultilene are creating an extra option for top entrepreneurs, CEOs, CTOs, scientists, policymakers, politicians, NGOs and government representatives to exchange knowledge about water as a world food issue. ,,

The International Water Week is being held in theAmsterdam RAI at the same time. This offers significant possibilities for synergy between international horticulture and the water industry," points out project manager Mirjam Hendriks.

Tickets cost € 295 (excl. VAT). There is a special arrangement for participants at the trade fair and their guests, and registrations can be submitted via www.hortifair.nl. The congress language is English and everyone attending can collaborate on the production of the digital congress document via social media and internet.

The congress in the Forumzaal of the Amsterdam RAI begins with an informal walk-in at 15.00 hours on 1 November and closes with network drinks starting at 18.30 hours.

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More information:

International Horti Fair, Frans-Peter Dechering (06-24431639, director)

or Mirjam Hendriks (06-13715405, project manager)