Innovation platform makes landscaping and gardening sector fit for the future - Solutions for climate adaptation, shortage of skilled workers, and digital transformation

Following four successful days, the 25th anniversary round of GaLaBau closed its doors today. From 11–14 September, the landscaping and gardening sector once again gathered for its ‘family reunion’ at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg. This year too, over 66.000 trade visitors from Germany and around the world were impressed by the event’s strong focus on innovations, personal exchanges and hands-on character. With successful formats like the GaLaBau Expert Forum, GaLaBau Landscape Talks or special show “PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DIGITISATION”, the leading international fair for urban green and open spaces lived up to its commitment to offer the industry novel solutions to meet current challenges. Inspiration on the issue of climate adaptations was offered among other things by the second round of the GREEN-BLUE PATH. The new guided tours also proved to be immensely popular. Other visitor drawcards at this anniversary round were the forums with their high-calibre programme, and the outdoor exhibition areas with their practical demonstrations. An absolute highlight of the event was the 2024 Landscape Gardeners Cup.

Stefan Dittrich, Director of GaLaBau, is extremely satisfied with the outcomes of the 25th anniversary edition of the world-leading fair: “The exhibition has exceeded visitors’ expectations. In these uncertain times, GaLaBau offers a reliable port of call for industry stakeholders. It’s where they find solutions to their day-to-day challenges and answers to their burning questions – whether about the digitisation of their businesses or how to position themselves for a climate-friendly future. The constant influx of visitors to the Innovation Hub and extensive interest in the GREEN-BLUE PATH confirm that we have identified the needs of the sector in good time and offered a suitable programme for all its representatives. We are already looking forward to continuing to develop these innovative formats for the next round of the event in 2026 and exploit their potential.”

In its capacity as the institutional sponsor of GaLaBau, the BGL (German Association for Horticulture, Landscaping and Sports Facilities) also had words of praise for the event. After many years as vice-president and an enthusiastic visitor, BGL President Thomas Banzhaf, who got to experience the trade fair for the first time in this role, had this to say: 
“The 25th round of GaLaBau and our BGL stand have set new standards, and that’s something of which I am enormously proud! This time around, the focus on water provided a visual guide in the form of a ‘blue route’ through our exhibit, the ‘Future of Green Living Spaces’. Our piazza became one of the favoured gathering points at GaLaBau. We had the privilege of presenting all BGL awards in front of an enthusiastic audience at our GaLaBau Expert Forum: Over 160 companies – more than ever before – had applied for our Innovation Medal! Our Landscape Gardener Cup, the gardening and landscaping sector’s ‘German Championship’, was a crowd-puller for the sector’s companies and up-and-coming professionals. At our stand, high-calibre specialists spoke about recruiting skilled personnel, digitalisation, sustainable urban development and water management, providing up-to-date knowledge about the crucial issues currently affecting the sector. And finally, as part of the anniversary welcome event, we took a journey into space – that’s extremely hard to beat! Especially in the current times, people need a change of perspective to not lose sight of the pressing questions. I am confident that at this GaLaBau we have laid important groundwork for the future of the gardening and landscaping industry!”

Gratifying growth in visitors and exhibitors

Over 66,000 visitors from 80 countries took part in GaLaBau, including decision-makers and staff from gardening and landscaping companies, representatives of municipal authorities, landscape architects, and motorised equipment and power tool dealers. On a display area measuring almost 61,000 in 14 exhibition halls, the numerous visitors were able to find about the latest trends in the industry from the around 1,100 exhibiting companies from 33 countries, establish contacts, and initiate business for the period after the fair. The industry gathering was increasingly popular among international exhibitors: The proportion of companies from overseas was 30 percent, six percent higher than two years ago. Alongside Germany (773), exhibitors came predominantly from the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Poland and France.

ELCA Trend Award goes to Austria

This year, the European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA) presented the prestigious ELCA Trend Award 2024 to the Austrian network “Natur im Garten”. The jury was impressed by the fact that the project aims to design gardens and green spaces ecologically, adapt them to climate change and promote biodiversity. Special emphasis is placed on the use of native, ecologically valuable and climate-resistant plants. In addition, the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilizers and peat is deliberately avoided. With this award, the ELCA underlines the importance of the interaction between man and nature. Further information: www.elca.info

GaLaBau Innovation Medal 2024 honours new developments

Since 1986, the BGL has been acknowledging the development of new and cutting-edge solutions for products or processes for the construction and maintenance of landscaped facilities with the GaLaBau Innovation Medal. “This year, we received more than 160 submissions for our BGL Innovation Medal – a new record! These included sustainable solutions for facade connections or the sustainable management of rainfall. These are genuine innovations that we have been waiting for. It is fantastic how much dynamism there is in the sector!” says Pia Präger, BGL Vice-President, who presented the accolades alongside Jürgen Hoppe, the Chair of the Evaluation Committee. The GaLaBau Innovation Medal is presented every two years at the GaLaBau trade fair. Companies can apply for recognition of their machines and equipment, building materials or novel work processes.

This year, XX winners were delighted to receive the medal at the GaLaBau Expert Forum.

Landscape Gardener Cup: And the 2024 winners are Mika Lerch and Bastian Maichle from Baden-Württemberg

A GaLaBau classic and highlight for visitors and participants alike is the Landscape Gardeners' Cup on the exhibition center lawns. Twelve teams of two from all over Germany spent two labor-intensive days designing a four-by-four-meter natural garden landscape according to precise specifications. The winning team, Mika Lerch and Bastian Maichle from Baden-Württemberg, are the German landscape gardening champions. Second place went to the Bavarian team, David Widl and Kilian Hilgers; third place went to the duo from North Rhine-Westphalia, Luca Burghof and Lukas Bützler.

Save the date and note new duration:

The next GaLaBau will return to Exhibition Centre Nuremberg as scheduled in 2026 – but with a new duration: from Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 September. This change to the duration of the event was requested by exhibitors and visitors.