The International Trade Fair for Plants, Horticultural Technology, and Landscape Architecture, known as Green is Life, marked its 30th anniversary with a celebration of the green industry’s resilience and evolution. Held in Warsaw, Poland, from August 31 to September 2, this milestone edition of the event, organized by the Polish Nurserymen Association and the Agencja Promocji Zieleni (Greenery Promotion Agency), provided a platform to reflect on the past, embrace tradition, and envision the future of the green industry, all under the theme “New times – new challenges.”
Green is Life – Three Decades of Growth
Joanna Filipczak, the fair’s director, expressed her gratitude to the green industry for three decades of trust and collaboration during the opening ceremony of Green is Life 2023. She highlighted how the exhibition, born from the passion of a few individuals, has grown into an internationally renowned event.
Wiesław Szydło, Chairman of the Polish Nurserymen Association, reminisced about the humble beginnings of Green is Life, which started with just 25 exhibitors but rapidly expanded over the years. He emphasized the event’s stability, firmly anchored at the Warsaw Expo XXI Center, and the beauty it brings with lush vegetation displays.
Exhibitors from Across the Globe
Green is Life 2023 attracted 159 exhibitors from 11 countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and, of course, Poland. While plants for gardens and landscapes remained the focal point, other sections of the fair, such as “Techniques, technologies, sales support” and “Equipment, materials, decorations,” also garnered substantial attention.
Diverse Visitor Base
Approximately 9,600 visitors attended the fair, including 5,324 trade visitors, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. Visitors from 30 countries, including Lithuania, Belarus, and those from the Far East, contributed to the international flavor of the event. The forthcoming Green is Life fair is expected to witness even more foreign participation, thanks to the planned visit of AIPH members during their annual congress in Warsaw.
Visitor profiles were diverse, with landscape and small architecture professionals, individuals from the construction industry, and contractors forming the largest group at 30.5%. Plant production enthusiasts accounted for 29.6%, while retail sales (garden centers, stores, markets) constituted 12.6%. Government administration, offices, housing management made up 6.4%, followed by floriculture, florists, cut flowers, and potted plants at 6%.
Plant Diversity and Novelties
Green is Life has witnessed an increasing diversity in the assortment of plants on display over the past 30 years. Notably, a wide range of perennials, once scarce at the exhibition, has gained prominence. Ornamental grasses, in particular, have seen growing popularity. Deciduous shrubs dominated the event, while conifers, despite Poland’s continued role as a producer and exporter, experienced a decline.
The Plant Novelties Competition featured conifers prominently, comprising nearly one-third of the 21 entries. Two gold medals were awarded to Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silver Charm’ PBR and Acer truncatum ‘Volcano’ PBR. Silver medals were presented to Spiraea japonica ‘Double Play Doozie’ and Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Panther,’ as well as Thuja plicata ‘Golden Whipcord.’ Vitroflora received the bronze medal for Anemone ‘Garden Breeze Pink Touch’ PBR, with two special mentions for Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Pinky Binder®’ and Nepeta ‘Cats Pajamas’ PBR.
Acknowledging Industry Excellence
The Journalists’ Award was presented to Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silver Charm’ PBR, while the Internet voting, conducted among an online audience, recognized Phlox paniculata ‘Skubianka’ PBR.
Showcasing Innovative Landscapes
The tradition of creating show gardens in front of the Expo XXI Center, absent for a few seasons, returned in 2023. The garden, named “Permeation of Space,” illustrated climate change challenges and presented landscape architecture solutions. It served as a source of inspiration for both industry professionals and the general public.
Challenges and Turning Points
The theme of “New times – new challenges” resonated with the events of recent turbulent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, geopolitical instability, and economic difficulties. For many Polish nurserymen, the priority remains exploring alternatives to Eastern European markets. Rising labor costs and recruitment shortages pose additional concerns for entrepreneurs in the industry.
The fair addressed these issues through seminars and discussions, highlighting the need for increased biodiversity and pro-nature solutions. Noel Kingsbury, a renowned British designer, emphasized the emergence of biodiverse beds as a cost-effective approach to landscaping in his lecture “Green Areas of the Future.”
As Green is Life continues to evolve, the industry is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, engaging private and public developers, and emphasizing the indispensable role of greenery in all investments. The event’s role as a meeting place for potential new customers and a platform for diversifying export destinations remains pivotal in shaping the future of the green industry.