Essen, Germany – The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) is proud to look back on the resounding success of IPM ESSEN 2025, held from January 28 to 31 at Messe Essen. This year’s event reaffirmed IPM ESSEN’s status as the world’s leading innovation platform and a driving force for the global horticultural industry.
A Historic Turnout and Unprecedented Industry Engagement
IPM ESSEN 2025 welcomed well over 40,000 trade fair guests and 1,434 exhibitors from 45 countries. “The spirit of optimism in the green sector is palpable,” stated Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, highlighting the significant increase in participants as a strong endorsement of the fair’s compelling line-up.
The event showcased cutting-edge developments—from efficient cultivation methods and digital technologies to sustainable plant concepts addressing climate change and resource scarcity. An engaging supporting program, featuring initiatives like the Gardeners' Forum, the Horticultural Technology Innovation Center, and the IPM Novelty Showcase, provided attendees with invaluable insights and networking opportunities. Sustainability was a central theme, with awards such as the Green Cities Europe Award and dedicated sessions on climate-resistant woody plants underlining the industry’s commitment to a greener future.
In a special year marking 30 years of supporting innovation in plant breeding, CPVO participated in IPM ESSEN 2025 with a joint booth alongside our national partners—Bundessortenamt (Germany), Naktuinbouw (The Netherlands), GEVES (France), COBORU (Poland), and Nébih (Hungary)—at Hall 2, Stand 2B23. This collaboration underscored the strength and unity of the European plant variety protection system. The fair was a great opportunity to meet numerous applicants of the European Plant breeders' right systems and to exchange on their current applications or on the system in general.
Beyond assisting breeders, CPVO sees events like IPM ESSEN as an essential platform for engaging with producers, including young professionals entering the sector. In fact, plant variety protection (PVP) is now part of professional school curricula in Germany, with teachers frequently requesting educational materials.
The fair also serves as a valuable opportunity to receive direct feedback from applicants on CPVO’s work, ensuring continuous improvement in the services offered.
Since its founding, the CPVO has been the cornerstone of the EU plant variety protection system, processing over 80,000 applications and granting more than 64,000 rights. A recent joint study with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimates that the plant variety rights system contributes approximately €13 billion to the EU’s GDP annually while supporting 15% of ornamental plant production.
For more information, please contact:
CPVO Communication Team
E-mail: communication [at] cpvo.europa.eu (communication[at]cpvo[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Website: www.cpvo.europa.eu
- About CPVO:
Since 1995, the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) has been the cornerstone of the European Union plant variety protection system. By enabling breeders to obtain Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) valid across the EU through a single application, CPVO has consistently supported innovation and contributed significantly to the economic and environmental vitality of Europe’s agricultural and horticultural sectors.