From 3 to 4 September 2025, the AVF Summit – powered by VertiFarm will be the meeting place for global experts in indoor farming innovation. The ninth edition will take place under the title "Global Food Challenges: Vertical Farming as a Catalyst for Innovation & Climate Action" at the H4 Hotel München Messe. As a thematic spin-off of VertiFarm, the AVF Summit is organised by the Association for Vertical Farming e.V. (AVF) in partnership with Messe Dortmund. The Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism is a cooperation partner.

Dortmund, 15 July 2025 – The AVF Summit is an exclusive forum for decision-makers, thought leaders, start-ups, scientists and politicians. The conference creates space for exchange, networking and the development of joint strategies for the growth of sustainable food systems. High-profile international speakers such as Tusya Gabribashvili, Julia Rocha Romero and Peter Defranceschi will present global perspectives and practical expertise at the event.

In addition to speakers such as Alexander Jaworski, Micha Slota and Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola (see press release), the AVF Summit offers an impressive selection of other international experts. They will share their expertise as part of the Pillars on both days of the event. >> Further information on the Pillars

The speaker line-up at a glance

Tusya Gabribashvili is co-founder of Space Farms, the first fully controlled vertical farm in Georgia. She previously founded Urban Greens and the Georgian Space Research Agency. The entrepreneur and innovator will present a realistic blueprint for integrating vertical farming into the heart of urban life at the summit. She will also be on the panel ‘Women in AgTech: Sharing experience and guidance’ together with Besan Dahboor Engel. She is an entrepreneur, astronaut candidate, consultant and venture builder with more than ten years of experience in promoting deep tech innovations in the fields of agricultural technology, clean energy, biotechnology, space travel and sustainable infrastructure. As founder and CEO of ReVora, Besan Dahboor Engel is responsible for the development of a carbon-negative, data-intensive food infrastructure through advanced hydroponic and closed-loop cultivation systems, turning bold visions into businesses that serve both Earth and space. Marie Ammann, Senior Innovation & Startup Manager at BayWa AG and part of AgriFoodTech Venture GmbH, completes the round. Her focus is food management and agri-food economics with a specialisation in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Julia Rocha Romero is a consultant for nature-based solutions (NbS) at the UNEP Climate Centre in Copenhagen (UNEP-CCC). She leads initiatives that integrate nature-based approaches into urban planning to improve climate resilience and sustainable development. Her expertise includes implementing strategies to introduce nature-based solutions (NbS) in collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders. At the summit, she will highlight the central role that vertical farming plays in the context of climate action and food security.

Peter Defranceschi is Director of the ICLEI Office (Local Governments for Sustainability USA) in Brussels and heads the Global CityFood Programme. A lawyer by training, he has been advocating for resilient food and procurement systems since 2005. His focus is on urban nutrition, sustainable public procurement and the connection between urban and rural areas. Among other things, he coordinates the EU-wide SchoolFood4Change project and is committed to EU minimum standards in school catering.

Senthold Asseng works as a professor and head of the Chair of Digital Agriculture and as director of the Hans Eisenmann Forum at the Technical University of Munich. He has published over 300 publications, is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and, together with his team, received the Werner Siemens Foundation's 2023 Research Award for the Century Project Idea on indoor wheat cultivation. In his presentation, Professor Senthold Asseng will highlight the opportunities and challenges of growing wheat and soybeans in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).

Fadi Sbaiti is General Manager at Khalifa University AGX in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), where he heads the research centre focusing on advances in AgTech, plant sciences and vertical indoor agriculture. His responsibilities include promoting innovative research and development in the AgTech ecosystem. He also oversees the development of important partnerships with local universities, research institutes and private companies to address agricultural challenges in desert and arid regions. 

Martin Parapatits founded the PhytonIq and Zelosplant Group in 2017, which focuses on three main areas: research and development in the plant sector, the operation of an indoor wasabi farm, and consulting on all aspects of indoor farming for various target groups. At the summit, he will focus on the topic of energy efficiency in vertical farming.

Further information about the speakers can be found at www.vertifarm.de/summit#Speaker.



The ticket shop for the 9th AVF Summit – powered by VertiFarm is now open. More information is available on the website.