The exhibition of Cultivate '18 was kicked off on Sunday. The exhibition wrote down record numbers in terms of visitors and exhibitors last year and exhibitors wonder if they've again been broken - but still the show is the most important get-together for the North American market.
So what's going on in the industry? A lot, that's still clear. The most important thriver for the industry currently is the marijuana. Either suppliers are active within this crop or they benefit from competitors focusing on it. Since a couple of years the Cultivate attracts also visitors from the (medical) marijuana industry and this year was no exception, but the big canna-banners to be found at other exhibitions were not available in Columbus. Besides that, the mega-boom of last year, when suppliers said to be unable to take orders, has flattened out a little bit. Business is still going strong though so either companies adjusted to it or the manic speed has slowed down to normal super speed.
Also hydroponic growing, leafy greens and biological crop protection are still on the list. A new topic to be included is the biological stimulants, which we inform you all about in a couple of weeks.
So Cultivate '18 is a wrap. But not for long; after our vacation we will be back with full reports and articles about projects, innovations and other news that we scooped up at the trade show floor.