100 years of Grüne Woche: From the economic miracle to reunification

The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 marked a turning point for Berlin and for Grüne Woche. It became difficult, if not impossible, for exhibitors and visitors from the eastern part of the city to attend the fair. At the same time, international participation continued to grow – a trend that had already begun in 1951, when the Netherlands became the first international exhibitor. This development was also reflected in the name: in 1962, posters throughout the city advertised the ‘International Grüne Woche Berlin '62’. The patron was Federal President Heinrich Lübke. The new name said it all: of the 669 exhibitors, almost half came from abroad. A total of around 50 countries were represented, most of them from Western Europe, but also the USA, Canada, Israel, Morocco and Lebanon.

It was not only visitors who enjoyed the comeback of the fair. Its importance for trade visitors from the food industry, agriculture and horticulture also increased. By the early 1960s, there were already up to 150 specialist events. These included, for example, the international agricultural film competition.

Flavours from near and far

Every year, Grüne Woche attracted visitors with new attractions. In 1961, a ‘quark consultation’ showcased German dairy products. In 1965, the Marshall House was transformed into a burger restaurant. The ‘American Diner’ was a crowd-puller, serving guests chips and burgers. The fair advertised it with the slogan: ‘Little America in West Berlin, Europe's first fast food restaurant’. Two years later, Great Britain set up a pub in the exhibition halls. In 1966, specialities from German regions were available at a ‘gourmet railway station’ with through carriages from the federal states.

But the International Grüne Woche, or IGW for short, also had a lot to offer in terms of sport: in 1968, 5,000 young people from all over the Federal Republic took part in the ten-day German Agriculture Race.

High tech for the field

The increasing mechanisation of agriculture was also reflected at the trade fair. Handheld radios from Philips were designed to facilitate communication in the field and in the barn as early as 1964, while a tower greenhouse with drive wheels and a shelf-like lift system was intended to make horticulture more efficient two years later. Under the title ‘Through machine rings: full mechanisation without over-mechanisation’, the German standard greenhouse with modern interior fittings and a high degree of automation was presented in 1969. An educational and special exhibition was entitled ‘Electronic data processing – a modern tool for modern agriculture’.

The format caught on: in 1970, for example, a fishing boat at the north entrance showed visitors the way to the educational and special exhibition on fish farming. Other titles included ‘Small and settler gardens – the green landscape of the big city’, ‘The agricultural policy of the GDR’ and ‘The importance of forests and landscape’.

Agricultural machinery was also part of the exhibition and was well received by the public and farmers. In 1969, farmer Heinz Reese from Britz kept the largest of the combine harvesters on display for his Berlin farm.

Sausage trees and fresh fruit

One of the innovations of the 1970s was the potato variety ‘Ackergold’, which was first introduced in 1973. In 1976, guests were introduced to ‘The German hybrid pig and breeding programme for crossbreds’. Breeders had crossed different breeds in order to increase meat yield, among other things. Another innovation, the tandem milking parlour from 1975, also aimed to increase efficiency. But enjoyment was still to play an important role: for the 50th anniversary of the fair in 1976, Turkey built a tree out of sausages under the motto ‘Naturally matured’. In 1977, Israel presented the pomelo at the Jaffa stand.

Experts in dialogue

With the opening of the International Congress Centre (ICC) at the exhibition grounds in 1979, Berlin gained a new large event venue. The new building was intended to reinforce Berlin's importance as the ‘showcase of the West’. The IGW also made use of the building with its silver-grey aluminium façade from 1980 onwards, among other things to hold the first ‘International Forum on Agricultural Policy’ in 1981, a specialist congress of the German Farmers' Association. This was followed in 1982 by the first ‘Freshness Forums’ for sensitive agricultural products. MultiServa established itself as a trade fair for communal catering in 1984. In 1986, the first ‘Federal Beef Cattle Show’ took place, and later farmers and breeders also brought sheep and cold-blooded horses. The fair thus became increasingly diverse and was able to offer new attractions time and again.