The latest press material about the IGW 2008 is available online (www.gruenewoche.com / Press Info) and may be used free of charge and for research purposes:
· 45 brief reports in English on the day’s events
· 30 in-depth press releases on all the main themes of the IGW
· 156 of the latest press photos and over 100 historic images
· Radio items and original recordings
· Footage for TV and online editorial departments
· Current overview of the day’s events for the press
· Press contacts at the Green Week
Contents
International Conference of Ministers of Agriculture: Innovative technologies for making the best use of resources. 1
Lithuania: Zeppelins and schmandt butter 2
Kangaroo burgers and premium vodka from Australia. 2
Morocco: Date tea can be used with muesli 3
Korea: Red ginseng spirit to accompany Kim Bab with raspberry soya sauce. 3
Canada: The romance of the West with firewater and pancakes. 3
Sackavurma from Turkey. 4
Denmark: Liquorice with many different flavours. 4
Schopska salad and tarator from Bulgaria. 4
The Green Week’s "Knut" is called Amadeus. 4
International Conference of Ministers of Agriculture: Innovative technologies for making the best use of resources
How can the growing world population be fed, while more bio-energy is being generated at the same time? With these issues the first International Conference of Ministers of Agriculture at the newly created "Forum International Green Week" got off to a lively start: 1,500 agricultural experts, including 32 ministers and under-secretaries as well as 650 members of official government delegations from 36 countries, accepted the invitation from Germany's Federal Ministry for Agriculture, the Berlin Senate and Messe Berlin, to discuss the subject of "Global competition for agricultural raw materials".
"The trade in agricultural raw materials is more intense now than it has ever been. Energy and foodstuffs have now become items of strategic importance", said the Federal Minister for Agriculture Horst Seehofer at the opening of the event in the ICC Berlin. However, the demand for bio-energy in Europe should not lead to the felling of forests in developing countries, or land devoted to food production being taken out of use. Environmental and social standards must still be maintained both in our own production and when importing biomass, according to Seehofer.
Under-Secretary Jean-Marie Aurand from the French Ministry of Agriculture spoke in favour of the use of soils unsuitable for agriculture, agricultural waste and by-products from the production of livestock feeds for the generation of bio-energy. Intensified research work, especially on biofuels of the so-called 2nd generation, should be carried out in order to make the generation of bio-energy more diversified and more efficient.
The Russian Minister of Agriculture, Alexej Gordejew, felt that there should be no problem with a shortage of land and the competition between generating foodstuffs and generating energy since "we are currently surrounded by a surplus of resources." His own country, for example, has sufficient reserves to enable it to expand its production of bio-products.
And as Minister of Agriculture Jurij Melnyk pointed out, agricultural production could easily be increased in the Ukraine. This process is only being hindered by the initially slow pace of development on the land market. "Above all we need innovative technologies and investments in order to make full use of the available potential", Melnyk stated.
One example of a promising technology for the future was given by his opposite number in Turkey, Mehmet Mehdi Eker, in the form of efficient irrigation systems aimed at making best possible use of limited water resources. This is also one possible way of counteracting the negative effects of climate change, which is particularly apparent in his own country in the form of frequent, long-lasting droughts.
Lithuania: Zeppelins and schmandt butter
Laura Radzeviciute reports that seven companies are represented on the Lithuanian stand at the Green Week. Their typical regional specialities range from brawn, cream cheese, white vegetable salad, schmandt butter and cep soup from the Dzukija district. The two-storey restaurant "Berneliu uzeiga" on the stand provides an opportunity for sampling these traditional Lithuanian specialities, featuring dishes such as zeppelins, consisting of potatoes stuffed with meat. No festive meal in this Baltic state is complete without the popular white vegetable salad, which contains boiled potatoes, carrots, pickled or canned gherkins, peas, boiled eggs and mayonnaise. Schmandt butter is another speciality, which is flavoured with salt, garlic, carroway and other ingredients, and eaten with jacket potatoes. To round it all off, how about a glass of "Saman", a 50-per cent grain spirit.
(Hall 8.2, Stand 101, contact: Laura Radzeviciute, telephone: +37-(0)-614-16002, e-mail: laura@ekspobalta.com)
Kangaroo burgers and premium vodka from Australia
For many regular visitors the Australian stand is the first place they head for, and one of the most exotic highlights of the Green Week. This year Mr. and Mrs. Drolshagen and their team from the Australian Food and Trading GmbH will again be presenting numerous culinary surprises on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. There are some new additions to the range, including crocodile and kangaroo kebabs, grilled kangaroo sausages, a kangaroo burger known as the "Big One", and for German customers in particular, kangaroo meat balls with mustard and gherkins. "We are constantly striving to improve the food and make it lighter", says Hans Drolshagen. The drinks on offer range from the well-known Fosters lager to chili and ginger beer, ginger spirit and 15-year old Milford malt whisky, as well as Inner Circle rum at 57.2 proof, and the winner of several prizes, the premium vodka Below. As in previous years there are some first class wines on display, including the finest products from Glaetzer and Mitolo as well as sparkling wine made using the champagne method.
(Hall 18, Stand 128/133, contact: Hans Drolshagen, mobile: +49-(0)-176-96110754).
Morocco: Date tea can be used with muesli
Some unique teas and spices can be found on the Moroccan stand. "Not only does the date tea taste good, it is also very filling. And what is more, the water that it is brewed in can be added to muesli", says Fouad El Hasnaoui in praise of this product. It contains pieces of date, whole raisins, coconut chips, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom. Of course mint tea, Morocco’s national drink, is widely available on the stand. "Our nana mint can be brewed three times because its flavour is so intense", says the Moroccan proudly. Exotic aromas emanate not only from the teapots but also from the baskets containing mixed spices. The best-seller among them is ’ras el hanout’, which translates literally as the "head of business". "In Morocco we use it in almost all of our dishes", explains El Hasnaoui. The valuable argan oil can be purchased here, either for use with foodstuffs or in the form of soap, bath oil and body oil. All argan products are marketed worldwide by independent women’s cooperatives.
(Hall 7.2b, Stand 120, contact: Fouad El Hasnaoui, telephone: +49-(0)-228-7077327, mobile: +49-(0)-176-24144014, e-mail: souk-du-maroc@online.de)
Korea: Red ginseng spirit to accompany Kim Bab with raspberry soya sauce
It may look like sushi, but it isn’t. ’Kim Bab’ is the Korean equivalent and is being offered on the Mong-Go Food stand in Hall 18. "It is made not with vinegar and sak but with sesame oil", says one of the stand team, Cho Yong-Min. ’Man Du’, pastry filled with glass noodles, minced meat and vegetables, is sizzling in pans on the stand. ’Kimchi’, white cabbage soused in chili and garlic and fermented, is also indispensable and is the country’s national dish. Lee Jeong Se from Mong-Go Food recommends spicing these dishes with bokbunja (honey) or songpyo (raspberry) soya sauce. These exotic dishes are best served with tea made from extract of red ginseng, recommends Song Myoung-sun on the Gintec stand in Hall 17. This "natural remedy", which is reputed to stimulate the circulation and aid digestion, is also available in the form of a 25 % proof spirit or simply as a powdered extract.
(Hall 18, Stand 110, contact: Cho Yong-Min, telephone: +49-(0)-30-8812121, www.kimchiberlin.de; Hall 17, Stand 135, contact: Song Myoung-sun, telephone: +49-(0)-06174-25610, e-mail: info@gintec.de)
Canada: The romance of the West with firewater and pancakes
With firewater (whisky with maple syrup), iceberg vodka, made with water obtained from 12,000 year old icebergs, and Moosehead beer, Hall 7.2c is also a major attraction for all Canada enthusiasts. The display is rounded off by wild salmon and dried bison meat. And on the opposite stand Yves Faucher from Sucrerie de la Montage is making tasty pancakes with maple syrup or salmon. Situated in Rigaud, Quebec, between Montreal and Ottawa, this historic syrup factory, hotel and restaurant also attracts many German tourists. The Canadians have also brought Caribou (vodka mixed with red and white wine and port), organic wild rice and souvenirs such as headdresses with feathers, dreamcatchers and Indian baby dolls.
(Hall 7.2c, Stand 115/116, contact: Fritz and Marie Luise Gareis, telephone: +49-(0)-9401-911902, Yves Faucher, telephone: +1-(0)-451-0831)
Sackavurma from Turkey
Fans of Turkish cuisine with find something special on offer at this year’s Green Week, in the form of hot meals from the Tugay company. "In Turkey we not only have dner", explains the proprietor Ali Ucbaglar. And visitors can find out for themselves by trying sackarvurma – strips of pan-fried veal or lamb – and Anatolian pastry filled with cheese or potato. New attractions include baked, organically grown dates and figs stuffed with walnuts. There is also the usual range of dried fruit.
(Hall 8.2, Stand 116, contact: Ali Ucbaglar, mobile: +49-(0)-22 81 26 39)
Denmark: Liquorice with many different flavours
Oluf Bisgaard can supply eleven different sorts of liquorice. Rainbow and Twist are two new, colourful varieties, which are particularly popular with children. This Danish exhibitor from Ebeltoft is also offering a caramel flavour for the first time. He also has soft ice cream, and visitors whose curiosity about Germany’s northern neighbour has been aroused can also obtain details here about an extensive range of holiday homes. The Green Week has become something of a tradition for Bisgaard, who also exhibited here in the 1980s.
Five companies are represented on the combined Bulgarian stand, which has been organised by Expo Center. Sandra Moskova explains that the foodstuffs and beverages on display, such as wines, cheeses, sausages, jams, spices and spirits, are all typical products of various regions. This Balkan country is renowned for its oil of roses, which has a long tradition in Bulgaria, and involves a complicated production process. Bulgarian oil of roses is of outstanding quality and is known around the world. Visitors can purchase many of the items from the stand, including cosmetics and medicinal products. There is also a restaurant providing an opportunity to become acquainted with the country’s cuisine. Examples include schopska salad, made using tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, paprika, olive oil and natural sheep’s cheese. Sandra Moskova recommends a typical local drink to accompany it, such as a rakia, or a brandy made from grapes, plums, apricots or pears. In Bulgaria it is customary to drink a particular spirit with a certain dish. Tarator is another typical combination and consists of a cold soup made from diluted yoghurt, and sliced or grated cucumber, dill and garlic, served with the anis spirit mastika.
Standing some 35 cm "tall", weighing four kilograms, and with a grey-black curly coat and lighter coloured floppy ears, Amadeus is every bit as cuddly as the "Knuts" of this city. The little caracul lamb was born yesterday evening at 10.55 in the Livestock Hall. "When fully grown he will weigh between 70 and 80 kilos", says the owner, Wilfried Urban from Zschorna in Saxony, before picking up the little fellow for his first appearance in the Main Show Ring, to the delight of the visitors to the Green Week. It was pure good fortune that the young ram was born here and he makes a valuable contribution to efforts to preserve this endangered breed of sheep. In the whole of Germany there are only 128 caracul ewes, kept by just seven breeders, whose interest in these robust animals is motivated more by a liking for them than by economic considerations. Visitors to the Green Week have until 27 January to meet young Amadeus in the Livestock Hall, No. 25.
(A press photo accompanying this report can be downloaded from www.gruenewoche.com. Hall 25, Stands 114 and 115, contact: Antje Feldmann, Hans-Jrg Rsler, mobile: +49-(0)-5542-1864, mobile: +49-(0)-171-2351595, e-mail: info@g-e-h.de)
This press release, press photos of the Green Week and the logo pattern can also be found on the internet at www.gruenewoche.com. Footage of the IGW 2008 is now available to TV and online editors and can be downloaded from www.tvservicebox.de.
Обзоры и аналитика
