This year's International Agricultural Exhibition AGRA, which is the most renowned agricultural forum in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe, will demonstrate the upswing in agriculture achieved regardless of the crisis. The agricultural sector has turned out to be a powerful driving force for the Bulgarian economy with a 5 % growth boosting the overall recovery.

The positive development of the sector is noticeable at AGRA 2012. This year's edition is larger and more representative than the previous one.

For the first time, BioAgra Trade Exhibition of Organic Farming will take place. BioAgra is a new stage reflecting the ever-growing interest in organic products, following an ongoing trend in recent years. Thus, organic farming has also its own trade forum to help accelerate the development of this sector in Bulgaria. Our country takes leading positions in the EU in terms of growth rate of the organic agricultural production.

Bulgarian and foreign companies participating in AGRA 2012 exhibit:

• equipment and technologies increasing production effectiveness;
• multifunctional machinery and equipment facilitating farmer's work;
• land cultivation and livestock breeding techniques ensuring high quality products for the food industry;
• effective implementation of research findings;
• new cultivars of vegetables, fruit and grain crops.

All research institutes within the framework of the Agricultural Academy, the co-organizer of AGRA together with International Fair Plovdiv, have their exhibition stands at the event. 

Visitors have the opportunity to see 35 innovative products and technological solutions, including 11 worldwide novelties and five European ones.

I. General Information

1. Exhibition

AGRA was launched in 1992. In 1995, as an acknowledgment of high quality and international standing, the exhibition was recognized as a UFI approved event by  UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. In 2008, AGRA was enlisted in the calendar of EURASCO – European Federation of Agricultural Exhibition and Show Organizers.

2. Participants

AGRA 2012 has attracted for participation direct and represented exhibitors from 25 countries. The number of participants is 420, which is a rise of 15% compared to last year. Greece and Argentina take part with official participations, while Turkey is presented by a joint participation.

The occupied exhibition area is up by over 27% in total. In comparison with last year, the increase for the Bulgarian producers is 23%, and for the foreign ones – 52%. This is the result of the flexible marketing policy of International Fair Plovdiv aiming to support businesses through the hard economic times.

2. Exhibitors Profile

The majority of the exhibitors are active in the plant-growing sector. R&D sector takes second place, and livestock breeding ranks third. The participation of companies from the services and information sphere is expanding.

II. BioAgra Trade Exhibition of Organic Farming

The first BioAgra is organized in partnership with the AVALON Foundation, the Netherlands and the Agroecological Centre at the Agricultural University, Plovdiv.

The exhibition is aiming to highlight organic farming as a production system that respects the environment and to showcase organic products as a healthier alternative. The event will bring together companies from four countries, research institutes and experts from all spheres of organic farming, organic production and trade.

Major exhibition categories:

• Organic crop growing and livestock breeding
• Organic  non-food products
• Organic farms
• Certification organizations
• Consulting companies
• NGOs
• Organic products trade – organic shops, organic hotels, organic restaurants, etc.
• Special publications and online editions 

BioAgra will be accompanied by an international conference on "Marketing of Organic Farming" and a working meeting on "Innovations in Organic Farming through Networking".

III. Innovations Competition

For the forth year in a row, AGRA will present awards to new products, services and improvements in agriculture. The aim of the Innovations Competition is to promote the innovative products and companies. The competition is organized on the initiative of International Fair Plovdiv and is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

IV. Business Events Programme

AGRA 2012 is accompanied by comprehensive Business Events Programme comprising conferences, seminars, roundtables, discussions and presentations on the current issues and trends in agriculture.