London - 16/11/09

Plant International Meeting to take root in Angers in January 2010

The Plant International Meeting, the trade show for the horticultural sector, will take place from 12 to 13 January 2010 at the Congress Centre in Angers (in western France). The theme of the event, which is being held for the third time, will be Success Stories.

Plant International Meeting (PIM) is organised every two years by VEGEPOLYS, the international innovation cluster in the field of horticulture, which is based in the Loire Valley (in western France). PIM covers plants, fruit and vegetables, seeds, trees, viticulture, medicinal plants, mushrooms, cider and tobacco. The next Plant International Meeting will take place from 12 to 13 January 2010 in Angers.

This unique event is open to professionals, students, researchers and institutional players from all over the world. Participants will be able to share their experiences of growing innovative, environmentally friendly and healthy plants. PIM will help participants develop collaborative projects; meet potential commercial, industrial or scientific partners; and, also, find new international markets. A range of topical issues will be highlighted, i.e. varietal innovation, plant protection, urban landscaping, the development of plant properties and business intelligence.

Ten leading business experts in the sector will present their success stories, explaining the key factors behind their achievements and the ways in which they have focused on environmental and health aspects. Each session will be followed by a debate with the audience.

A dedicated area will make it possible for participants to organise B2B meetings and meet members of the VEGEPOLYS network of companies and research organisations. These meetings will take place on 12 January from 10.30am to 11.30am and from 4.00pm to 5.00pm, and on 13 January from 10.30am to 11.30am.

A Research & Services area will enable participants to meet experts and discover VEGEPOLYS’s services in the field of varietal innovation, plant protection, urban landscaping, the development of plant properties, business intelligence and international development.

The Business & Know-How area will be designed to help participants establish partnerships or business relationships with private-sector laboratories, technical development centres, ingredients or technology suppliers, and service providers. The Subsidiaries area will present all the VEGEPOLYS subsidiaries and their resources while, in the Partners area, sponsors and partners will give presentations.

About VEGEPOLYS

VEGEPLOYS, the innovation cluster in the horticultural sector, is based in the Loire Valley (western France). The cluster currently includes 4,000 companies, representing 25,000 jobs. The cluster has approved 66 projects, with a total of €32 million invested in joint projects.

Members of the VEGEPOLYS cluster include acknowledged scientific experts with cutting-edge expertise, who work for leading R&D institutions such as the French National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA), AgroCampus Ouest (the Institute for agricultural sciences, agri-foods, horticulture and landscaping), and the University of Angers.

VEGEPOLYS also includes European Union agencies such as the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), which is based in Angers. CVPO registers plant varieties in the EU catalogue.

Regional development policies put in place by the local authorities of the Loire Valley have helped to foster a favourable environment for the development of horticultural companies. Measures taken include a land-use charter, the establishment of dedicated zones, as well as improved logistics and water management. Regional development policies also facilitate the establishment of new entrants from inside and outside of France thanks to VEGEPOLYS’s partners – the Ouest Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire economic development agencies.

For further information, please go to: www.vegepolys.eu

About Plant International Meeting

Plant International Meeting will take place from 12 to 13 January 2010 at the Congress Centre in Angers (in western France).

Registration for the 2010 event can be done online at www.pim2010.eu. There is a 5% discount available if two or more people attend from the same organisation.

For further information, please go to: www.pim2010.eu

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Kate AMBLER – Press Officer

UBIFRANCE Press Office in London

Telephone: 0207-024-3640

Email: kate.ambler@ubifrance.fr

Web site: www.ftpb.co.uk

UBIFRANCE UK #3345