Sustainability - A Shared Journey

At the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2025, sustainability is not just a topic of discussion - it is a guiding principle. As a conference dedicated to the synergy between agriculture and solar energy, we recognize the importance of minimizing our environmental impact while bringing together experts from around the world.

While organizing a large international event inevitably has some carbon footprint, we are taking concrete steps to reduce emissions where possible, and we invite our attendees to do the same. 

What We Are Doing to Make the Conference More Sustainable

As the organizers of the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2025, we are taking several measures to minimize the environmental impact of the event:

1. Sustainable Conference Venue
   • The conference will be held at the Messe Freiburg, a modern and energy-efficient venue that prioritizes sustainability. The location is well connected to public transportation, making it easy for participants to travel by train, tram, or bicycle.
2. Environmentally Friendly Catering
   • We prioritize regional, organic, and seasonal ingredients to reduce food-related emissions.
   • During the conference, only vegetarian and vegan options will be available to further reduce the carbon footprint of conference meals.
   • Our catering provider will donate any leftover food to food-sharing initiatives in Freiburg, ensuring that surplus meals are redistributed to those in need instead of going to waste.
   • Single-use plastics will be avoided whenever possible.
3. Paperless Conference

   • The conference will use digital materials instead of printed programs and participant lists to reduce paper waste.

   • Attendees will have access to an interactive event platform for schedules, networking, and session details.

4. Waste Reduction

   • We encourage attendees to bring reusable bottles and cups to reduce plastic waste.

   • Waste separation and recycling stations will be available throughout the venue.

5. Online Participation Option

   • While we encourage in-person networking and discussion, we recognize that long-distance travel has a significant impact on the environment. For those who cannot travel sustainably, an online attendance option is available to reduce emissions.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

We encourage all participants to contribute to a more sustainable conference experience by considering the following:

1. Choose Low-Carbon Travel Options
   • If possible, take the train or bus instead of flying, even if it takes longer or is less expensive.
   • If flying is unavoidable, consider direct flights, which produce fewer emissions than flights with stopovers.
   • For those in the area, cycling or using public transport to Freiburg is a great way to reduce emissions.
2. Stay in Eco-Friendly Accommodations
   • Look for hotels with sustainability certifications or those that implement green practices such as energy efficiency and waste reduction.
3. Reduce Energy & Waste During the Conference
   • Bring a reusable water bottle to avoid single-use plastics.
   • Use digital documents, including digital business cards, instead of printed materials.
   • Consider food waste when choosing meals. 
4. Explore Freiburg by Bicycle
   • Freiburg is a bike-friendly city, and attendees can rent bicycles through Frelo, which offers convenient short-term rentals, including 3-day rates, perfect for the duration of the conference!
   • For your convenience, Frelo has a bicycle rental station right next to the conference venue.

5. Offset Your Carbon Footprint

   • For those traveling long distances, another option is to offset your CO₂ emissions by donating to certified climate projects. Here is a list of CO₂ offset providers where you can donate a small amount of money to offset your carbon footprint:

     • atmosfair

     • myclimate

The Carbon Footprint Challenge

To make sustainability even more engaging, we're introducing the Carbon Footprint Challenge:

• The challenge aims to encourage participants to choose the most climate-friendly travel options for their trip to the conference.
• We will be evaluating which participant can achieve the lowest relative carbon footprint - whether it's by taking a long train ride, cycling to Freiburg, or some other creative low-carbon approach.
• The award will be given to the attendee who saves the most CO₂ by choosing the greenest means of transportation relative to the length of their trip.
• This will be done through an online survey, this will be done through an online survey, the link to which will be sent to you several weeks before the conference!