Agricultural machinery manufacturer John Deere chooses not to attend AGRITECHNICA and donates 250,000 euros to the MHH's COVID 19 research programme.
Ralf Lenge (left), Tilmann Köller and Professor Dr. Michael Manns (right) with the donation cheque and Dr. Eckhard Schenke. Copyright: MHH / Karin Kaiser
Status: 24 February 2021
AGRITECHNICA actually has a fixed place in John Deere's calendar. After all, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural technology, which takes place every two years in Hanover, is considered the most important industry event, where leading companies present proven products and the latest developments. In 2021, however, the fair will take place without global player John Deere.
"Unfortunately, the infection situation has not developed as we had hoped. Above all, the various new virus mutations have prompted us to continue the course we set out on in autumn and to refrain from participating in trade fairs until further notice," says Ralf Lenge, Manager Public Relations at John Deere Walldorf GmbH & Co. KG. Nevertheless, to send a positive signal, the company is supporting COVID 19 research at the Hannover Medical School (MHH). "We take the pandemic very seriously and want to eliminate risks for trade fair visitors and our employees," says Tilmann Köller, Head of Public Communication at John Deere. "By supporting the MHH, we want to make a meaningful contribution so that research can continue on the virus and gatherings of people can once again take place in the usual way. That is why we are providing 250,000 euros to the MHH."
There is great joy at the MHH.
"The MHH is researching vaccines, the damage to human neurons caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the effects of the lockdown on mental health, to name just a few examples. In any case, the donation from John Deere makes a valuable contribution," says MHH President Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns. At present, 102 scientists from 43 institutes and clinics of the MHH are working on 120 projects on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID 19. Dr Eckhard Schenke, Chairman of the Förderstiftung MHH plus, to which the donation was made, emphasises: "We are observing a significantly increased willingness to donate during the pandemic, not only in the area of corona research, but also in general. However, an amount of this size is still a pleasant exception.