Under the main theme of ‘Responsibility’, AnugaFoodTec brings together innovators and industry leaders to brainstorm multiple facets of a more sustainable future. Matthias Schlüter, Director of Anuga FoodTec, commented: “Through the introduction of new exhibition areas like environmental engineering and energy, the reach of the trade fair across sectors will be further extended, whereby the focus remains particularly on the main theme of ‘Responsibility’.” 
The program designed by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) adopts the theme with new approaches: “Through participatory formats like ‘Bar Camp’ or ‘Open Expert Stage’, these multi-faceted events invite to a dialogue across industries and offer extensive possibilities for interaction,” says Simone Schiller, managing director of the DLG.   
The complete event program of Anuga FoodTec is available here. The following event formats are new:

• Science Slam 
• Deep Dives
• Content Pro vs. Contra 
• Bar Camp 
• Open Expert Stage 

Other format highlights include:

• Start-up Pitches 
• Female Leadership Event
• International FoodTec Award 2024
• Careers Day  
• Guided Tours

“With the Careers Day, we want to counter the lack of skilled employees and directly network the companies with young talents. New paths and career possibilities are pointed out to them in this way, and we hope to thus be able to arouse enthusiasm for the industry,” says Schlüter.
Theme areas will include:

• alternative proteins:
  • Meat alternatives and plant-based drinks – Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 11:25 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 
    The food industry is reacting to this growing demand with a broad portfolio of various plant-based products, which have in the meantime become fixed elements in the assortments of supermarkets. However, there has to date been only little comprehensive data concerning the precise composition of the nutrients and limited information about residues and contaminants in the products available on the German market.
  • Deep Dive: Sustainable plant-based protein and fermentation solutions – Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 3:25-4:10 p.m.  
    The trend is once again toward fermentation as it can qualitatively improve plant-based sources of protein, ensure better digestibility and make balanced nutrition possible. There are a variety of technical options for introducing the process, including enzymes and microorganisms.
  • Content Pro-Contra: Insects as novel food – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:40 a.m.-12:25 p.m.  
    Insects as nutrients? Many consumers cannot imagine that (yet). Nonetheless, insects have very recently been approved as novel food and are on the rise. Nonetheless, acceptance of insects is low, and there are challenges facing cultivation on a large scale. Is there a long-term perspective for insects finding a place on our menu?
• AI, digitalization & robotics:
  • Science Slam: Digitalization, robotics and automation – Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 1:20-2:20 p.m. 
    Digitalization, robotics, automation – these three themes are closely intertwined and play an increasingly important role in the food industry. However, what is the current status quo in the food industry, and what challenges are currently being addressed? What promising ideas and concepts are there for the networked, efficient and automated production of food? How can production be designed in future?
  • Panel discussion: artificial intelligence – Friday, March 22, 2024, 10:00-10:45 a.m.  
    Everybody is talking about AI right now, and it is seen as the number one problem solver. However, as a result of the very rapid development of artificial intelligence, questions around security arise and the use of self-learning systems.
• Packaging:
  • Science Slam: Sustainable packaging – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 1:20-2:20 p.m.  
    Short lectures on innovative ideas and pioneering research findings to sustainably design the future of the packaging industry.
  • Deep Dive: Proposal for an EU regulation for packaging and packaging waste – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 3:25-4:10 p.m.  
    The EU Commission hopes to limit unnecessary packaging, promote reusable solutions and establish a closed recycling cycle for all packaging on the EU market by 2030.
• Energy and water: 
  • Tour 2: Energy and water management – Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 1:30-2:30 p.m. and Thursday, 21.03.2024, 10:30-11:30 a.m. 
    Insights into sustainable practices in the energy and water management segments via one-hour tours starting from the DLG stand. Registration is required.
  • Energy and water management – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 4:20-5:05 p.m.  
  • Deep Dive: Energy and water management – Friday, March 22, 2024, 12:30-1:30 p.m.   
• logistics & supply chain:
  • Open Expert Stage: Procurement in the global supply chain – Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 11:40 a.m.-12:25 p.m.  
    The procurement of raw materials in global supply chains may be flexible, but is anything but clearly structured. The acquisition and quality of information, which is of great importance to consumers, suffers due to this. The Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG), which came into effect in Germany in 2023, now promotes comprehensive transparency. The goal is to guarantee human rights and environmental standards along the value creation chain. This places the industry under pressure to act.
  • Open Expert Stage: Fresh logistics – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 2:30-3:15 p.m.  
    Innovations and solutions are required for the efficient and sustainable delivery of fresh food. In the discussion group, experts and those in the know in the industry will share their findings concerning current challenges and effective approaches to solutions: how can modern technologies, intelligent supply chains and innovative packaging solutions contribute to ensuring the quality and freshness of products and at the same time minimize food loss?
• science & pioneering:
  • Uniting sustainability and productivity: Insights from the Fraunhofer initiatives for the food industry – Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 10:35-11:20 a.m. 
    The global food industry is facing unprecedented challenges caused by climate change, disappearing resources, volatile supply chains and rising food prices. These pressing problems require joint efforts toward sustainability and responsible practices. As a reaction to this, 12 Fraunhofer Institutes are carrying out pioneering research along the entire chain of the food industry. Their joint efforts encompass pioneering solutions in the fields of agriculture, product preservation, analytics, logistics and sustainable technologies. 
    Through the bundling of the collective specialist knowledge of 12 institutes within the Fraunhofer Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance, which is part of the greater Fraunhofer network of 76 institutes, this alliance offers a unique scientific infrastructure and interdisciplinary knowledge.
  • Die Kraft eines Ökosystems: Wie die Lebensmittelindustrie durch Zusammenarbeit umgestaltet und innoviert werden kann / Power of an ecosystem: How to collaboratively transform and innovate the food industry – Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:25 a.m.-12:10 p.m.  
    What can large companies learn from new startups?  
    How can innovative startups acquire access to the market through cooperation with industry partners?  
    And why does precisely such cooperation bear such great potential to bring more sustainability to the food industry? 
    In this session, Melissa Ott (Managing Director) and Thomas Glaser (Program Manager of THE MISSION Food) from Futury will provide answers to these questions together with guests.  

100 years of Koelnmesse

Koelnmesse is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024.

Photo: Sustainable Packaging Summit, Rhein Saal, Congress-Centrum-Nord. Credit: Koelnmesse