Quakenbrück - In September 2024, an exclusive food tasting event took place at DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. in Quakenbrück, focusing on novel foods. Around 85 representatives from food processing, gastronomy, and innovative startups seized the opportunity to sample over 35 pioneering food items and engage with industry experts.
The HTI Growhouse event showcased an impressive variety of innovative products, including meat substitutes made from alternative proteins, vegan fish and seafood alternatives, cheese substitutes, insect snacks, and superfoods from Latin America. Startups such as Formo, Koralo, and malunt personally presented their developments and were available for discussions with guests. The evening also featured a live demonstration by hs-tumbler GmbH, showcasing their innovative food processing technologies.
A special feature of the program was the "Startup meets Corporate" format, where established companies and young startups discussed current trends and opportunities in the food industry. Keynote speeches by Bert Mutsaers (Realum.cloud) and Christian Poppe (Formo) provided valuable insights into the collaboration between startups and large companies. Following this, 15 startups presented their innovative products in short elevator pitches.
Prior to the official start, numerous guests participated in a tour of DIL's state-of-the-art technical facility. Here, researchers and companies collaborate on solutions for sustainable and healthy foods based on alternative proteins and innovative production methods.
Alexander Märdian, Head of the Innovation Hub at DIL, moderated the evening and in his introduction highlighted current developments and market acceptance of novel foods. "Our Food Tasting Event impressively demonstrated how diverse and innovative the food industry is today. The presented products based on alternative proteins, vegan alternatives, and sustainable resources not only offer exciting prospects for the future but also show that the market is ready for these developments. It was inspiring to bring together so many dedicated minds from the industry," explained Märdian.
Following the presentations and pitches, the food tasting took center stage, allowing participants to sample the innovative products and network in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Food Tasting Event was a great success, providing a platform for all participants to discuss the future of the food industry and establish new contacts. DIL is pleased with the significant interest and inspiring exchange that defined the evening.
About DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V.
DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. is a non-university research institute specializing in food sciences. With more than 180 member companies and around 130 employees, DIL operates in the areas of food safety and authenticity, structure and process engineering, as well as sustainability. In addition to its research collaborations, DIL is particularly known for its outstanding research infrastructure. From raw material analysis to life cycle assessment, from insect biomass production to the creation of substitute products and the integration of artificial intelligence, we tackle a wide range of complex questions.
The DIL Innovation Hub supports over 50 AgriFood startups annually, promoting the market introduction of innovative products and technologies through these activities.
Growhouse is an incubator for startups in the fields of farming, food, and artificial intelligence, serving as a central interface between founders and relevant stakeholders. Growhouse is backed by a consortium consisting of DIL, the Aloys and Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation, and Seedhouse Accelerator GmbH.
In addition to DIL's involvement in the largest European AgriFood network, EIT Food, DIL has been part of the AgriFood DE
Osnabrück-Hannover since September 17. This involvement in the nationwide network under the umbrella of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is another milestone in the promotion of innovation in the AgriFood sector, as explained by the Minister of Economic Affairs of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies.