The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention 2027 will take place on 21–22 April at the Congress Center Hamburg in Germany under the theme ‘Driving Innovation across the Agrifood System,’ according to organiser DLG.
The international conference and business platform brings together stakeholders from agriculture, the food and feed industries, technology and research to examine how new raw material sources, innovative production technologies and industrial processing methods can be combined into economically viable value chains.
Alternative proteins and the processing challenge
Alternative protein sources are becoming increasingly important for resource-efficient food and feed production, whether plant-based proteins, algae, fungi or proteins derived from fermentation. However, the event organiser notes that their economic success depends on aligning production, processing and marketing.
“Many processing technologies for plant-based raw materials originated in feed production. They are often designed to process large volumes efficiently but do not sufficiently account for the functional properties of proteins that are crucial for food applications,” said Carla K Herbst, Deputy Managing Director of the DLG Competence Center for Agriculture and Food. “To obtain high-quality plant proteins, processing technologies must be further developed and considered already at the raw material production stage.”
Market realities
DLG points to its study ‘DLG Insights 2026: Alternative Protein Sources,’ which surveyed approximately 700 farms. According to the findings, 61 percent already grow protein crops, but only 19 percent consider this a promising source of income, with low prices and insufficient marketing channels cited as barriers.
The findings indicate that technological innovation and new production opportunities alone are not sufficient. For alternative protein sources to succeed in the long term, economically viable prospects must exist for all actors along the value chain.
Programme topics
The two-day programme will address the economic viability of new production methods amid high energy and labour costs, regulatory requirements for novel foods and feed ingredients, quality and safety standards, and consumer acceptance.
The accompanying foyer exhibition offers companies and start-ups the opportunity to showcase solutions and establish contacts. Target groups include agricultural producers, food and agricultural companies, technology suppliers, agri-tech and food-tech start-ups, research institutions, investors, industry associations and policymakers.
The Convention complements the Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show, which takes place from 10–13 November 2026 as part of EuroTier in Hanover, Germany. The Show makes current technologies visible and tangible, while the Convention in Hamburg deepens the professional discussion and focuses on knowledge transfer, business models and networking.
