Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food Convention 2025: New approaches to animal husbandry with insects and algae

International conference with foyer exhibition on September 30 and October 1, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany – indoor farming sector offers complementary business models to conventional livestock farming – Two farmers show how – Registrations now open

(DLG). Indoor farming as a diversification strategy? Two pioneering pig farmers say yes. With investment prospects in traditional pig farming becoming increasingly uncertain in some parts of Europe, many farmers are exploring new ways to apply their skills — not just to stay competitive, but to continue to contribute to the future of food and farming. Indoor farming with insects and algae is gaining traction as a promising complement.

“Around 15 years ago, aquaculture, especially inhouse farming of aquatic organisms like fish, shrimp and algae, emerged as a promising alternative in Germany and has since become an innovative business  element for many livestock farmers,” says Schmidt-Puckhaber, aquaculture expert at the DLG. “Today, the spotlight is shifting to the broader field of indoor farming, including insect farming for animal feed and algae cultivation.”

These emerging sectors not only offer new income streams but also align with sustainable food production trends. At Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Convention 2025, taking place on September 30 and October 1 at the Congress Center Hamburg, professional farmers will have the opportunity to connect with experts and explore how indoor farming technologies and farming practices can be turned into viable business models. Organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), the event combines an international conference with a foyer exhibition focused on innovative production systems across the agricultural and food value chain.

From Pig Farming to Insects and Algae: Two Case Studies

Two farmers from Germany — one from the south, one from the north — are breaking new ground. David Krug has added insect farming to his pig and crop operation in southern Germany. Black soldier fly production has received attention in recent years, notably at DLG’s EuroTier livestock technologies exhibition where experts recognize this as a cost-efficient and excellent source of animal protein for feed including pigs, poultry and fish.

With demand rising, David Krug’s farm today produces up to three tons of black soldier fly larvae daily, with plans to scale up to 4.5 tons. The larvae are raised in climate-controlled chambers and fed organic waste like potato peelings and wheat bran — a model of circular economy in action.

Though the process is labor-intensive and highly structured, Krug sees clear benefits: “It’s an additional line of business that makes us more independent — especially from fluctuations in the pig market.” A five-year contract with FarmInsect has secured both supply and sales.

Microalgae production for rising feed demand

In North Rhine-Westphalia, Ulrich Averberg has launched a microalgae production facility alongside his pig and arable farming operation. In a custom-built greenhouse, algae grow in water basins under natural sunlight — up to 80,000 lux on bright days. The system is managed like a “plant barn,” with strict hygiene, monitoring, and documentation — skills Averberg transferred from his livestock experience. “No matter what kind of production you run, the cultivation of my spirulina algae needs the same attention as my other livestock population to become a first choice, high quality super food,” he says.  

Algae such as spirulina and chlorella are used in human nutrition, dietary supplements, and livestock feed due to their high protein and nutrient content. With rising demand for sustainable food and feed sources, the global algae market has grown steadily in recent years.

Courage to Change: A Future-Oriented Agriculture

Switching to alternative business models like insect or algae farming is no small step. It requires significant investment, new knowledge, and a rethinking of farm operations. But it also opens up new opportunities — for sustainability, economic resilience, and public acceptance.

Farmers like Averberg and Krug show that change is not a break from tradition, but a natural evolution. Their stories encourage others to explore new perspectives — and perhaps become part of a more future-ready agriculture.

About the Convention

The Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Convention 2025 will explore how food systems can be reimagined for the future. The two-day event features expert talks, interactive formats, and a topic-specific exhibition on vertical farming, insect farming, aquaculture, and more. It’s a must-attend for anyone interested in sustainable, innovative agricultural models.

Media contact

Malene Conlong
+49 69 24788-213
m.conlong@dlg.org

About DLG

With more than 31,000 members, DLG is a politically independent and non-profit organisation. DLG draws on an international network of some 3,000 food and agricultural experts. DLG operates with subsidiaries in 10 countries and also organizes over 30 regional agricultural and livestock exhibitions worldwide. DLG’s leading international exhibitions, EuroTier for livestock farming and Agritechnica for agricultural machinery, which are held every two years in Hanover, Germany, provide international impetus for the local trade fairs. Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, DLG conducts practical trials and tests to keep its members informed of the latest developments. DLG’s sites include DLG's International Crop Production Centre, a 600-hectare test site in Bernburg-Strenzfeld, Germany and the DLG Test Centre, Europe's largest agricultural machinery test centre for Technology and Farm Inputs, located in Gross-Umstadt, Germany. DLG bridges the gap between theory and practice, as evidenced by more than 40 working groups of farmers, academics, agricultural equipment companies and organisations that continually compare advances in knowledge in specific areas such as irrigation and precision farming.

www.dlg.org