Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention 2027: Shaping New Value Chains for Food and Feed 21-22 April 2027

21-22 April 2027 at the Congress Center Hamburg, Germany –International DLG conference and business platform for the food and feed systems of the future – Connecting agriculture, technology, processing and markets – Foyer exhibition for companies and start-ups – indoor farming, alternative proteins and new agrifood value chains

How can new raw material sources, innovative food production technologies and industrial processing methods be combined into economically viable value chains? This question is at the heart of the Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention 2027. organized by the DLG (German Agricultural Society), The international conference will take place on 21 and 22 April 2027 at the Congress Center Hamburg, Germany. Under the theme "Driving Innovation across the Agrifood System," the event brings together stakeholders from agriculture, the food and feed industries, technology and research.

 The focus is on new business models, innovative production systems and cross-sector collaboration. The Convention combines a high-level conference program with a foyer exhibition and networking opportunities in the area of future food and feed production.

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 processes, new raw material sources and production technologies offer a wide range of opportunities. However, their economic success depends on the successful alignment of production, processing and marketing.

This challenge begins with raw material production. Innovative crop varieties with high protein yields and suitable functional characteristics can provide the basis for high-quality food and feed products. At the same time, cultivation, preparation and processing must be consistently aligned with the requirements of the final products.

“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,” explains 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. This requires much closer collaboration along the entire value chain.”

New Production Systems Require Viable Business Models

In addition to the conventional cultivation of protein crops, innovative inhouse farming systems are opening up new opportunities for producing alternative raw materials. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies enable production under controlled conditions and offer approaches to using resources more efficiently, linking material flows and integrating agricultural and processing by-products into new production processes.

The spectrum ranges from insect farming and mushroom cultivation to aquaculture, algae production and fermentation technologies. These systems can create additional income opportunities and new business areas for farms and companies. However, economic viability and suitable market opportunities remain essential prerequisites.

The challenge of marketing new protein sources is highlighted by the study "DLG Insights 2026: Alternative Protein Sources - Perspectives along the Value Chain: Agriculture, Market and Consumption." According to the study, 61 percent of approximately 700 surveyed farms already grow protein crops. However, only 19 percent consider this a promising source of income. Low prices and insufficient marketing channels continue to hinder further development.

The findings make one thing clear: technological innovation and new production opportunities alone are not enough. For alternative protein sources to succeed in the long term, economically viable prospects must exist for all actors along the value chain.

Rethinking Value Chains Through Collaboration

This is precisely where the Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention 2027 comes in. Rather than viewing new food and feed systems in isolation, the event examines the interaction between raw material production, technology development, industrial processing and market commercialization.

The central question is how innovative ideas can be transformed into marketable products, viable business models and new partnerships.

Over two days, experts from industry, business and science will discuss technological developments, economic opportunities and the conditions required for successful value chains.

Topics include:

• Economic viability of new production methods in times of high energy and labor costs
• Regulatory requirements for novel foods and feed ingredients
• Quality and safety standards
• Consumer acceptance of new products

“The key challenge is bringing together the various stakeholders and requirements at an early stage,” emphasizes Herbst. “Profitability for producers, suitable raw material quality for processors and attractive products for markets must be considered together. With this Convention, we are creating a platform where these perspectives come together and new collaborations can emerge.”

International Business Platform for Future Food and Feed Systems

The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention is aimed at companies, start-ups and institutions that develop, apply, finance or regulate future food and feed systems.

Target groups include:

• Agricultural producers
• Companies in the agricultural and food industries
• Technology suppliers and equipment manufacturers
• AgriTech, FoodTech and Biotech start-ups
• Research institutions
• Investors
• Industry associations and networks
• Policymakers

As an international conference and business platform, the Convention combines professional knowledge exchange with concrete business opportunities. The two-day conference program provides guidance on technological developments, market potential and economic framework conditions.

The accompanying foyer exhibition offers companies and start-ups the opportunity to showcase solutions, establish business contacts and initiate new partnerships.

Convention and Show: Two Formats, One Topic

The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention and the Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show complement each other as two event formats dedicated to innovative food and feed systems.

The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show will take place from 10 to 13 November 2026 as part of EuroTier in Hanover. Within the setting of the world's leading livestock trade fair, it makes current technologies and innovative solutions visible and tangible for practical application.

The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Convention, taking place on 21 and 22 April 2027 in Hamburg, deepens the professional discussion and focuses on knowledge transfer, business models and networking among stakeholders along emerging value chains.

Further Information and Registration

www.inhouse-farming.com/feed-food-convention

Media contact

Malene Conlong
+49 69 24788-237
m.conlong@dlg.org

DLG. Progress and sustainability in the agriculture and food industry

The DLG (German Agricultural Society), founded in 1885 by Max Eyth, stands for productivity and sustainability in innovation-driven improvements in agriculture and the food chain. The aim of the DLG is to promote progress through the transfer of knowledge - especially with regard to technology and quality control. Non-profit, politically independent and with an international network, the DLG has more than 30,000 members worldwide.

As one of the leading organizations in its sector, the DLG not only organizes trade fairs and events in the fields of agriculture and food technology but also tests food, agricultural technology and equipment. With its competence centers for agriculture and food, its demonstration farm where practical trials take place along with its numerous publications, the DLG continually promotes independent knowledge transfer. In addition, the DLG works on numerous national and international committees of experts to develop solutions for the challenges facing agriculture and the food industry.

www.dlg.org