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Focus on agricultural and food systems of the future – focus on controlled environment agriculture (CEA)- theme days in high demand – Show was part of EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 2024

The showcase for self-contained agricultural and food systems of the future was the ‘Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show’ from 12 to 15 November 2024 that took place last week in Hanover, Germany. The international B2B meeting place organized by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) took place in parallel with the world’s leading trade fairs EuroTier and EnergyDecentral in Hanover, Germany, which benefitted from new ideas in indoor farming and controlled environment agriculture. Closely linked to agricultural practice, the Inhouse Farming event offered visionaries and experts from all over the world specialist information, perspectives, innovations and business – from feed to food. In total, EuroTier 2024, EnergyDecentral 2024 and the Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show attracted around 120,000 visitors to Hanover.

Alternative production systems for the supply of sustainably produced food are currently a key focus area along the entire value chain. International visitors showed great interest in the exhibits of the almost 40 exhibitors who presented their innovations relating to Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and new food systems.

The technological solutions on show for the innovative indoor production of feed & food made it clear that developments are progressing rapidly, influencing the entire food supply chain. Optimizing the production of alternative proteins for the feed and food industry, increasingly the technologies offer the diversity that will play an ever more important role in the food systems of the future in view of a constantly growing world population.

Significant developments in the field of CEA are primarily developments that further reduce energy requirements and minimize energy losses. However, the intelligent networking of various agricultural production systems in closed energy and material cycles is also increasingly coming into focus – a development that was also addressed in the extensive specialist program of the Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show with its themed days. In total, around 60 speakers discussed the future issues of the agriculture and food industry in more than 40 events. The “Novel Food” tasting event was also very popular with visitors.

DLG Spotlight Inhouse Farming: Insects in focus 

With numerous exhibits, the Inhouse Farming DLG Spotlight offered a comprehensive insight into the automated production of insects as high-quality protein feed directly on the farm. The dedicated presentation area proved popular and invited interested parties to engage in in-depth dialogue in technical and expert discussions.

The insect theme day made it clear that, in addition to being used as animal feed, farmed insects can also be used in the production of meat substitutes and other foods as well as in the manufacture of cosmetics. To date, the production of insect protein has often been difficult from an economic point of view, as the production and processing methods are not yet able to compete with conventional animal feed. However, the utilisation of agricultural by-products and by-products from the food industry as feed for insect farming could play a role in significantly reducing production costs in the near future.

As part of the Aquaculture, Aquaponics & Algae theme day, plant manufacturers and their producers shared their experiences on the farms, and international experts reported on how fish and vegetables can thrive together in aquaponics systems. Algae in particular harbor considerable potential for a climate-neutral circular economy, as they bind around ten times more carbon dioxide than land plants. If they are cultivated in photobioreactors, this value can be increased even further. Spirulina and other microalgae are already being cultivated very successfully in closed systems made of transparent plastic or glass tubes.

DLG Impulse Pitches: Inhouse Farming Winner 2024 

Alganize GmbH from Berlin won the DLG Impulse Pitches 2024, ahead of four other pioneers in the final round of live pitches at the Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show. Alganize impressed the expert jury with its Alganize microbiome, which is designed to significantly improve soil health based on microalgae. In addition to the depth of innovation and practical relevance, the aspects of economic efficiency and improvement of the environmental and energy situation were also decisive for the win.

The ‘From Animal Housing to Vertical Farm’ simulation games showed how animal housing can be successfully converted into vertical farms and what innovative opportunities this opens up for sustainable and future-oriented agriculture. The interest was high. ”We need farmers who want to discover and utilize in-house farming technologies for themselves. In terms of forward-looking management, it is now necessary to consider various options for your own future. The Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show is the ideal platform for this. It is also ideal that we think in interdisciplinary terms across the entire chain. This creates synergies that are extremely important for overarching innovations and that we increasingly need in the food system of the future,“ says Marcus Vagt, DLG Head of Energy, Inhouse Farming and New Foods.

Perfect combination with EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 

EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 2024, which took place in parallel with the Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show at the exhibition grounds in Hanover, Germany, made a strong impression and provided the relevant business drivers for the global livestock farming and renewable energy sectors. As the world’s leading trade fair for professional livestock farming and the leading trade fair for decentralized energy, the event showcased the innovative power of both sectors at the highest level. A total of 2,193 exhibitors from 51 countries presented their latest solutions and technologies for the livestock sector and the renewable energy sector. Around 120,000 investment-ready visitors from 149 countries took advantage of the international industry gathering, which underlined its leading role in the sector with a focus on animal welfare, sustainability, digitalisation and AI as well as over 500 trade events, conferences and industry events.

The next EuroTier, EnergyDecentral and Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show will take place in Hanover from 10 to 13 November 2026. Around 700 companies have already registered as exhibitors for the next event.

Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food 

The ‘Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show’ is the B2B platform of the DLG (German Agricultural Society) for the self-contained agricultural and food systems of the future. Closely networked with agricultural practice, the platform offers technical information, perspectives, innovations and business – from feed to food. The event is part of EuroTier, the world’s leading trade fair for professional animal husbandry and livestock management, in Hanover, Germany. In future, the event will alternate annually with the ‘Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Convention’, a specialist conference with a foyer exhibition. It offers experts from the agriculture and food industry as well as research and science a platform for innovation, intensive professional dialogue, discussions and networking. The international business conference will celebrate its premiere on 29 and 30 April 2025 in Hamburg.

Further information at:

Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show: www.inhouse-farming.com/en/

Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Convention 2025:

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

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. Through its subsidiary, DLG International, DLG operates has subsidiaries in nine 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