Fraunhofer Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance

Welcome to the Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance

Innovative solutions for the food industry

 

Climate change, dwindling resources, insecure supply chains and rising food prices pose major challenges for the global food industry. The potential on the way to a sustainable food supply is huge.

 

The Fraunhofer Food Industry Alliance builds on decades of cooperation. The expertise of currently 15 Fraunhofer Institutes, which are part of the Fraunhofer network of around 76 institutes, is pooled under the umbrella of the Alliance.

 

Customers from the food industry benefit from this unique scientific infrastructure and the interdisciplinary know-how along the entire value chain: from innovative approaches, e.g. in the areas of agriculture, product protection and analytics, food and logistics to new processing technologies and developments in terms of sustainability and the circular economy.

Risky bargains? Black Friday Online Debate: Chemicals in Consumer Goods

The Fraunhofer High Performance Center for Secure Intelligent Systems (LZSiS) cordially invites you to the dialogue round on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 09:30 am. Join online and discuss with leading experts about the risks and challenges of chemical-contaminated consumer goods in the context of Black Friday and international trade.

Main topics:

Detection methods for contaminated consumer goods: Insights into modern detection techniques.

Challenges in online retail: Strategies for ensuring product safety.

Occupational health and safety and imported goods contaminated with chemicals: Health risks for employees and protective measures.

Legal basis for imported goods and health protection: comparison of international and national regulations.

Emissions from untested consumer goods: pollution from indoor emissions.

Problems along the supply chain: container outgassing and chemical contamination.

BfR analytical methods: status quo

Legal regulations and product safety: Challenges due to diffuse requirements.

Why participate? Gain comprehensive insights and discuss current product safety challenges from the comfort of your own home. This event offers a valuable platform for exchanging ideas with experts and developing sustainable solutions.

 

Register here.

The Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance on a Delegation Trip to Tanzania and Kenya

Prof. Dr. Andrea Büttner, spokesperson for the Alliance for the Food Industry, was on a delegation trip to East Africa from Oct. 28th to Nov. 2nd 2024 under the leadership of Bavaria's State Secretary for Economic Affairs Tobias Gotthardt. The trip first took them to Nairobi for three days and then to Dar es Salaam.

“The discussions I was able to hold during this trip, particularly in the areas of raw materials, efficient processing and value creation networks, are of enormous importance - and not just for East Africa, but also for us in Europe,” says Andrea Büttner. “There is a growing relevance in looking at possible future scenarios, in terms of building sustainable supply systems that are both resilient and future-proof.”

The challenges and opportunities in the comparison between East Africa and Germany show astonishing parallels in many regions - after all, it is essentia to strengthen entrepreneurship, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, and the targeted promotion of young talent and young entrepreneurship.
There was particularly intensive discussion about the need to link primary production and further processing and value creation much more closely in strong regional value chains. The need for sustainable energy and water supply and use was a top topic in all discussions.

Our Fraunhofer research in the field of bioeconomy and circular economy offers enormous starting points and potential for developing solutions together with our African partners that can contribute to global security of supply. The dialog between science, politics and business must be further intensified in order to create viable, sustainable systems in the long term.   

“The trip was therefore a valuable step in this direction,” says Andrea Büttner.

Position paper: Food and nutrition research in Germany

The Permanent Senate Commission on Food Safety and Health Assessment (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) recently published a position paper entitled "Food and Nutrition Research in Germany" (in German only), in which it recommends further strengthening of this field of research.
Food safety and consumer health protection are top priorities for society. Constant innovations in the development of new processes or products in the food sector and a steady increase in scientific knowledge in this often politically and socially controversial field mean that there is a permanent need for scientific advice on the effects on food safety. The Senate's mandate to the SKLM as a Permanent Senate Commission therefore includes advising the DFG and policymakers in this area.
In recent years, the global social challenges in the area of food and nutrition have become increasingly visible: securing global food supplies and combating hunger, the prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases such as obesity and the environmentally and climate-friendly restructuring of agricultural and food systems. Food and nutrition research in Germany is now faced with the task of scientifically supporting and shaping the challenges and the associated transformation of the food system.
The report explicitly mentions that the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and its Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance are dedicated to central elements of agricultural and nutrition research. It states that the member institutes combine scientific infrastructure and interdisciplinary expertise along the entire value chain in the interests of sustainability and the circular economy. The Fraunhofer lighthouse projects Future Proteins and Cognitive Agriculture are specifically mentioned here, as is the Whitepaper Resilient Value Chains for Food Production.

The Fraunhofer Food Industry Alliance thus makes an important contribution to ensuring a secure supply of safe, high-quality food and strengthens Germany as a science and technology location with its research and developments.

Future-oriented agriculture - workshop of change by and with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

© Marc Beckmann
© Marc Beckmann
© Marc Beckmann

Over the last few decades, agriculture has repeatedly adapted to external adapted to external requirements. Currently, climate change, sustainability, (dwindling) biodiversity biodiversity and the call for renewable raw materials and renewable energies are having just as much of an impact on agricultural businesses as the desire for a resilient and regional food supply, more organic farming, animal welfare, new food and distribution food and distribution structures. Transformation is a necessary condition for the future of agriculture:
Consumers are calling for sustainably produced food, climate and water protection, more biodiversity and landscape conservation, as well as the cultivation of drought- and heat-resistant varieties and plant species and the shortage of labor shortages in the agricultural sector are the challenges facing agriculture and demand far-reaching decisions.
On May 7, 2024, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited nine experts from science, companies and interest groups to a workshop discussion in Müncheberg. The aim of the exchange was to collect individual transformation approaches for the future of agriculture and to discuss their sustainability potential. The findings were then shared and discussed with the Federal President.
The Fraunhofer Agriculutre and Food Industry Alliance was represented by Susann Vierbauch, who presented the Fraunhofer Initiative Biogenic Value Creation and Smart Farming as a central building block. The transfer from science to implementation is not just a lever, but a key performance indicator.

Now available in English: Whitepaper Resilient Value Chains for Food Production

Due to the current crises and scarcity of resources, there is great pressure to act across all sectors to strengthen the resilience of food production.
The white paper "Resilient value chains for food production" by Fraunhofer IPT, Fraunhofer IME and Fraunhofer IVV outlines strategies for strengthening resilience and provides recommendations for action.
To this end, the researchers looked at two dimensions: the technical resilience of the production facilities used and the ecosystem resilience of the food grown.

The white paper is available free of charge on request at resilienz@ivv.fraunhofer.de

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Combining sustainability and productivity: Insights from Fraunhofer´s initiatives for the food industry at this year´s Anuga FoodTec

Responsibility. A word that carries significant meaning. Especially when we are facing a variety of challenges and crises and try to navigate through these both individually and collectively. The Fraunhofer Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance is ready for this challenge and takes responsibility for our environment, population as well as future generations. However challenges always also bear opportunities. We see numerous opportunities in innovation and were able to present these at this year´s Anuga FoodTec the most important information and business platform for new concepts and innovative developments in the international food and beverage industry. If you missed us on the Innovation Stage, do not hesitate to get in touch and we will be glad to inform you personally about our solutions, visions and commitment for a more responsible and secure future of the food and agriculture industry.

Stress Test Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Recording of the expert panel on consumer goods containing chemicals

© Fraunhofer EMFT / Sansare Puneet

To coincide with the consumer boom on the annual Black Friday, the Fraunhofer High Performance Center for Secure Intelligent Systems (LZSiS) initiated an expert panel on consumer goods containing chemicals in November 2023.

The reasons for this were the 30% increase from 2018 to 2022 in the proportion of banned chemicals in consumer products, which mostly originate from the Far East and reach stores and consumers via (online) trade, and the desire to raise consumer awareness of the issue.

 

You can find the video here (In German only)

Future of Health Summit at the TUM Campus in Munich

© TUM / Bastian Daneyko
© TUM / Bastian Daneyko
Mark Schneider, CEO Nestlé; Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber, TUM München
© TUM / Bastian Daneyko

What does the Future of Health look like? This question was explored from October 11 to 13, 2023 as part of the 3rd Summit at the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park in Munich. This year's event focused on "Sustainable Health" and offered an interdisciplinary, scientific discourse on current topics in sustainable health research.
On the second day of the summit, the focus was on sustainable nutrition. Prof. Dr. Andrea Büttner, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer IVV and spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Food Alliance, explained the connection between sustainability, resilience and sovereignty and spoke about visions for nutritional competencies. This was followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber, TUM Munich, and Mark Schneider, CEO Nestlé.

 

Find additional information here

 

Conference: Ensuring Food Security through AI

9. - 11. October 2023, Kulmbach, Germany

© Fraunhofer IVV | Buket Sahin
© Fraunhofer IVV | Buket Sahin

Last week, a remarkable event took place in the idyllic German town of Kulmbach, far from the hustle and bustle and tragedies of the outside world. From Monday to Wednesday, the spotlight was on a topic of the utmost global importance: "Ensuring food security through AI".
Even as the world faces challenges, we have a great responsibility to advance science. This responsibility is reflected in our collective efforts to address the critical issue of food security. Imagine a world where AI technologies work in harmony with the needs of food security. This vision is being actively pursued by world-leading academic institutions, significant investments in research and development and innovative start-ups in countries such as Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bavaria/Germany.
The Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology organized a three-day event in Kulmbach in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Center for Secure Intelligent Systems, the University of Bayreuth, the Food Cluster and the Bavarian Research Alliance. The event included a day of visits to local companies specializing in food technology and food safety, followed by a workshop day dedicated to forging new cooperation ideas.

The partner countries - Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bavaria/Germany - came together to share their expertise and innovations in improving food safety through the power of AI. The event was primarily aimed at SMEs, industry partners and scientific institutions in the fields of food technology, food safety and artificial intelligence. It was a gathering of brilliant researchers and visionary personalities from various companies committed to shaping the future of food safety.
The event centered around a panel discussion where I shared the work of the Fraunhofer Agri-Food Alliance, a dedicated group of 13 institutes working tirelessly to shape a better future. Our common goal is to harness the potential of AI and innovation to tackle the challenges of hunger and food shortages. Everyone has the right to safe food.

A big thank you to the organizers of this event for inviting us. I had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with brilliant people at the event and I am very excited about the prospect of working with them. My special thanks go to my two Fraunhofer colleagues, Isik Turkmen (IVV) and Stefan Rasche (IME), who provided valuable insights in their presentations.
As we reflect on this event, we realize the potential of AI to change the landscape of food security. It is inspiring to see minds from different corners of the world coming together under the banner of the Alliance for Food and Agriculture to work together for a better, safer and more secure future.

Food Supply for the Future

The pressure on food production is growing, and the complex global network and its players are facing huge challenges. Crises, a shortage of skilled workers and climate change are jeopardizing security of supply in the long term. But how can the value chain be made more resilient?

Our colleagues provide answers to these questions in the current issue of Fraunhofer magazine. In the interview, our Managing Director and spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Food Alliance, Prof. Dr. Andrea Buettner, emphasizes the importance of technological progress as well as the use of residual flows and greater regionalization. Fundamentally, new concepts are needed to master the path towards more resilient and sovereign value creation. Dr. Susann Vierbauch and Dr. Marc Mauermann also provide insights into our research work at the institute as well as our work in joint projects and initiatives with other Fraunhofer Institutes, such as the "Biogenic Value Creation and Smart Farming" initiative and the "ResearchL" innovation project.

Inspired by Bavarian and Israeli resilience: How can developing countries provide food security for their citizens?

Climate change, the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical conflicts have an acute impact on all of us, but especially on developing countries. Both Bavaria and Israel, with their long-standing economic and scientific partnership, are looking for new solutions for food security.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Büttner, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer IVV and spokesperson for the Fraunhofer Food Alliance, also took part in the discussion in mid-February and believes: "A secure supply of safe food can only work on the following basis: Sustainability and partnership. That is why we are working together with our partners in the Fraunhofer Food Alliance and the High Performance Center for Safe and Intelligent Systems (LZSiS) on solutions for today and tomorrow. Regionally, nationally, globally."

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Highlights

 

Progress for a More Sustainable Food Economy

With the combined competencies of five Fraunhofer Institutes, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft plans to reorganize the entire value chain in the food sector in terms of sustainability with the "Center for Biogenic Value Creation and Smart Farming"...

 

»Cognitive Agriculture«

Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project »Cognitive Agriculture«, which brings productivity and sustainability of agricultural processes into harmony. Digitization as an opportunity for agriculture.

 

  • COGNAC (iese.fraunhofer.de)
 

From Feed To Egg

Better estimation of overall burdens of humans, animals and the environmment by perfluoroalkyland polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Due to their unique properties perfluoroalkyl- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are widely utilised in specialty chemistry as well as in consumer products of any kind. The extreme stability of PFAS leads to their accumulation in the environment and organisms.

 

A Food Lab on Your Phone

“Food scanner” is becoming a topic of common interest. The European Commission has recognized its relevance and provides funding for the development of the technologies required.

Fraunhofer IPMS filed a patent for a novel device that enables not only food analysis but as well access to quantity and nutrition facts.

Contact

Andrea Büttner

Contact Press / Media

Prof. Dr. rer. nat Andrea Büttner

Spokeswoman

Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Giggenhauser Straße 35
85354 Freising, Germany

Phone +49 8161 491-100

Jörg Dörr

Contact Press / Media

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Dörr

Deputy Spokesman

Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE
Fraunhofer-Platz 1
67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Phone +49 631 6800-1601

Jens-Peter Majschak

Contact Press / Media

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens-Peter Majschak

Deputy Spokesman

Fraunhofer IVV, Division Processing Technology
Heidelberger Str. 20
01189 Dresden, Germany

Phone +49 351 43614-42

Stefan Schillberg

Contact Press / Media

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schillberg

Deputy Spokesman

Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
Forckenbeckstr. 6
52074 Aachen, Germany

Phone +49 241 6085-11050

Mark Bücking

Contact Press / Media

Prof. Dr. Mark Bücking

Head of Office

Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
Auf dem Aberg 1
57392 Schmallenberg, Germany

Phone +49 2972 302-304

Astrid Mokesch-Michalovic

Contact Press / Media

Astrid Mokesch-Michalovic

Assistant

Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Giggenhauser Straße 35
85354 Freising, Germany

Phone +49 8161 491-150

Buket Sahin

Contact Press / Media

Dr. Buket Sahin

Corporate Business Development

Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Giggenhauser Straße 35
85354 Freising, Germany

Phone +49 151 576 47 601