The Main Stage and the Innovation Stage focus on the main theme of "Responsibility" – Innovative formats – Active professional exchange and international networking – Guided tours provide a compact overview – From 19 to 22 March 2024 in Cologne.

The extensive trade programme of Anuga FoodTec 2024, the leading global supplier trade fair for the food and beverage industries, will convey important impulses for a dialogue across industries with its many event formats. The focus is thereby particularly on the main theme of "Responsibility". The trade programme organised by the German Agricultural Association (DLG) also takes up the higher level theme: with creative, modern event formats like "Science Slam", "Open Expert Stage", "Deep Dive" or "Content Pro Contra", it offers a variety of possibilities to become actively involved and to profit from extensive expert knowledge - interaction and international networking are the priorities here.

The Main Stage (Hall 9, B080/C081) focuses on the main theme of "Responsibility" in the food supply chain during the four days of the trade fair. Thought revolving around sustainability thereby links up with the responsibility to advance innovations and to work responsibly in all processes of the value creation chain. Only holistic approaches promise long-term successes: from the supplier industry through global procurement of raw materials, production, packaging and logistics to energy or water management.

Experts from the food supply chain present innovative technologies, ecological approaches and a socially acceptable procedure for the future of food production and place it up for discussion. The thematic spectrum extends from, among other things, sustainable packaging, transparent and socially acceptable supply chains, alternative proteins, food security, food safety and climate change, reduction of food loss, freshness and intralogistics through optimal energy and water management to automation, robotics, digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

With which technologies and approaches will which food products be produced in future? The Innovation Stage (Hall 5.2, C100/D119) sees itself as the think tank for the economy of tomorrow. Together with cooperation partners from science, business and the start-up scene, the future is being reconceived together with interested trade visitors. Themes include the latest developments in the field of extrusion technology, sustainability approaches along the food value creation chain, growth markets, meat alternatives and plant-based drinks, big data, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance as well as open innovation approaches, among others: how can innovations originate.

Success requires diversity and role models. At the Female Leadership Event, women tell of their professional path and the challenges they face and provide valuable tips. It thereby quickly becomes clear how important a functioning network in which competence and expertise are bundled can be. The focus is on professional exchange and networking. The event takes place on Wednesday, 20 March 2024 from 4:20 to 5:05 p.m. on the main stage (Hall 9, B080/C081).

With the International FoodTec Award, the DLG and its partners honour pioneering developments in innovation, sustainability and efficiency in the food technology sector. This year, 14 innovative projects from the international food and food supply industry will be distinguished with the renowned technology award. Four new products have received the International FoodTec Award in gold, while ten have been distinguished with a silver medal. The award ceremony for the International FoodTec Award takes place on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage (Hall 9, B080/C081).

In times in which highly qualified talent is in very high demand, companies face the question of how to recruit the cleverest minds – competition for coveted positions for young professionals is at the same time great. On Careers Day at Anuga FoodTec on Friday, 22 March 2024, students and young professionals will meet their potential new employers. The big chance: students and young professionals can find out directly which machinery, packaging or other exhibits they will work with in future and can enter into a discussion with all decision makers of the companies at the stands of the exhibitors.

The day calls for active co-creation, for example, in a BarCamp: start-ups, young professionals and experts discuss the future of food and beverage production and the implementation of disruptive ideas here. There are also various actions and lectures, including tips and tricks for a successful application in the food and beverage industry as well as for professional LinkedIn and XING profiles. The meeting point is respectively on and at the Speakers Corner stage (Hall 10.1, F070/G081).

Trade visitors of Anuga Food Tec receive a compact and informative overview of the latest technological developments during guided tours of the trade fair. In the context of the guided tours, select exhibitors present their innovations and solutions revolving around the themes of "Sustainable Packaging", "Energy and Water Management" and "Digitalisation, Robotics and Automation". Exhibitors provide answers based on practice relating to smart applications for flexible, efficient and at the same time environmentally-friendly food and beverage production

The free, English language guided tours last about one hour and the number of participants is limited to 20. Advance registration via the Anuga FoodTec website is necessary. The exact times of day can also be found there. The starting point is the DLG stand in Hall 5.2 D-040.

Among the organisations participating in the trade programme of Anuga FoodTec 2024 are Fraunhofer Agriculture and Food Industry Alliance, Max-Rubner-Institut (MRI), European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. and German Agribusiness Alliance, Euromonitor international, Innova Market Insights, FUTURY, UNIDO, DLG.-Prototype.-Club, Nederlands Verpakkingcentrum (NVC), World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Zenit, Deutscher Fachverlag, International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association (IFU), Gesellschaft Deutscher Lebensmitteltechnologen e.V. (GDL) and many other partners worldwide.