Five pioneers that are innovating agricultural and food systems

DLG is the German Agricultural Society. The Inhouse Farming – Feed & Food Show is DLG’s platform for the agricultural and food systems of the future, including vertical farming, alternative proteins, algae and aquaculture, cellular agriculture and other emerging farming systems.

Companies can present themselves as idea generators and partners for the value chain on the platform via ‘Impulse Pitches: Inhouse Farming, Feed & Food’. The five nominated innovations for the final round have recently been announced.

German company Alpha-Protein GmbH is nominated with its automated mealworm production. It ensures a cost-efficient, space-saving and automated rearing of insects as feed, to replace soy and fish meals. Modularity and global applicability increase adaptation to customer needs and regional needs. The rearing system is designed to be space-saving and is highly integrated for excellent space-time yield.

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Growing insulin in lettuce

EasyVEGAN from Austria is nominated with the ‘beer draff’. This is a by-product of the brewing process, now being used in its natural form as the main ingredient for plant-based burgers and balls. The new vegan beer snacks are a valuable, healthy food, and an example of the successful implementation of the circular economy.

​​​​​​​Lite+Fog is also nominated. This German company has developed automated Fogponic Farming Modules. Its hygienic standard enables the cultivation of plants and herbs for pharmaceutical projects. For example, it is possible to grow insulin in lettuce or an mRNA vaccine in tobacco plants. This is new and fascinating field of agriculture is called ‘plant molecular farming’.

With an innovative, scalable algae production plant, PUEVIT from Germany sets a new standard for regional microalgae cultivation. The franchise concept of the umbrella brand ALGENWERK includes construction and commissioning of the plant, technical support, quality management, AI-controlled innovative energy management as well as marketing strategies and participation in the community.

Recycled shipping containers

German company Seawater Cubes is nominated with its Seawater Cube, a fully automated farm for inland cultivation of marine fish. The system, housed in recycled shipping containers, produces 7.8 tons of fish annually on a 120 square metre area. It can be modularly expanded. Filtration systems remove animal waste and recycle 99% of the water. The software incorporates comprehensive fish knowledge and controls all processes automatically.