Osnabrück, 21 November 2024 - The innovate!convention 2024 brings the AgriFood scene together in Osnabrück for the first time over two days. On 20 and 21 November, innovators, start-ups and experts met to present the latest trends and developments in the AgriFood sector and actively shape the future of the industry together.
FOR THE FIRST TIME: THE EXPLORATION TOURS
A special highlight this year were the Exploration Tours, which were offered for the first time and provided insights into both the world of agriculture and food technology. Participants had the opportunity to visit pioneering agricultural businesses and leading research and development centres. Stops included the Coppenrath Innovation Centre, agricultural machinery manufacturer Grimme and the Agro-Technicum at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. In the food sector, the focus was on the German Institute of Food Technology (DIL) in Quakenbrück and AVO-Werke, which presented impressive innovations in food production.
Felix Willert, Project Manager Marketing & Events, was delighted: ‘It was great to see how our guests took the opportunity to experience innovations live and take a look behind the scenes of leading companies. This created direct and interdisciplinary points of contact between theory and practice.’
AWARDNIGHT - STARTUPS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The evening also had an exciting programme in store: After welcoming words from Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil, Günther the tractor driver provided entertainment before Jacob Rohn, founder of the startup ‘Seedforward’, reported on the challenges and successes of his biotech startup. The finalists of the German Farm Startup Award and the German Food Startup Award then presented themselves to a high-calibre jury and the audience. After captivating pitches and an exciting audience vote, the farm startup revoltech was honoured with the Startup Award. The startup is developing an environmentally friendly, completely natural and recyclable leather alternative based on a patented platform technology.
The German Food Startup Award went to FluiDect. The startup is developing a new type of sensor that continuously monitors liquid products in industrial plants for specific microbes around the clock.
SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS AND PLENTY OF INPUT
The convention offered a diverse programme with inspiring talks, practice-oriented workshops and lively discussions that encouraged the exchange of knowledge and ideas. The range of topics included areas such as digital transformation, sustainable agriculture and forward-looking business models, as well as exciting insights into topics such as vertical farming, carbon farming and the future of the food industry. Highlights included a keynote speech by Felix Ahlers, CEO of Frosta AG, on the topic of responsible entrepreneurship and an interview with Bernard Krone, entrepreneur at Krone Holding, on innovations in the agricultural machinery industry. The former general, Hans-Lothar-Domröse (ret.), shed light on important developments on the world stage and their impact on our democracy in a time of global power shifts.
PROJECT FAIR AND NETWORKING
The project fair offered an ideal opportunity to find out about the latest innovations in the agricultural and food sector. Start-ups and companies such as AI.Land and Coppenrath und Wiese presented their developments and new food innovations could be tasted directly on the food court of the state food industry initiative.
CHANGING AGRIFOOD SCENE
The innovate!convention 2024 brings people together and makes it clear that the agrifood scene is on the move - Osnabrück is an active place of creation. As the home of numerous forward-looking start-ups, research institutes and companies from the agricultural and food sector, Osnabrück has established itself as a central hub for knowledge and technology transfer where all players come together.
Charlotte Große-Rechtien
Project Lead Marketing & Events
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