Besides its focus on meat processing, the coming IFFA – The World’s Leading Trade Fair – Technology for Meat and Alternative Proteins – will spotlight process technologies for obtaining protein from vegetable sources and in-vitro meat. With this addition, Messe Frankfurt is taking account of the rapid developments in the market and the growing interest of visitors and exhibitors in this product segment. To promote the specialist and technological exchange of knowledge about this new subject area, a strategic cooperation has been agreed between Messe Frankfurt and the Association for Alternative Sources of Protein (BALPro), which was founded in 2019.
Kerstin Horaczek, Vice President Technology of Messe Frankfurt, explains: “We are delighted to be working together with BALPro for IFFA 2022. With their expertise in the production, innovation and marketing of alternative proteins, the association and its members will make an important contribution to the development and interaction of the global food industry at IFFA. Our cooperation will generate numerous points of reference offering IFFA participants genuine added value – from expert advice to interesting contributions to the programme of events at the fair.”
Headquartered in Düsseldorf, the Association for Alternative Sources of Protein (Verband für Alternative Proteinquellen e.V. – BALPro) is a network of start-ups, companies and food experts covering the whole of Germany. The aim of BALPro is to bring together the various players of the food industry and to promote an active exchange of knowledge among them to open up alternative sources of protein for human and animal nutrition. In doing so, business, politics, science and consumer representatives will have the opportunity to work together free of ideologization on a sustainable agricultural and nutritional revolution. For the last two years, the association has provided a platform for a differentiated and transparent dialogue between interest groups for a growing number of innovators, investors, interested parties and sponsors.
At present, BALPro has over 90 members. They include start-ups and organisations, research facilities, producers of insect-based nutrition and in-vitro meat, as well as representatives of the conventional meat industry who are working continuously to integrate alternative products into their ranges.
Fabio Ziemssen, BALPro Chair: “We are very pleased to be collaborating with Messe Frankfurt for IFFA 2022. This will enable us to demonstrate and make more accessible the full potential of alternative sources of protein the conventional meat industry.”
