Following a digital communication campaign, the Anuga community has decided that ‘Sustainable Growth’ will be the key theme of this year’s Anuga expo, the leading global trade fair for the food and beverage industry, which returns to Cologne in October 2023.

As an international trading platform and trendsetter, Anuga will emphasise through its 2023 show agenda a number of key sustainability issues, including how the area of tension between economic growth and sustainability can be ameliorated in the food section, the benefits that sustainable growth offers to the F&B sector, plus the various solutions and approaches that are viable worldwide. 

By addressing ‘Sustainable Growth’ as its core theme, Anuga is also placing the focus on the commitment and the solutions of the industry with regards to environmental and climate-related aspects. These and other topics are not only covered across the mega-event’s 10 trade shows, but will also be discussed in depth within the scope of Anuga's event and congress programme.

Unprecedented challenges for food and agri systems

The worldwide food industry faces major challenges: With anticipated population growth moving the world to a figure of around 10 billion people by 2050, the accompanying rise in demand for foodstuffs – particularly for protein – is a particular concern. 

At the same time, the threat of global climate change, water and energy shortages and the loss of biological diversity place an unprecedented strain on the agricultural sector and food industry. 

Economic and humanitarian events, such as the disrupted supply chains resulting from the Ukrainian/Russian conflict, as well as increasing energy and food costs, serve to aggravate the situation further. 

Within such a context, the need for product innovation and solutions that will sustainably improve the worldwide food system is greater than ever.

Driving innovative, sustainable solutions

This is precisely what Anuga is picking up on with this year's key theme, ‘Sustainable Growth’. 

The leading global trade fair of the food industry will be complemented by an ambitious congress and event programme and offers many opportunities for networking. Thanks to new partners such as EIT Food, Europe's leading initiative for food innovations, the most important issues of the industry will be addressed and innovations presented and discussed within the scope of conferences, workshops, experience areas and speaker sessions. The emphasis will be on themes like the realisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs), the transparency and traceability of supply chains and products, more climate-friendly production, resource-saving raw material cultivation, food waste, as well as ways towards a circular food system. Oftentimes the driver of innovative ideas and new products, technological progress also plays an important role with regards to such ambitions. 

“The key challenge of the future will be promoting economic growth and sustainable development – and, at the same time, making sure that the necessary natural resources are still available,” asserted Stefanie Mauritz, Director of the Anuga show. “In a time of disruptive change – which is influencing the global market sustainably – together with the exhibiting companies and leading institutions, as well as experts, at Anuga we offer the opportunity for an intensive exchange of ideas and solutions. Our aim is to provide an holistic and international overview of approaches for a sustainable food system.”

Across the 10 major shows that together compose Anuga, exhibiting companies emanating from all over the globe will demonstrate what is state-of-the-art within the industry through their innovative and sustainable products and solutions. The trade fair currently boasts a high number of applications, with 98 per cent of the available exhibition surface already booked up, confirming Anuga’s claim of being the leading global F&B industry trade fair.

In addition, special events like the ‘Anuga Taste Innovation Show’ or ‘Meet more Meatless’ and ‘Dairy Alternatives’ offer interesting insights into sustainable developments. In this way, established manufacturers from the industry are also demonstrating how classic product ranges are further evolving and making an important contribution to a sustainable economy – for instance, through the implementation of regional, purely plant-based ingredients or alternative proteins, and resource-saving production processes.

Organised by Koelnmesse, this year’s Anuga expo will take place from 7–11 October 2023 in Cologne. Further information