The upcoming IFFA event, scheduled to take place from April 3 to April 8, 2025, promises to be a pivotal experience for the meat and protein industry. With the theme "A New Perspective on Meat and Protein," this international trade fair aims to address significant issues forecasting the future of this sector with sustainability and innovation at its core.
Messe Frankfurt, the organizer of IFFA, expects approximately 1,000 exhibitors representing around 50 countries, showcasing cutting-edge technology, solutions, and processes across 116,000 square meters of exhibition space allocated mainly to halls 8, 9, 11, and 12. The event is expected to attract over 71% of its participants from various countries, including many exhibitors from Europe, the United States, Brazil, and China.
The event holds significant importance within the industry. According to Wolfgang Marzin, CEO of Messe Frankfurt, "The fair is an important stage for connecting all sectors of the industry, and IFFA 2025 will clearly prove this success." The exhibition is not only about showcasing products; it serves as a hub for stakeholders to discuss innovations, challenges, and future trends impacting the meat and alternative protein production processes.
This year’s focus will include optimizing processes, maximizing efficiency, and addressing sustainability effectively—a viewpoint echoed by Richard Clemens, CEO of VDMA NuV, who stated, "IFFA is the most important global fair for manufacturers of processing technology and packaging for the meat and alternative protein industries." The fair provides opportunities for businesses to learn the latest technological advancements and explore solutions for addressing contemporary challenges within their operations.
Building on the legacy of past IFFA events, the 2025 gathering will feature various zones catering to different interests. The IFFA Kitchen will showcase plant-based products, allowing visitors to engage with live demonstrations of innovative food technologies. The new hall layout promises to streamline navigation throughout the exhibits, ensuring participants can easily access the relevant sections.
Another notable feature will be the IFFA Factory zone, where exhibitors will present prototype solutions to tackle the labor shortages currently affecting the production sector. This is increasingly important as automation and efficiency become integral to overcoming these contemporary challenges. Herbert Dohrmann, President of the German Meat Industry Association, reiterated the significance of IFFA, saying, "At IFFA, we not only find solutions for current challenges but also gain inspiration for innovative production and sales approaches."
Industry experts will highly focus on four primary themes during the event: "Maximizing Efficiency," "Data-Driven Value Creation," "Practical Sustainability," and "Unlimited Product Innovation." These themes reflect growing trends such as enhancing production efficiency through automation, optimizing resource use, and fostering product diversity, especially within meat alternatives.
While the fair emphasizes sustainability through advancements like energy-efficient practices and innovative packaging solutions, it allows exhibitors to discuss how they can create transparency alongside these innovations. The demand for new nutritional products is rising, calling for flexible manufacturing systems to encourage local and seasonal products. This surge indicates the necessity for agricultural and food technology to adapt quickly to ever-changing consumer demands.
Aside from the exhibitions, IFFA will present opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among industry professionals. The event will culminate with award presentations such as the 'Best New Product' and the 'New Meat Award,' recognizing excellence within the industry.
This lively convergence of ideas will be facilitated by guided tours dubbed IFFA Discovery Tours, promoting direct interaction with industry's forefront trends and innovations. These tours promise to be insightful, allowing participants to explore specific areas of interest through comprehensive presentations, highlighting cutting-edge developments and how they can be translated back to their respective businesses.
With more than 71% of participating exhibitors from outside Germany, the event promises to be the epicenter of learning, collaboration, and inspiration for the global meat and protein sectors. Messe Frankfurt emphasizes its commitment to not only host the cutting-edge showcase of innovations but also establish IFFA as the go-to event for anyone connected to the meat and protein processing industries.
The rich discussions, collaborations, and knowledge exchange anticipated at IFFA 2025 will significantly shape the direction of the meat industry going forward. For participants, the event presents not just products but solutions, ideas, and pathways toward building a more sustainable and innovative future.