BIOFACH 2025: Trendsetters for the organic community

From 11 to 14 February 2025 BIOFACH, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food, will be offering a comprehensive inside view of the many issues relevant to the organic sector. Stakeholders across the entire value chain will gather on site in Nuremberg and on BIOFACH digital. Together, they’ll set the course for a sustainable future while also discovering the varied offerings of international exhibitors and sharing their knowledge for example at the BIOFACH Congress. The focus topic for 2025: Yes, we do! – How to effect change in the organic food segment.

“Each year, the organic community gathers at BIOFACH to promote the ecological transformation. Here in Nuremberg, as well as digitally, BIOFACH brings together pioneers, experts, idea seekers and start-ups,” says Dominik Dietz, the current Exhibition Director of BIOFACH. “We’ve planned several new developments for 2025. For example, an even greater emphasis will be placed on trends and innovations that are important for a sustainable future. We’ve also expanded the specific offerings for target groups like retail and representatives of out-of-home catering,” Dietz adds.

Organic food in out-of-home catering

Out-of-home catering plays a major role in the ecological transformation that’s putting more organic food on tables worldwide. It has tremendous potential for promoting a sustainable transformation of the food system. In many countries, policies are already laying the groundwork, although catering professionals continue to be challenged for example by price increases and the shortage of skilled workers. BIOFACH connects out-of-home catering experts with interested parties. Here, they’ll find creative solutions, ideas and a concentration of knowledge. In February, the meeting point first established as HoReCa - GV & Gastro in 2024 will have a new name and provide even more room for dialogue as the special “Organic Out-of-home” area. Besides exhibitor presentations and the usual communication and knowledge formats, the supporting programme is also being expanded. At BIOFACH 2025, additional offerings for out-of-home catering will include live cooking panels, examples of best practices and many presentations. The congress will also provide a space for knowledge transfer, thanks to its numerous panels on specific topics and the interactive SustainableFutureLab.

Organic food in the retail trade

The transformation of the food sector presents major challenges for retail. In addition to price, topics like health and flavour as well as sustainable consumption are of increasing importance to ever-better informed customers. The interplay between specialist trade, food retailers and discounters creates a dynamic competitive environment. In the different supporting programmes for distributors, BIOFACH 2025 is introducing future-oriented concepts. Topics relating to the challenges and needs of retail trade are presented in communicative and interactive formats like the SustainableFutureLab. Expertise is available at the Fachhandel Forum or Meeting Point BIOimSEH. At this space by bioPress Verlag, visitors will find experts in the procurement of full-range organic products. The Retail Trend Tour offers an overview of the exhibitors and highlights for retailers.

Organic trends and innovations

An ecological transformation of the food system can succeed only if the entire food chain is taken into account, from field to table and from table to the recycling cycle. This requires creative ideas, which is why BIOFACH 2025 is providing more space for these ideas. On two stages, the INNOVATION STAGE and the PRESENTATION STAGE, exhibitors and experts will be presenting sustainable solutions and product innovations. At the Novelty Stand, visitors will find a compact overview of registered market innovations. German start-ups will introduce themselves at the “Young Innovators” pavilion subsidised by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The “International Newcomers” pavilion will show everything the international organic start-up scene has to offer. To promote creative ideas, BIOFACH 2025 also offers new companies an opportunity to present their ideas and products to the global trade audience in BIOFACH start-up pitches. The organic community is already being consulted in the weeks preceding BIOFACH 2025. A vote will be held in which they will decide which start-ups will pitch their product at the trade fair to a jury of high-calibre experts made up of food, specialist organic and drugstore retailers and compete in the final round for the BIOFACH Start-up Award.

Alternative and whole foods

In 2025, Experience the World of VEGAN will become Experience the World of PLANETARY HEALTH. Under the new name, it will also assume an adapted concept that’s being developed and implemented in conjunction with AöL (Association of Organic Food Processors) and GFC (Good Food Collective). In addition to vegan foods, the focus will be on alternative protein sources and whole food products. Together, the partners are designing an interactive programme that comprehensively covers the field of planetary health and will include expert presentations, live cooking panels and quiz shows.

BIOFACH Congress

With the focus topic “Yes, we do! – How to effect change in the organic food segment”, BIOFACH Congress 2025 is concentrating on three key levers for a secure food supply. BIOFACH chose the main theme in cooperation with the international patron IFOAM – Organics International and with the German Federation of Organic Food Producers (BÖLW), the national honorary sponsor. The three pillars of the transformation are sustainability as a determining factor in the financial landscape, the public sector as a driver for more organic food and the use of compelling stories to market organic food.

BIOFACH digital

In 2025, BIOFACH will take place both on site in Nuremberg and digitally. On the BIOFACH digital event platform, participants will find information on international exhibitors and their product ranges as well as on the supporting programme. Parts of the congress will also be streamed live and will be available as video on-demand for several months afterwards. In addition to extensive information, many networking opportunities will also be available. Participants can communicate ahead of time and schedule meetings both digitally and at the trade fair. All the features are also available via an app, allowing participants to optimally prepare for and follow up on their visit.