On December 1, Dr. Harry Hoffmann from Humboldt University and his master’s student, Lorenz Birner, participated in the Innovation Forum “Alternative Proteinquellen im ländlichen Raum” (“Alternative Protein Sources in Rural Areas”) in Vechta, Germany. The event was organized on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture of Lower Saxony and aimed to connect regional farmers with the latest developments in alternative protein production. After an opening presentation by the PHW Group on the current state of the alternative protein market, five start-ups introduced their innovative technologies, including insect farming, cultivated milk, algae production, fermentation, and indoor protein cultivation.

Interactive Q&A sessions following each presentation, as well as smaller round-table discussions, encouraged participants to exchange perspectives on opportunities and challenges for the agricultural sector. While Lorenz conducted surveys and interviews with attending farmers as part of his master’s research, Dr. Hoffmann established new contacts that may prove valuable for the Ri-ProT project and reconnected with familiar stakeholders engaged in the protein transition.