Anuga FoodTec 2027 will introduce a new guiding theme aimed at helping the food and beverage industry navigate a period of rising complexity and accelerating technological change.
Under the banner “Navigate Complexity. Smart. Safe. Sustainable.,” the biennial trade fair, scheduled for Feb. 23 to 26, 2027, in Cologne, plans to showcase how manufacturers can manage increasingly intricate production systems while speeding the pace of innovation.
Organizers say the sector is being reshaped by global commodity flows, shifting consumer preferences and mounting pressure to meet climate goals, even as expectations for quality, safety, traceability and efficiency continue to rise under persistent cost constraints.
The theme is intended to highlight solutions that combine operational efficiency with ecological, economic and social responsibility through networked, automated and digital systems designed to conserve resources. “With its key theme of ‘Navigate Complexity. Smart. Safe. Sustainable.’, Anuga FoodTec 2027 points out possibilities for how data-supported control, secure networking and resource-efficient processes can make complexity in production manageable,” said Roland Thiemann, director of Anuga FoodTec.
To strengthen the program’s technical focus, organizers are working closely with the German Agricultural Society, known as DLG, which is contributing scientific and practical expertise to shape the conference agenda. “As the specialist partner and industry sponsor of Anuga FoodTec 2027, we are developing the specialised programme for the top theme and networking leading experts from science, industry, politics and practice,” said Carola K. Herbst, deputy managing director and head of the Food & Food Technology Division at DLG. “Our ambition is to provide trade visitors with well-founded analyses, concrete recommendations for action and practical solutions that show how technological innovations can be strategically and holistically integrated into complex production processes.”
At the center of the program are three technology pillars—Smart, Safe and Sustainable—intended to define priorities for the next generation of food production. Organizers say artificial intelligence, automation and digital platforms can improve transparency and flexibility from raw-material handling through intralogistics, while advanced monitoring, cybersecurity and traceability systems can protect quality standards and reduce operational risk. Resource optimization, energy efficiency and circular production models are meant to embed sustainability into everyday manufacturing decisions.
Positioned as a global meeting place for the industry, Anuga FoodTec brings together executives, engineers, researchers and policymakers to exchange ideas and track emerging trends. The fair aims to serve as a catalyst for transforming food and beverage production by convening technology providers and manufacturers across the entire value chain, offering practical demonstrations and strategic guidance.
The next edition of Anuga FoodTec will be held in Cologne from Feb. 23 to 26, 2027.
Find out more at: https://www.anugafoodtec.com/