From Planetary Health to Start-Up Pitches: The BIOFACH Programme 2026 in the Exhibition Halls

When the organic sector meets in Nuremberg from 10 February 2026 to 13 February 2026, the focus will not only be on products, but also on prospects. Accompanying the BIOFACH Congress, a wide-ranging supporting programme directly in the exhibition halls provides impetus for transformation, cooperation and innovation. Trade visitors can look forward to innovations and highlights in the form of lectures, workshops and show cooking demonstrations, covering topics ranging from modern management culture and planetary health to organic food in out-of-home catering. 

“The stages and special shows at BIOFACH are places for exchange, inspiration and practical application – right at the heart of the trade fair. By way of these we focus on key future and trend topics in the sector, from planetary health and new nutritional concepts to organic food outside the home as the key to the nutritional transition,” says Dominik Dietz, director BIOFACH.

Where the future of the organic sector becomes visible: the INNOVATION STAGE (Hall 4A)

The INNOVATION STAGE in Hall 4A is the stage for trends, start-ups and new product ideas in the industry. Located right next to the innovation stand and in close proximity to the special show International Newcomers & Start-ups, it offers space for pitch formats, panels on current market developments and innovation presentations. One highlight is the BIOFACH Start-up Pitches – the final round of the BIOFACH Start-up Award 2026 will be held on Thursday, 12 February, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. On the last day of the trade fair, the Best New Product Awards will be presented on Friday, 13 February, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Hub for shopping and exchange: the meeting point BIOimSEH (Hall 7)

The meeting point BIOimSEH in Hall 7 is the central platform for encounters, exchanges and discoveries for the independent retail sector. Businesspeople meet exhibitors, make new contacts and discover exciting – and previously unknown – organic products. For exhibitors, the meeting point offers a high-quality secondary presentation in the direct proximity of their target group, while for buyers it offers a carefully selected range of specialist programmes, best practices and networking opportunities. Even companies that are not exhibiting can gain direct access to trade fair visitors here.

Further development of the special show “Experience the World of PLANETARY HEALTH”: from plant-based to zero waste

The PLANETARY HEALTH world of experience in Hall 9 will take on a much broader scope in 2026, opening up to include other trends such as plant-based, animal foods and zero waste, in addition to its existing focus on vegan, alternative protein sources and whole foods. This poses the question of how sustainable food systems can be conceived holistically and implemented in the market more sharply into focus. Manufacturers present their products in the relevant categories and demonstrate how health and climate goals can be specifically combined. Philipp Thiel (ÖMA), Anne Baumann (AöL) and Alexander Bauer (Purvegan GmbH), among others, will discuss how the Planetary Health concept is gaining visibility in the retail sector and what role organic stakeholders are playing in its implementation on Thursday, 12 February 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the panel discussion “Stale is a thing of the past: helping to shape and communicate the Planetary Health Diet as a company.” The focus is on how companies take responsibility, build trust and strategically position their contribution to planetary health.

New workshop area: where leadership, collaboration and NextGen become reality

Similarly in Hall 9, BIOFACH 2026 is taking a step further towards participation and co-creation. The new workshop area creates a multifunctional special area for interactive workshops and practical sessions. One example is the workshops offered by iniciato, which rethink leadership, personal responsibility and cooperation. In the workshop “Clear framework, more freedom: How structure strengthens self-reliant teams” (10/11/13 February), Christoph Spahn, Barbara Sennholz-Weinhardt and Johanna Buß show how clear roles, transparent expectations and comprehensible decision-making processes relieve teams and promote self-reliance. Further sessions will focus on a constructive error culture and the question of how self-management can be successfully implemented in everyday working life. The programme will be complemented by the “Focus on NextGen” networking event on Thursday, 12 February 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which will bring together HR developers and decision-makers to discuss the next generation of leaders.

New format for kitchen practice and current market data strengthen organic products in out-of-home catering (Hall 6)

The special show Organic Out of Home in Hall 6 shows how organic food can become a real lever for change in community catering. It is aimed at kitchens, canteens and businesses that want to use more organic food despite cost pressures and a shortage of skilled workers. It focusses on practical concepts for the hotel and tourism industry, new products and smart logistics solutions, as well as digital tools for sustainability management. In the show kitchen, manufacturers present live demonstrations of what tastes good and works in everyday life.

Highlights include daily live cooking events with different chefs such as Max Korschinsky and Estella Schweizer, as well as specialist talks on the organic AHV market. The initial findings of a market study conducted by AMI and Ecozept, which will provide insights into organic market share, structures and price developments in the out-of-home catering sector on 12 February from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., are providing important impetus for the debate on the food transition. A special format for kitchen managers and catering decision-makers is new in 2026. It entails practical presentations and panel discussions on organic product qualities, implementation in commercial kitchens and the new Bio-AHVV (Organic Agricultural and Foodstuffs Ordinance).

Quality under the microscope: Experience the World of Olive Oil (Hall 4)

In the Special Show Experience the World of Olive Oil in Hall 4, producers, retailers, buyers and restaurateurs come together to focus on the quality, origin and sensory properties of olive oil. In blind tastings, trade visitors themselves decide on the best olive oils at BIOFACH, which are honoured with the Olive Oil Award. The special exhibition will be accompanied by expert lectures and tastings, including “Olive Oil in Sophisticated Gastronomy” with Sebastian Kunkel (Wednesday, 11 February, 12:00 midday -12:45 p.m.) and “Extra Virgin: A Journey into Today's Quality Production” with Duccio Morozzo della Rocca (Wednesday, 11 February, 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.). Professor Stephan Schwarzinger (University of Bayreuth) takes a scientific look at authenticity in his presentation “Trading olive oil without counterfeiting?!” on Wednesday, 11 February, 4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Olive Oil Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday afternoon.

Author: Manuela Jagdhuber, Modem Conclusa