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The EU Nature Restoration Law poses major challenges for many farmers - but also opens up new income opportunities. One promising option is the use of paludicultures, i.e. moorland plants such as peat moss, reeds or reed canary grass, which can be cultivated on the rewetted areas. In the "Paludi" project, we are researching how paludicultures can be used as an alternative to wood pulp for sustainable packaging solutions.

Our focus is on the presentation of a decentralized value chain. Among other things, we have developed a soda pulping process that requires 45% lower temperatures and 11% less chemicals than conventional paper production processes. In addition, we were able to use fiber casting to produce packaging made from 100% reed, which has better properties than standard packaging on the market. This enabled us to demonstrate the potential of paludicultures as a sustainable raw material for fiber-based packaging solutions. The advantages: Saving resources, positive climate effects and reducing dependence on raw material imports by using regional peat plants.

You can find out more about the project at Agritechnica from November 9 to 15, 2025 in Hanover, Hall 17 / Stand 17B15.

Proper nutrition is a key to enjoying life and dignity in old age. Medical and sanitary progress has led to a significant increase in the average age of the population. However, this does not automatically mean healthy ageing. This is because many people suffer from a lack of appetite in old age, which leads to malnutrition and has serious consequences for their quality of life.

In the European research project "APPETITE", which was founded as part of the Joint Programming Initiative "Healthy Diet for Healthy Living", eight institutes from six countries worked together to design a diet that meets the special needs of older people with a poor appetite. The development work focused not only on the supply of high-quality proteins and fiber, but also on adapting the taste, texture and acceptance of the products. In addition, appetite was to be increased through a targeted increase in activity.

We welcome you to attend the final webinar on November 13, 2025, from 9 am to 1 pm (CET). Experience how science and practical application come together to sustainably improve the nutrition of older people.

Among other things, you can expect:
- Insights into the reality of life for older people with loss of appetite
- New product solutions with optimized amino acid composition
- Results of the international intervention study on muscle and metabolic health
- Inspiration for developing your own products for an ageing society

Register now - we look forward to your participation!

Over 4 million tons of cocoa are harvested worldwide every year, but only the beans end up in chocolate. The surrounding pulp, a fruity by-product with an intense aroma of lychee, mango and citrus, has so far remained largely unused. It not only offers exciting flavor components, but also functional ingredients such as fiber, magnesium and potassium.

In the international Cornet project "CocoaFerm", we are working with partners to develop the pulp for the food and flavor industry. Our researchers are developing processes to preserve the sensitive fruit. In addition to fermentation, special drying processes such as microwave vacuum expansion or foam mat drying are also being used. Together with the Fraunhofer IME, the resulting ingredients are tested for their safety for food use in beverages such as kombucha or ginger beer, snacks and flavors.

Would you like to experience first-hand how sustainability tastes and are you interested in the potential of pulp for your product range? Then we cordially invite you to the project meeting with a tasting on November 24, 2025, at 12 pm at the Fraunhofer IME in Giessen. Experience the sensory diversity of cocoa pulp and discuss further possible applications with us. Dr. Isabell Rothkopf will be available to answer any questions you may have about the project or the event.

Modern vehicles and mobile machines use many highly developed sensors. The functional reliability of these systems depends crucially on the quality of the sensor data. Contamination or deposits such as ice and snow on the sensor surfaces can significantly impair their performance - a risk for driver assistance and autonomous driving.

Our solution: customized, integrable cleaning solutions for sensors, known as sensor cleaning systems or clear vision systems. Thanks to our interdisciplinary expertise in cleaning technology, sensor technology, machine and process development and state-of-the-art testing facilities, we offer comprehensive support in the development, analysis and optimization of tailor-made cleaning solutions for sensors. Our range of services extends from the targeted optimization of cleaning processes to precise systems for contamination detection and validation under realistic conditions. We always pay attention to resource-saving and needs-based cleaning that adapts flexibly to the actual degree of contamination.

If you would like to find out more about our research results and technology solutions in the field of industrial cleaning and exchange ideas with us and other industry experts, we invite you to join our LinkedIn group #IndustrialCleaningTechnologies.

The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has been in effect since February 2025. It has been designed to promote the transition to a genuine circular economy in the packaging sector. But what does this mean in concrete terms for materials in the recycling process - especially when they are processed into new packaging materials? And are their mechanical properties retained?

In our packaging pilot plant, we simulate the multi-recycling process using our compounder. We then process the material into films on our co-extrusion pilot line. In our test laboratory, the change in key properties such as tensile strength, puncture resistance, permeation and sealability are analyzed.

We will be happy to support you in solving your individual challenges with the diverse possibilities of our pilot plant. Get in touch with Swantje Eissing and find out more about the services you can book with us.

Would you like to know how your own materials perform after recycling? Or which adjustments need to be made to your machinery in order to process recycled plastics efficiently? Then visit us at FachPack on September 23, 2025 in Hall 4, Stand 4-209, PackBox! Our scientific experts will be there from 2 to 3 p.m. to present the latest research results and development opportunities in the field of packaging materials. The presentations will be held in German.

We use VOCs to prove the effectiveness of products, make the invisible visible and measurable - and drive research and diagnostics forward. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are omnipresent: they are found as flavorings in our food, as fragrances in our cosmetic products or enter the ambient air through a wide variety of materials as both odor-active and odorless molecules. The human body emits VOCs via breath, skin or other routes. These contain valuable information on biological processes, health conditions and the actual effect of products. They reflect complex metabolic processes and act as biomarkers for our health.

In food production, every detail counts - especially when it comes to hygienic filling processes. These must be designed in such a way that pathogenic and spoilage-causing microorganisms are reliably reduced or inactivated. Challenge tests are carried out to prove effectiveness. They identify possible weak points in the process and reveal potential for optimization. To do this, we use process-specific bioindicators that are individually produced using special germination processes and test organisms with proven resistance. In this way, we create the basis for reliable and meaningful results..

We support machine manufacturers and bottlers with established test methods for evaluating the effectiveness of sterilization processes for products, packaging and machine components. Both specific target organisms and suitable surrogates are used for realistic evaluation. In addition to thermal and chemical processes, the focus is increasingly shifting to alternative sterilization technologies such as UV radiation. The main drivers are the desire for more environmentally friendly, residue-free and material-friendly processes as well as increasing regulatory requirements regarding the use of chemicals and energy efficiency..

Do you need help with validating your systems? We can support you all the way - from the development phase to commissioning and regular inspections. Meet Dr. Peter Muranyi at drinktec 2025 and find out more about the latest developments in the microbiological validation of alternative disinfection processes. Get in touch with us and make an appointment in advance!

The loss or departure of staff has a significant impact on production efficiency, especially in small and medium-sized companies. If positions cannot be filled or knowledge carriers are not on site, there is often a lack of the right advice at the right time in the event of production errors. If, for example, the bread rolls in an artisan bakery are too small, only the experienced bakery staff usually know the causes.

In order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers and support these businesses in making experience-based knowledge available at all times, researchers in the "WiBe-Back" project have dedicated themselves to this topic. In cooperation with Bäckerei Möbius and Hallo Welt! GmbH, an in-house chatbot was developed that provides assistance and suggested solutions for the production of baked goods.

The result not only impressed the master bakers, but also the jury of the FutureSax Transfer Prize. Above all, the transferability to other artisan businesses and the application-oriented assistance in the practice of small companies were decisive for the award. On June 25, the project was awarded 1st place at the innovation conference.

Are you and your production company facing the challenge of digitizing experience-based knowledge and retaining it in your company? Are you looking for solutions for consistent product quality, even though your product is determined by various mechanical or manual influences? Then contact us - we will bring the right digitization solution to your application!

High-protein products are trending - but they present dairies with new challenges in production: More protein means more deposits in the heat exchangers used for pasteurization/ultra-high heating. The result: higher use of resources, more difficult process control and, above all, more frequent cleaning and therefore longer downtimes.

To tackle this problem, our researchers have developed an AI-supported monitoring system for predictive fouling detection in collaboration with TU Braunschweig. With "CoControl-FouliQ", fouling can be reliably predicted during the heating process - allowing cleaning to be scheduled as required. This can significantly reduce the amount of cleaning required for high-protein products, particularly in the UHT sector. This saves resources and at the same time increases plant availability and production capacity.

The system can be integrated into existing systems with little effort and is specially adapted to the challenging environmental conditions in dairy production thanks to an innovative hardware solution.

At drinktec, we will be presenting „CoControl-FouliQ” at the VDMA stand in Hall C4, Stand 177. Come by and make an appointment with us in advance! Our expert in plant validation will also be at drinktec – find out more in the next article.

Our solvent-based recycling process and AI-supported tools for better processing and odor and quality assessment of recyclates were the focus of our presentation at the Future Forum Plastics Cycle in Berlin. From July 1-3, 2025, we were discussing new technologies for a functioning circular economy in the plastics sector with experts from industry, research and politics.

How can we secure the availability of raw materials? And how can we become more sovereign and resilient? These were the central questions on which Dr. Rolf-Dieter Jungk, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, also gathered information on site.

Companies from the plastics, automotive, electrical and textile industries can benefit from our innovative technologies and sustainable solutions in the plastics and recycling sector. Because: Closed recyclate cycles not only secure raw materials and reduce energy and material costs but also create new business models and meet the increasing sustainability requirements of politicians and consumers. We make the closed-loop recycling of plastics more efficient and economical - contact us!