Anuga FoodTec 2027 will place system complexity in food and beverage production at the center of its next edition, with the trade fair scheduled to take place from February 23 to 26, 2027, in Cologne.

Held under the key theme “Navigate Complexity. Smart. Safe. Sustainable.”, the event will focus on practical approaches for networked, efficient and future-compatible production. The organizers said the program will address the growing complexity facing food and beverage manufacturers, while highlighting solutions designed to support safer, smarter and more sustainable operations.

Two central meeting points for knowledge transfer and professional exchange will be the SMART community hub and the SUSTAINABLE community hub. The SMART hub will focus on digital production solutions, while the SUSTAINABLE hub will address resource-efficient and sustainable production systems.

Both hubs are designed to bring together experts, exhibitors, users and visitors through interactive formats. These will include Deep Dives focused on sustainability solutions and best practices, Fishbowl discussions with audience participation, BarCamp sessions built around themes proposed by participants, and live Showcases presenting technologies, ideas and business models.

The SMART community hub will also feature tech talks offering compact, practical insights into current technologies and applications. Its thematic focus areas will include artificial intelligence for data-based process optimization and production control, robotics and automation for flexible and networked production environments, digitalization and intelligent data integration along the value chain, and cybersecurity for resilient production systems.

The SUSTAINABLE community hub will concentrate on themes including the circular economy, resource-efficient production systems, alternative packaging solutions, alternative protein sources, new raw material concepts, energy and process efficiency, and current industry trends linked to sustainable transformation.

According to the organizers, both community hubs are intended to support inspiration, exchange and cooperation, while giving visibility to innovators, new concepts and emerging ideas in the food and beverage industry. Lounge and food service areas will also provide space for networking and professional exchange within the international food tech community.

Anuga FoodTec 2027 will take place from February 23 to 26, 2027, in Cologne.