IFFA Trade Fair for the Meat Industry

Ingmar Stork

Sales: Production & Processing, Slaughtering & Cutting, Packaging & End-Of-Line, Automation & Robotics

Sylvia Pielka

Sales: Production & Processing, Slaughtering & Cutting, Craft, Retail & Sales, Equipment, Hygiene & Logistics

Daniel Welzbacher

Sales: Ingredients & Spices, Plant Protein Processing, Cultivated Meat & Fermentation, Research & Development

Website

Messe Frankfurt Ticketservice

Online ticket support

Exhibitor Services Shop Hotline

Shop for Exhibitor Services technical support

What's on

Programme

Topic tracks

World of ProcessingWorld of PackagingWorld of IngredientsWorld of New ProteinsWorld of Skills and Sales

Co-located events

IFFA Factory

Separate ticket

IFFA Kitchen

Separate ticket

IFFA Discovery Tours

Separate ticket

VDMA Technologie Lounge

Separate ticket

Co-located seminars

IFFA competitions of the German Butchers' Association

Paid

Awards

IFFA Champion

Every Three Years (at IFFA)

The highest award presented by the German Butchers' Association (DFV) during the International Quality Competitions at IFFA. Companies must participate in all international quality competitions to be eligible. The winner receives the Großer Pokal (Grand Cup)

International Champion

source

IFFA DFV Global Meat Product Awards

Every Three Years (at IFFA), With Regional Qualifying Competitions

International quality competitions for meat and sausage products organised by the German Butchers' Association (DFV) at IFFA. Products are judged on taste, appearance, texture, aroma and spices, with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded. Regional competitions are held in North America, Southeast Asia, Australia and other regions

Sausages and HamCanned and Jarred ProductsGlobal Meat Product Award

source

Previous edition

Current edition

2028 · 63,117 visitors · 1,019 exhibitors

IFFA 2028 will be held from 13 to 18 May 2028 at the Frankfurt exhibition centre. No official organiser forecast for exhibitor or visitor numbers has been published on the IFFA website as of September 2026. IFFA 2028 will be led by new director Vivien Altmann-Morelli, who takes over from Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim effective 1 May 2026. (

Forecast — not final

Growth over time

New this edition

1
IFFA Worlds
New hall structure introduced at IFFA 2025 that bundles related product groups into five thematic areas: World of Processing (Halls 8, 9, 11 and 12), World of Ingredients (Hall 11), World of Packaging (Hall 12), World of New Proteins (Hall 11) and World of Skills and Sales (Hall 12). The structure makes it easier for visitors to navigate the fair and strengthens links between individual stages of the production process. (2025 edition feature; expected to continue for 2028)
Source
2
World of New Proteins
For the first time, alternative proteins had their own dedicated exhibition area at IFFA. Innovations in taste, texture and nutritional value were the focus, with new products based on plant proteins and mycoproteins from fungi, as well as precision fermentation, as the main discussion topics. (2025 edition feature; expected to continue for 2028)
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3
IFFA Factory
An innovation show demonstrating how mechanical engineering, research and start-ups are actively combating the shortage of skilled workers, with presentations and a central presentation area. Focus on technologies that make processes smarter, simplify operation and relieve employees of specific tasks. (2025 edition feature)
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4
IFFA Discovery Tours
Curated guided tours to selected exhibitors and products, offering orientation and highlighting less obvious innovations. Participation is free and tours last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. (2025 edition feature)
Source

Next edition outlook

2028

estimated

IFFA 2028 will take place from 13 to 18 May 2028 at the Frankfurt exhibition centre. The event will be led by new director Vivien Altmann-Morelli, who takes over from Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim effective 1 May 2026. The 2028 edition is expected to continue the IFFA Worlds hall structure introduced in 2025, with a strong focus on automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, alternative proteins, sustainability, and digital plant management. No exhibitor or visitor forecasts for 2028 have been published yet. The most recent comparable edition in 2025 attracted 1,019 exhibitors from 52 countries and 63,117 trade visitors from 144 countries

New leadership: Vivien Altmann-Morelli becomes head of IFFA from 1 May 2026, succeeding Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim Continued emphasis on the convergence of traditional meat processing with emerging alternative protein technologies Greater focus on AI, robotics, digital twins, predictive maintenance, and AI-powered quality assurance Expanded World of New Proteins and IFFA Worlds structure Increased attention to sustainability solutions and regulatory developments across global markets

Impact

A bigger and stronger platform

IFFA 2025 demonstrated the resilience and innovative strength of the global meat and protein industry despite a complex economic environment. The atmosphere at the stands of over 1,000 exhibitors was characterised by high investment confidence. The event reinforced its position as the world's leading trade fair for technology for meat and alternative proteins, with 74% of visitors travelling from abroad. The new IFFA Worlds hall structure and the dedicated World of New Proteins reflected the industry's rapid evolution towards automation, AI, data-driven process intelligence, sustainability, and alternative proteins

Audience quality

High-value decision-makers

IFFA 2025 attracted 63,117 trade visitors from 144 countries, with 74% coming from outside Germany. Visitors were drawn primarily from the protein processing industry, but also from food retail, packaging, butchery, and spices industries. According to a visitor survey, 98% said they had achieved their trade fair goals, and 95% were satisfied with the exhibitors' range of products. Top visitor nations (excluding Germany) included China, Spain, Poland, Italy, Netherlands, USA, Brazil, Ukraine, Australia, and Austria

Exhibitor outcomes

Real business growth

Exhibitors at IFFA 2025 reported high investment confidence and strong business outcomes. A VDMA survey conducted in April 2025 found that 55% of industry companies expected revenue growth for 2025, with a further 40% expecting stable business development. The Brazilian pavilion, organised by ABIMAQ and ApexBrasil, generated USD 53.1 million in completed and expected business — a 136% increase compared to the 2022 edition. 27% of exhibitors were first-time participants, including many start-ups in alternative proteins. Over 1,000 exhibitors presented machines, technologies, and solutions for the entire value chain

Intelligence

Market context

Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.

Global — with primary focus on Europe, and significant participation from Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East

Why it matters

IFFA is the world's leading trade fair for technology for meat and alternative proteins, held every three years in Frankfurt. It covers the entire market for processing, packaging and selling of meat and alternative proteins, offering the global food industry a platform for innovation and networking. For buyers, IFFA provides access to the latest machines, technologies and solutions across the full value chain — from processing and packaging to innovative ingredients and sales trends. For exhibitors, it offers direct access to over 60,000 trade visitors from more than 140 countries, with 74 percent coming from outside Germany, making it the industry's most international and important showcase. The event's IFFA Worlds structure helps visitors navigate the fair efficiently, and the dedicated World of New Proteins reflects the growing importance of alternative proteins in the global food system. With the industry facing structural labour shortages, sustainability requirements, and geopolitical trade disruptions, IFFA serves as the critical meeting point for decision-makers to evaluate automation, AI, robotics, and alternative protein technologies that will define the future of protein production. The next edition runs 13–18 May 2028 at Messe Frankfurt

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Automation, AI and robotics reshape protein processing

The meat and protein industry is undergoing a technology leap driven by artificial intelligence, robotics and data-driven process intelligence. Processors are moving from simple electromechanical systems to smart robots and AI-powered 3D vision systems for cutting, deboning, portioning, and packaging. AI is being explored for animal welfare assessment, lean meat yield optimisation, spray chilling, and waste water treatment. The meat processing equipment market is projected to grow from USD 9.90 billion in 2026 to USD 12.60 billion by 2031 (CAGR 4.94%). (

Alternative proteins mature into a broader ecosystem

The alternative protein landscape is transitioning from early plant-based meat analogs into a broader ecosystem of ingredients, hybrid products, and enabling technologies. The global alternative protein market was valued at USD 107.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 318.4 billion by 2035 (CAGR 10.7%). Consumer demand is becoming more pragmatic, with taste, price, nutrition, and convenience outweighing novelty in repeat purchasing. Precision fermentation, mycelium-based whole cuts, and hybrid meat products are gaining traction. (

Sustainability becomes a structural requirement across the value chain

Sustainability is no longer optional. German consumers demand sustainable production, and the meat processing industry is forced to incorporate sustainability throughout the value chain. Research on edible and biodegradable film packaging (EBFP) has increased significantly, with biomaterials extracted from agricultural food waste being explored for meat packaging. Plastic reduction pilots, such as SPAR Austria's 70% packaging reduction using CRYOVAC MonoPP Flowpack, demonstrate that commercial-scale sustainable packaging is viable. (

Labour shortage drives investment in automation and simplified equipment

Labour shortages are a defining structural constraint across the meat and poultry processing industry. Skilled-technician gaps, high turnover and hiring volatility are influencing capital planning. Processors are investing in specialised automation for physically demanding tasks, and equipment is increasingly designed for less-experienced employees with simplified user interfaces and multi-language HMIs. Tight beef supply and labor scarcity are pushing processors toward poultry and yield-focused automation, accelerating investment in automated carcass handling and primary-cuts equipment. (

Geopolitical and economic headwinds disrupt global meat trade

The FAO Meat Market Review highlights that ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions are likely to disrupt trade routes and increase freight and insurance costs in 2026. Global bovine meat production is forecast to decline, while consumers may substitute beef with poultry due to weakening buying power. In the US, Tyson Foods and JBS announced slaughter capacity reductions in August 2026, while the USDA launched the Ranchers First Initiative to expand small and midsized processor capacity. These dynamics shape investment decisions and sourcing strategies across the industry. (

Hybrid products and blended meat gain commercial traction

Hybrid meat products — blending conventional meat with plant proteins — are gaining traction as a pragmatic pathway to reduce costs and improve sustainability without sacrificing taste. Black Sheep Foods is betting on 'TVP 2.0' as hybrid meat gains traction, while larger multi-billion dollar food manufacturers are developing products that could reach the market in 2027. This trend is particularly relevant for IFFA exhibitors bridging traditional meat processing and alternative protein technologies. (Source:

Market news

Latest updates from across the market.

Tyson, JBS to slash slaughter capabilities

Tyson Foods announced plans to close a Joslin, Illinois harvest plant and a Utah case-ready facility, and to sell a harvest facility in Pasco, Washington. JBS announced plans to transition its Souderton, Pennsylvania slaughter facility to a value-added, case-ready operation. The consolidation moves reflect ongoing structural shifts in US meat processing capacity. (Source:

USDA launches Ranchers First Initiative targeting small-plant processing capacity

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the USDA's Ranchers First Initiative, a package of measures aimed at rebuilding the US cattle herd, expanding access to capital for small and midsized meat processors, encouraging producer-owned processing cooperatives, and reducing regulatory barriers. The initiative comes as four companies — Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef — account for roughly 85% of US fed-cattle processing capacity. (Source:

Adamo Foods secures €10 million EU grant to scale mycelium steak

Adamo Foods has secured €10 million (US$10.8 million) in European Union funding from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking to accelerate the scale-up of its mycelium-based whole-cut meat alternatives, targeting price parity with beef. The funding reflects growing EU support for alternative protein innovation and scaling. (Source:

Vivien Altmann-Morelli to lead IFFA from May 2026

Messe Frankfurt appointed Vivien Altmann-Morelli as the new head of IFFA, effective 1 May 2026. She takes over from Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, who led IFFA from 2016. Altmann-Morelli will oversee IFFA 2028 (13–18 May 2028) and the international Food Technologies trade fair brand. (Source:

Trump administration pushes meat processing overhaul as industry groups warn on food safety

The Trump administration is moving to expand opportunities for smaller and independent meat processors, with President Trump stating his administration is preparing legal action to give farmers and ranchers greater ability to process their own livestock. The Meat Institute warned against allowing uninspected meat to enter commercial channels, while supporting opportunities for smaller processors. (Source: