Biofach 2025: Functional beverages, plant proteins, fermentation, and nutraceuticals steal the show

Biofach 2025 (11–14 Feb) hosted an array of companies presenting organic and sustainable food production in Nuremberg, Germany. On the show floor, Nutrition Insight met with several players and noted key themes, including functional beverages, plant-based proteins, fermented foods, sustainable packaging, and superfoods.

Functional beverages

Functional beverages are trending at Biofach 2025, with companies offering drinks designed to support specific health needs.

We spoke with Very Berry, a family-owned company that features a range of functional drinks. Their “5-in-1” line — featuring products like Omm for relaxation and Athletic for recovery — combines pure berry juices with herbal teas. The company highlights its cold-pressed, additive-free juices and sustainable glass packaging that resonates with the growing demand for clean label, health-focused beverages. By the end of 2025, Very Berry plans to introduce organic lemonades in cans.

YAYA Kombucha, which claims to be the first Dutch kombucha brand, showcased its core range, including Yuzu and Ginger flavors, alongside its new Mate Kombucha. The brand’s focus on 100% organic ingredients and low-sugar formulations aligns with the rising demand for natural, better-for-you alternatives to traditional soft drinks. The company recently expanded into the German market.

Sparkteez presented an alcohol-free, champagne-inspired sparkling tea with its blend of Darjeeling and white teas. The company details its commitment to organic and FairTrade practices and the health benefits of its antioxidant-rich teas as non-alcoholic options for health-conscious consumers. The team says it will soon be launching a new alcohol-free champagne made with Earl Grey and Bergamot juice.

Michiel Pronk, sales manager at Cosun Protein.Plant-based proteins and dairy alternatives

Plant-based proteins continued to dominate the organic food landscape, with companies innovating to improve taste, texture, and nutritional profiles. 

For instance, we caught up with Cosun Protein at the Dutch pavilion, where it showcased its organic Tendra fava bean protein isolate. This product, which debuted in 2022, is now available in an organic version. Tendra has versatile uses in dairy alternatives, sauces, and sports nutrition.

Austrion from Austria highlighted its plant-based proteins, including pea protein concentrates with a cleaner taste profile. It also spotlighted its Ayaca protein bar, made with texturized pea and bean protein. It is organic, vegan, and free of added sugars, designed as a snack for health-conscious consumers. The brand details its collaborations with a German triathlete, underscoring its commitment to performance nutrition. At the booth, Austrion presented its goulash and bolognese made from plant-based proteins.

The demand for high-quality, plant-based dairy alternatives continued to grow, with companies like New Roots showcasing new products — a cashew-based soft cheese and artisanal vegan cheeses and plant-based fondue. New Roots highlights how the company created a new strain of lupin legume, containing 18 essential amino acids full of protein, to be used to make protein-rich vegan cheese.

Meanwhile, Agrana unveiled a vegan, organic beverage base powder for small children that meets their nutritional requirements and parents’ demands for sustainability.

Renate Ladner, co-founder at LivQ.Fermented foods and gut health

Fermentation is another major theme, with companies showcasing products that promote gut health and overall well-being.

We met with Bouche, which presented Juniper Pet Nat, a sparkling fermented drink that bridges the gap between kombucha and natural wine. The company’s kombucha range features various flavors and unpasteurized formulations to retain certain bacterial strains for increased benefits.

Bevia showcased its lineup of hummus and fermented foods, including kimchi, emphasizing the benefits of fermentation for gut health. The company’s commitment to natural, nutrient-dense foods aligns with the growing interest in traditional, health-promoting food practices. The team says consuming unpasteurized foods when possible reap the most benefits. Bevia says it is also developing products that are half pasteurized, so products can contain a certain percentage of live microbes.

livQ Fermented Products featured its Propaferm process, which uses fermentation to create potent dietary supplements from organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The company asserts that its products support gut health and the immune system. Its Morning Ritual product was spotlighted by the Biofach expert jury as a trending Functional Finesse product.

Saajan Patel, managing director at Akash Agro IndustriesSuperfoods and herbal ingredients

At the show, the superfoods category was popular, with companies introducing new ingredients to the market.

We met with Akash Agro Industries from India to discuss its organic psyllium husk and powder that remain a cornerstone of their offerings. Akash Agro’s sister company, NIKS Organic, showcased a new range of herbs, spices, and herbal extracts. Akash Agro Industries also talks about organic farming in India and taking initiatives to convince farmers to give up pesticide use.

We also met with Biosan Biotechnology, which presented its range of mushroom products and highlighted the health benefits and applications of popular mushrooms, such as reishi, lion’s mane, chaga, and cordyceps. The company says that consumers increasingly seek mushroom blends combining multiple health benefits. Biosan recently launched continuous countercurrent extraction production and freeze-drying extraction lines that allow the company to improve ingredient solubility, extract potency, and product quality. 

Iswari launched a new supplement powder at the show, its All in One — Super Greens mix, which contains 15 fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and algae to help fill nutritional gaps. The powder supports gut health and immunity, helps to boost energy, and to enhance metabolism. Iswari included its product in Biofach’s Novelty Stand, where exhibitors presented the novelties of the organic world.  

Vita Forte showcased freeze-dried açai, coconut water powder, and yerba maté as superfoods. The company’s upcoming projects include maqui and cacao powders. We also talked with Sanapianta on the cultivation of organic medicinal and aromatic plants in Italy.

IFOAM spoke to us about how organic farming supports the nutrition industry in getting sustainable ingredients. Andrea Primavera, president of the Italian Federation of Medicinal Plant Producers, told us about the EU medicinal plant sector boom amid an aging population and organic demand.