What Working Group Grain Research does

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Getreideforschung e.V. (AGF), marketed as Working Group Grain Research, is a German non-profit association founded in 1946 in Detmold by Prof. Dr. P.F. Pelshenke to bridge scientific research and practical application across the grain processing value chain. The association serves over 300 member companies and 20 individual members from 15 countries spanning flour milling, baking, starch, pasta, cereal products, baking agents, machinery, grain trade, publishing, and research institutes. Its portfolio centers on knowledge transfer, applied research coordination through the AIF industrial collaborative research (IGF) program, and the publication of the journal 'Getreide, Mehl und Brot' (since 1947, transitioning to an online portal in 2026).

AGF's core products and underlying technology include the ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accredited DIGeFa GmbH laboratory (founded 2003 as a wholly owned subsidiary) for grain and flour analytics (moisture, protein, wet gluten, falling number, sedimentation, rheology via amylogram/farinogram/extensogram/Mixolab, plus comparative proficiency tests and baking trials); the international distribution of PWG-Gliadin reference material produced from 28 European wheat cultivars for celiac disease diagnostics (held since 2019); the 800+ page ICC Standard Methods compendium in German; practical seminars (Labormethoden, Standard-Backversuche); and a portfolio of major annual conferences (Starch Convention, Milling Forum/Technology Conference, Bakery Technology Conference, D-A-CH Conference, Grain Conference, Food Law Conference) hosted at the owned Roemerhaus venue in Detmold (capacity for 260 persons, 500 m² exhibition space). The association also maintains 10 working committees jointly staffed by practitioners and scientists, administers six named medal awards (instituted from 1954 onward), and coordinates collaborative research funding via AIF.

AGF's business model is a hybrid membership-and-services structure. Revenue is generated from self-assessed annual membership dues scaled to company turnover or milling capacity (tonnes per 24 hours), fee-based conferences and seminars with discounted member rates, paid laboratory and consulting services through DIGeFa GmbH (10% member discount), publication sales (ICC Standard Methods book at 89 EUR plus shipping, journal subscriptions for non-members), and licensing/distribution revenue from PWG-Gliadin. GTM is sales-led through direct outreach, conferences, and the website (agfdt.de). The association holds an independent non-profit ownership structure with no external investors or parent company; operational leadership rests with Managing Director Konstantin Golombek under President Dr. Götz Kröner and four regional Vice Presidents.

Name

Working Group Grain Research

Legal name

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Getreideforschung e.V.

Website

https://agfdt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Getreideforschung e.V. (AGF) is a German non-profit association founded in 1946 serving over 300 member companies across the grain processing value chain. It delivers accredited laboratory services, conferences, ICC standard methods, and PWG-Gliadin reference material distribution from Detmold.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grain Industry Research Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Farming & AgriTech Shows Organizers (THAHABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH)

Keywords

• Grain research association
• Cereal science
• Flour milling technology
• Bakery technology
• Industrial collaborative research

Headquarters

HQ city

Detmold

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues based on company annual revenue or milling capacity (tonnes per 24 hours for mills). Self-assessed by members based on published fee schedule.
2. Conference and Seminar Fees: Revenue from hosting industry conferences (Milling Forum, Starch Convention, Bakery Technology Conference, etc.) and seminars with registration fees. Discounted rates for members.
3. Laboratory Services (DIGeFa): Analysis services, comparative examinations (Gemeinschaftsuntersuchungen), and hygiene checks for member companies. Members receive 10% discount.
4. Publication Sales: Sale of ICC Standard Methods book (89 EUR plus shipping) and the Getreide, Mehl und Brot online portal subscriptions for non-members.
5. PWG-Gliadin Distribution: International distribution of PWG-Gliadin reference material for gluten analysis, handled since 2019.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Getreideforschung e.V. (AGF) is a membership-based non-profit industry association serving the grain processing sector since 1946. Its core offerings include membership services, industry conferences and seminars, the Getreide, Mehl und Brot online knowledge portal, PWG-Gliadin reference material distribution, ICC Standard Methods publications, and accredited laboratory services through its subsidiary DIGeFa GmbH.

Product overview

Working Group Grain Research (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Getreideforschung e.V. / AGF) is a research association for the grain processing industry offering a portfolio of knowledge products, reference materials, laboratory services, and professional training. Its core offerings include the 'Getreide, Mehl und Brot' online knowledge portal (digital successor to the print journal since 1947), PWG-Gliadin reference material for gluten analysis, the ICC Standard Methods compendium for cereals/flour/bread, and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory services through subsidiary DIGeFa GmbH. The portfolio also includes practical seminars (Praxisseminare) and conference facilities at the Roemerhaus in Detmold.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Getreide, Mehl und Brot Online Portal
• PWG-Gliadin Reference Material
• ICC Standard Methods for Cereals, Flour and Bread
• DIGeFa GmbH Laboratory Services
• Praxisseminare (Practical Seminars)
• Kongresszentrum Roemerhaus (Conference Centre)
• AGF Industry Conferences (Milling Forum, Starch Convention, Bakery Technology Conference, D-A-CH Conference)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 member companies and 20 individual members from 15 countries served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DIGeFa GmbH (Detmolder Institut für Getreide- und Fettanalytik)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by AGF in 2003 as a subsidiary company offering accredited laboratory services for grain and fat analytics. Provides quality analysis of cereals and milling products, comparative examinations, and individual consulting. AGF members receive 10% discount on all DIGeFa services.
• Max Rubner-Institut (MRI), Institut für Sicherheit und Qualität bei GetreidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research institute co-organizing Detmolder Studientage for vocational teachers and collaborating on bakery technology conferences. Provides scientific expertise for the grain processing industry.
• ICC Austria (International Association for Cereal Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the D-A-CH Conference for Applied Cereal Science along with ICC Schweiz. Promotes standardization and knowledge exchange in cereal science across German-speaking countries.
• ICC Schweiz (International Association for Cereal Science and Technology Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the D-A-CH Conference for Applied Cereal Science along with ICC Austria. Promotes standardization and knowledge exchange in cereal science.
• Prolamin Working Group (PWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational working group that developed PWG-Gliadin, the best characterized reference material for gluten analysis. AGF has been the official international distributor since 2019.
• AIF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Industrial Research Associations that administers the IGF (Industrial Collaborative Research) funding program. AGF coordinates research funding applications for the grain processing industry through AIF.
• Max Rubner-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research institute collaborating on Bioethanol and Bioconversion Technology Meetings organized by AGF, along with University of Hohenheim.
• Universität Hohenheim – Institut für Lebensmittelwissenschaft und BiotechnologiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity institute collaborating on Bioethanol and Bioconversion Technology Meetings organized by AGF, along with Max Rubner-Institut.
• Food Science Division of the GDCh (Lebensmittelchemische Gesellschaft)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist group of the German Chemical Society co-organizing the Lebensmittelrechtstag for cereal products with AGF.
• Backzutatenverband e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Baking Aids Association co-organizing the Lebensmittelrechtstag for cereal products.
• Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Association of German Bakery Trade co-organizing the Lebensmittelrechtstag for cereal products.
• FiBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Institute for Organic Farming co-organizing D-A-CH Conference in 2019.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss university of applied sciences co-organizing D-A-CH Conference in 2019.
• BOKU Wien (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna co-organizing D-A-CH Conference.
• AGAGES – Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Agency for Health and Food Safety co-hosting D-A-CH Conference 2021.
• Bühler AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss milling equipment manufacturer hosting D-A-CH Conference 2022 at their facility in Uzwil.
• Ernst Böcker GmbH & Co. KGcoreOthersChair of the Grain Research Committee and participant in industrial collaborative research. Representative of the member companies in the research committee.
• Dr. August Oetker Nahrungsmittel KGcoreOthersParticipant in the Grain Research Committee and Food Law Committee, representing large-scale food manufacturing in grain processing research.
• GoodMills Innovation GmbHcoreOthersParticipant in the Grain Research Committee representing the milling industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• European Flour Millers: Brussels-based trade association representing European flour millers. Directly comparable to AGF on the milling side — same DACH/European market, member-fee-funded model, advocacy plus technical knowledge transfer for grain processors.
• Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks: Central association of the German bakery craft trade, AGF's co-organizing partner for the Lebensmittelrechtstag. Represents the downstream bakery customer base that AGF's milling and research programs ultimately serve.
• American Bakers Association: US baking industry trade body serving large commercial bakers (a member segment AGF also serves), comparable in structure: member-funded, conference-driven, advocacy plus technical services.
• Cereals & Grains Association (formerly AACC International): US-based scientific society for cereal science and technology, publishing Cereal Chemistry and Cereal Foods World. Closest global analog to AGF in scope: standards (AACC International Approved Methods), conferences, and a multidisciplinary grain-research community.
• AIF - Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen: Berlin-based umbrella organization coordinating industrial research associations in Germany, of which AGF is itself a member via IGF participation. Operates the same AIF/IGF funding channel, making it an institutional peer and direct AGF partner.
• FEI - Forschungsvereinigung der Ernährungsindustrie: German food-industry research association that, like AGF, channels AIF/IGF pre-competitive research funding from federal sources to industry-aligned projects. Nearest domestic structural analog outside the cereal subsector.
• NABIM - National Association of British and Irish Millers: UK and Irish milling trade body, comparable in mission (advocacy, training, technical services for millers) but with a UK/Irish geographic scope that parallels AGF's DACH concentration.
• ICC - International Association for Cereal Science and Technology: Vienna-based international umbrella body for cereal science, including ICC Austria and ICC Schweiz (both AGF co-organizing partners). Operates across the same grain value chain with overlapping standardization and conference mandates, making it the closest comparable organization globally.

Others

• Bühler Group: Swiss global leader in milling equipment and grain processing technology, hosting AGF's D-A-CH Conference at its Uzwil facility. Functions as a private-sector strategic partner/supplier rather than peer, but operates in the same grain-processing value chain.
• Max Rubner-Institut: German federal research institute co-organizing AGF's Detmolder Studientage, Bakery Technology Conferences, and Bioethanol meetings. Mission-aligned public-sector research partner rather than competitor, but serves overlapping scientific and industry audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/agfdt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Working Group Grain Research