ILU - Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V.

What ILU - Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. does

ILU – Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. is a non-university, non-profit research institute registered as a German eingetragener Verein (e.V.), headquartered in Bad Belzig, Brandenburg, with operational sites in Nuthetal and Potsdam. Founded in 1991 and currently operating under liquidation status (i.L.) with three appointed liquidators, the institute maintains a core team of approximately 13 scientific staff (food technologists, chemists, food chemists, biologists, microbiologists, biochemists) supplemented by project-based personnel. Its mission is to deliver market-ready applied research for small and medium-sized enterprises in the food sector while advancing environmental protection, climate adaptation, regenerative agriculture, and rural development.

The institute conducts contract research using laboratory and pilot-scale facilities for extraction, extrusion, and biomass production. Active research streams include climate-tolerant viticulture (Vitis BB), low-climate-impact aquaculture feed from microalgae (CLIMAQUA, with Nofima and DIL), circular alternative-protein value chains (CIPROMED, with University of Thessaly, AlgaEnergy, nextProtein Tunisia), the GranuGruen water-storage granulate developed with IAB Weimar, and Southeast Asian bioeconomy work (AutoPro). Revenue derives from commissioned research services for companies and research institutions plus EU and federal/state project funding through EIP-Agri, PRIMA, BMEL, and ILB. Distribution occurs via direct project engagement, EU and government consortia, demonstration field days at MAFZ Erlebnispark Paaren and other Brandenburg sites, and a coordination office managing networks such as Landwirtschaft im Dialog, NetzWert, AgriFoodTechNetBB, and Agrarforschung Brandenburg. From 2026, ILU will operate jointly with IFN Schönow e.V. as the Institut für nachhaltige Agrarforschung.

Name

ILU - Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V.

Legal name

Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. i.L.

Website

https://ilu-ev.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ILU is a non-university, non-profit research institute in Brandenburg, Germany, delivering applied contract research in food, biotechnology, agriculture, and environmental technology to SMEs, farmers, and EU/government consortia via laboratory and pilot-scale facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

EIA/ESIA Documentation & Technical Studies (Air/Water/Noise/Traffic) (EUAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Food technology research
• Environmental research
• Biomass production
• Sustainable agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Belzig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Commissioned research and services for companies and research institutions domestically and internationally. Revenue generated through customized research projects.
2. EU and Government Project Funding: Projects funded by EU programs (EIP-Agri, PRIMA) and state funding (ILB, BMEL) for agricultural and environmental research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ILU is a non-university research institute that provides contract research and analytical/testing services to companies and research institutions in Germany and abroad. It operates laboratory and pilot-scale facilities in Bad Belzig, Nuthetal, and Potsdam for extraction, extrusion, and biomass production. Its research spans environmental technology, food production, climate-adapted agriculture, aquaculture feed innovation, water retention materials, viticulture, and sustainable biomass utilization, with a focus on market-ready solutions for SMEs in the food sector.

Product overview

ILU is a non-university research institute (eingetragener Verein i.L. / in liquidation) providing contract research and analytical/testing services for businesses and research institutions. It operates laboratory and pilot facilities in Bad Belzig, Nuthetal, and Potsdam for extraction, extrusion, and biomass production. ILU's work spans environmental technology, food production, climate protection, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. The institute conducts applied research in collaboration with partners across regional, national, and international projects, but does not offer a packaged software product, platform, or SaaS offering. Services include commissioned research and knowledge transfer in domains such as regenerative agriculture, aquaculture nutrition, water retention materials, viticulture, and biomass utilization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Research Services Customized commissioned research, analytical services, and pilot-scale testing for companies and research institutions in Germany and abroad. Covers environmental technology, food technology, biomass production, and sustainable agriculture.
• GranuGruen Water Storage Granulate A granulate made from recycled concrete powder, cement binder, and hemp or coconut fibers that stores 50% of its own weight in water, developed for urban trees and water management in urban areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• GranuGruen granulate can store 50% of its own weight in water
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFN Schönow e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Starting 2026, ILU and IFN Schönow will operate jointly as 'Institut für nachhaltige Agrarforschung' covering reproduction, animal husbandry, food, and environment research. They will address climate-adapted agriculture, agricultural livestock reproduction, sustainable food production, and utilization of side streams.
• FIB (Forschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Research institute in Finsterwalde, collaborating on lavender cultivation trials in post-mining landscapes and field days.
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Fachgebiet Urbane Ökophysiologie der Pflanzen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Lead partner in Vitis BB project. Manages the project for developing climate-tolerant and modern grape varieties in Brandenburg.
• Weingut Patke GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wine estate in Brandenburg, practicing partner in Vitis BB project. Founded by Matthias and Marcel Jahnke as well as Steffen and Holger Lehmann in 2016.
• Weingut Marbachs WolfshügelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wine estate south-east of Cottbus, practicing partner in Vitis BB project. Located on historic vineyard on Jerischker Endmoräne.
• Rebschule Freytag GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wine nursery in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, partner in Vitis BB project. Operating for 60 years, one of the major propagation businesses in Germany.
• University of Thessaly (Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Lead partner in CIPROMED project for circular and integrative use of alternative proteins in Mediterranean value chains.
• AlgaEnergy S.A. (Spain)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2023Spanish partner in CIPROMED project specializing in microalgae technology for alternative protein production.
• nextProtein Tunisia SarlcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2023Tunisian partner in CIPROMED project working on alternative protein sources for Mediterranean food and feed chains.
• IAB Weimar (Institut für Angewandte Bauforschung)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2023Developed the GranuGruen granulate technology for water storage used in urban tree applications.
• DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in CLIMAQUA project for low-climate-impact aquaculture feed production.
• Nofima (Norway)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Norwegian research institute, partner in CLIMAQUA project for aquaculture feed innovation.
• Landesbauernverband Brandenburg (LBV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in 'Landwirtschaft im Dialog' (LiD) network, collaborating on demonstration plot events and knowledge transfer for farmers.
• IASP (Institut für Agrar- und Stadtökologische Projekte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Versuchsstation Berge, collaborating on niche crop demonstration plots at MAFZ Erlebnispark Paaren.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ilu-institut-fuer-lebensmittel-und-umweltforschung-brandenburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 ILU - Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V.