Our Profile: Food and Biotechnology as well as Agriculture and Product Development
From Science to Practice
The Institute for Food and Environmental Research (ILU) is a non-profit research institution with more than 30 years of expertise in the areas of food processing, environmental research and biotechnology. ILU was founded in 1991 and is based in the Bad Belzig and Bergholz-Rehbrücke / Nuthetal areas near Potsdam. The primary concern of ILU is scientific and technological applied-based research. It is always a priority that our research delivers results that lead to specific products, activities and processes that protect and improve our environment and food. Therefore, the ILU not only works with clients in the public sector, but also cooperates with companies and enterprises in the private sector, which is reflected in our applied, practical, and down-to-earth way of working.
Diverse skills
Our competencies are diverse: We develop new solutions in food technology and, in doing so, cover the areas of product development and manufacture. We evaluate and optimize raw materials, as well as processing them by extracting, grinding, extruding and baking. The end result is a new product, including an analysis of the nutrients it contains. With the help of modern analytics and laboratory technology, ILU scientists research raw materials (for example, algae and by-products from food production) for sustainable products. We also focus on the use of residues from food production, which are broken down with biochemical processes to be reused in biochemistry.
We also participate in the research field of agricultural primary production: ILU scientists help to establish new or forgotten crops for cultivation, use agricultural by-products more efficiently and develop new animal feed.
The safeguarding of environmental resources, such as the detection of toxins in water, is a priority, as is the development of innovative biological materials using processes that are as energy-efficient as possible.
As a registered association the ILU is a non-university research institution. It is an independent organisation and provides services to partners from research, the public sector, and businesses alike.
The ILU receives special funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK) of the State of Brandenburg, which provides financial backing for specialist projects that are of state interest.
Results for practice are only possible with partners
The research projects that we work on can only succeed with partners from other scientific institutions and the private sector. We strive to work closely with our partners and use the synergistic effect. Hence, the ILU contributes to marketable solutions, especially for small and medium-sized companies. We view our research as a contribution to bolster the innovative and competitive strength of the agriculture and food industry.
At our Bad Belzig and Bergholz-Rehbrücke / Nuthetal locations, we have a permanent team of employees with a wide range of expertise and training in various fields including food technology, chemistry, biology, engineering, agricultural science, and environmental technology. Additional working support is provided by contracted experts for specific projects and student assistants.
Our motto: “Research that bears fruit” is a symbol of sustainable, successful work for and with our partners.