Bad Vilbel / Frankfurt, September 27, 2026 – Where does our food actually come from, why does regionality benefit our soils, and how does sustainability land on our plates without losing flavor? Answers to these questions were available last Sunday at the Dottenfelderhof Farm Festival – hands-on, engaging, and tasty! BIONALES used its stand as a vibrant platform for sustainable food culture, attracting numerous curious visitors. Thanks to the great effort of dedicated volunteers, the day was an energetic success for the regional food transition.
Central theme of the stand was the „Regional Challenge“; Using a trendy quinoa-edamame-mango bowl as an example, guests brainstormed ways to replace air-freighted ingredients in the recipe with local alternatives. A freshly prepared bowl variation of the recipe made with regional ingredients provided delicious proof that sustainability and enjoyment go hand in hand when it comes to food. Whether foodies, nutrition enthusiasts, professional visitors, or children – the nutritious bowl was so well received that samples were completely sold out 1.5 hours before the end of the event!
Represented at the stand was the EU Interreg project SIMONE. The project gets to the root of things: in so-called agricultural living labs, research is conducted together with farmers on how cultivation can be made sustainable and soil-friendly for the future. BIONALES builds the bridge to practice, supporting regions in considering the entire value chain to strengthen local agriculture.
Heldenbohne and the SIMONE Project at the BIONALES stand
A prime example of such successful value creation was shown by the Heldenbohne project, in which BIONALES is also involved: born out of successful cultivation trials with regional legumes, the project now helps build the market for local lentils, soy, and chickpeas. At the stand, visitors could closely inspect jars filled with Hessian protein heroes and learn how legumes naturally regenerate the soil and what heroic deeds they perform for our bodies. A learning for young and old.
Young and old at BIONALES and at the Dottenfelderhof
And that is exactly what BIONALES stands for – from SIMONE and Heldenbohne to the Frankfurt Food Council, the House of Food, to the school garden: Raising awareness that regional cycles are crucial for both the environment and agriculture. Sustainable cultivation can only work permanently if produce from farms can be marketed meaningfully and profitably, and if the corresponding demand exists.
