01 · Starting point
Between innovation and market launch
Germany is a leading market for innovative protein solutions. Even so, a gap remains between development and wide market launch.
Shaping protein value chains in Germany.
We bring together stakeholders from agriculture, food processing and production, science and research, the food retail sector, the foodservice industry, and politics.
Together, we examine value chains for animal and plant-based proteins as well as blended protein products. We identify gaps and develop recommendations for action that can be applied nationwide.
Our goals
Helping good ideas reach the market.
As a neutral, non-profit initiative, the German Protein Alliance connects the key players across the entire value chain.
02 · Our approach
Connecting people and knowledge
The Alliance analyses specific value chains, brings bottlenecks to light and works with everyone involved to develop workable models.
03 · Impact
Making findings transferable
Results are turned into transferable models and well-founded recommendations for regions, products and market segments.
The result is solutions that outlast individual projects.
Proteins
The protein solutions we focus on.
The German Protein Alliance takes a comprehensive view of protein, exploring animal-based and plant-based solutions as well as blended protein products across the entire value chain – from raw material production through processing and food manufacturing to market access and everyday use.
Animal proteins
Animal proteins come from animals or from foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, milk and dairy products, and eggs.
Plant-based and other non-animal proteins
Plant-based sources include peas, beans, lentils, soy, lupins, cereals, oilseeds, nuts and seeds. Non-animal proteins include proteins derived from plants and other sources, such as fungi and algae.
Blended protein products
Blended protein products combine animal-based proteins with plant-based or other non-animal protein sources. Examples include meat products made with pea, bean or fungal protein, and dairy products with plant-based or fermented ingredients.
From farm to market
Bringing together those who can achieve more together.
Strong protein value chains emerge when all stakeholders and process steps, from raw materials to market-ready products, work together seamlessly.
Our approach
Building resilient value chains starts with turning connections into collaboration.
Many promising ideas fail to reach the market because stakeholders, expertise, infrastructure and demand are not sufficiently aligned. This is where the German Protein Alliance comes in.
It sets up partnerships, coordinates concrete projects and moves solutions forward across the whole value chain: from growing the raw materials through food processing and manufacturing to marketing in retail and use in food service. Partners from science and research are brought in wherever their expertise is needed.
About us
We combine deep experience with the courage to break new ground.
The German Protein Alliance team brings together expertise in agriculture and food, retail, policy, strategy, communications and network management.
Different perspectives. One shared goal.
The team
Simone Poppe
Founder and Chair of the Board
Policy, strategy and networks
Simone Poppe is the founder and Chair of the German Protein Alliance. In this full-time role she leads the association and is responsible for its strategic and day-to-day development. Her priorities include dialogue with policymakers and industry, and building a strong network that reaches across sectors.
Simone Poppe is the founder and Chair of the German Protein Alliance. In this full-time role she leads the association and is responsible for its strategic and day-to-day development. Her priorities include dialogue with policymakers and industry, and building a strong network that reaches across sectors.
She brings more than 30 years of leadership and management experience in the agriculture and food industry. In senior roles at DMK Group and the PHW Group, her responsibilities included raw-material management, alternative proteins, strategy and M&A. As COO of a food start-up, she also guided an innovative company through its build-up and scale-up phases.
Through her company NewFood Consulting GmbH, Simone Poppe advises businesses on developing and implementing new business models and value chains. As a member of the DLG board, she also brings her experience to bear on the wider development of the agriculture and food industry.
What matters most to her is building bridges between farming, the food industry, science, policy and society. Her focus is not on either-or choices, but on developing workable solutions together for a diverse, competitive and secure protein supply.
Alex Bruns Pérez
Head of Value Chain Projects
Alex Bruns is responsible for developing and supporting projects along the protein value chain at the German Protein Alliance. He brings the partners involved together, reconciles their different requirements and helps joint projects on their way from raw material to finished product.
Alex Bruns Pérez is responsible for developing and supporting projects across the protein value chain at the German Protein Alliance. He brings together key stakeholders, aligns their requirements and helps turn joint initiatives into practice, from raw materials through to market-ready products.
He has extensive experience in the strategic procurement and sale of plant-based raw materials. His work connects agriculture, commodity trading and product development with the needs of established businesses and start-ups. His previous roles include positions at BayWa AG and Rügenwalder Mühle, where his responsibilities as a project manager included the ‘Regional Soy’ initiative.
His particular focus is on building scalable, commercially viable value chains. This requires raw material availability, processing capabilities, product specifications and market needs to be aligned from the outset.
Email: alex.bruns@proteinallianz.de
Birgit Clausen
Manager, Policy, Strategy, Communications and Networks
Birgit Clausen is responsible for policy, strategy, communications and networks at the German Protein Alliance. She shapes how the association positions itself and communicates, expands the network and supports cross-sector projects and partnerships along the protein value chain.
Birgit Clausen is responsible for policy, strategy, communications and networks at the German Protein Alliance. She shapes the organisation’s strategic positioning and communications, expands its network and supports cross-sector projects and partnerships across the protein value chain.
She holds a German Diplom in Business Administration and has more than 25 years’ experience in communications, brand consultancy and event management. As the owner of b4c – Brands for Consumers, she advises businesses and industry associations in the agri-food sector, as well as state ministries, on positioning and communications.
Before establishing her own business, Birgit held senior roles in food retail, with responsibility for product range management, own-label product development and purchasing. This experience has given her a thorough understanding of retailers’ requirements and what it takes to bring innovative products and concepts to market successfully.
Birgit is committed to ensuring that new protein solutions reflect the needs of consumers, food retailers and institutional caterers from the outset. She sees this market-led approach as essential to turning promising ideas into products that are commercially viable in the long term.
Get involved
Connections create value – let’s build it together.
Would you like to get a project off the ground, share your expertise or join the network? We look forward to speaking with you.
Contact
We look forward to hearing from you.
Deutsche Protein Allianz e. V.
Gottorpstraße 13
26122 Oldenburg