Food Campus Berlin: A Quarter of Its Original Size, New Location, and Leadership Change
Berlin, September 6, 2026 – The ambitious Food Campus Berlin project, envisioned as a major hub for the food industry, is undergoing substantial changes. After years of planning and delays, the project will be significantly scaled down, moved from its original Tempelhof location, and will see a change in its operational leadership. Lia Carlucci, the current CEO, has stepped down from her operational role.
Project Shrinks to a Quarter of Its Original Size
Initially, the Food Campus Berlin was planned to occupy approximately 40,000 square meters on an industrial brownfield site along the Teltow Canal in Tempelhof. The vision included laboratories, offices, test kitchens, production areas, and event spaces, aiming to bring together research, businesses, startups, and food production under one roof.
However, the project’s scope has been drastically reduced. According to reports from “Lebensmittel Praxis,” the Food Campus Berlin will now encompass only around 10,000 square meters, representing a quarter of its original planned volume. The new concept, however, is designed to be modular and expandable in the future. The reasons cited for this substantial reduction include increased interest rates, rising construction costs, and banks’ reluctance to finance large-scale real estate projects.
Relocation from Tempelhof Due to Centrality Concerns
A more fundamental change is the relocation of the project. The previously designated site in Tempelhof is no longer considered viable. Potential tenants reportedly found the location insufficiently central, and there was a lack of readily available housing options for employees and international research guests in the vicinity. Concrete negotiations are currently underway for a more central location within Berlin, though the specific site has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Leadership Transition at the Helm
In parallel with these reconfigurations, the leadership of the Food Campus Berlin is also changing. Lia Carlucci, who took over the operational management from Jörg Reuter approximately two years ago and was previously a member of the advisory board, relinquished her operational duties at the end of August 2026. Carlucci will initially remain involved with the project in an advisory capacity on the board. The operational responsibility will now revert to Artprojekt’s project development team.
Content Focus Remains, Future Timeline Uncertain
Despite the significant structural changes, the core content and objectives of the Food Campus Berlin are expected to continue. The project plans to establish competence centers focusing on areas such as “Food as Medicine,” nutritional resilience, and “Circular Food.” This shift emphasizes a network of specialized areas. The previous concept already integrated research, production, and businesses, focusing on alternative proteins, personalized nutrition, circular economy principles, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
The timeline for the construction of the scaled-down Food Campus remains uncertain. According to “Lebensmittel Praxis,” food-related events and the project’s newsletter will only resume once an opening date becomes foreseeable. The State of Berlin continues to support the initiative.
Original Location and Future Prospects
The Food Campus Berlin was initially planned along the Teltow Canal in Tempelhof. The revised, smaller project is now slated for a more central location within Berlin. The project’s evolution reflects the dynamic challenges of urban development and the real estate market, particularly in a city like Berlin.
Sources: Lebensmittel Praxis, Food Campus Berlin, WISTA Management GmbH
