INCREASE Beans Shine on German TV: “Das perfekte Chili” Enthralls 900,000 Viewers
On 27 October 2025, the INCREASE project took centre stage in the popular VOX TV show Lege kommt auf den Geschmack (“Lege acquires a taste for it”), where Germany’s renowned product developer Sebastian Lege set out to create “Das perfekte Chili” – the perfect chili con carne.
As part of this episode, Lege visited the IPK gene bank to explore the diversity of bean varieties preserved there, tasting several traditional types in search of the perfect match for his chili masterpiece. Among them were INCREASE beans, whose unique flavours and textures contributed to creating the ultimate chili dish.
The episode also featured Dr Kerstin Neumann, Coordinator of the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment (CSE), who joined the expert jury to evaluate the dishes and determine if Lege’s chili truly deserved the title “Das perfekte Chili”.
With 900,000 viewers tuning in, and a remarkable 10 percent market share among the 14- to 49-year-olds – the highest rating ever achieved by the show – the episode reached a broad audience and offered an engaging glimpse into the power of biodiversity in everyday cuisine.
“It’s fantastic to see INCREASE beans celebrated in such a popular format,” says Dr Neumann. “Their diversity doesn’t just enrich our research – it also brings flavour, sustainability and creativity into the kitchen.”
This collaboration with VOX highlights how INCREASE bridges science and society by demonstrating the culinary potential of genetic diversity in legumes. Through media features like this, the project continues to inspire curiosity about sustainable food systems and the importance of crop diversity.
The full episode “Das perfekte Chili” can be watched online via RTL+ (in German only).
INCREASE Featured in ARTE Documentary
In 2024, INCREASE also took centre stage in the ARTE documentary “Superfood Beans”. The 52-minute film follows INCREASE scientists and citizen participants across Europe as they explore the remarkable diversity of beans and their potential for the future of sustainable food systems.
Produced by MDR for ARTE, the documentary is currently available to watch online via the ARD Mediathek (in German and French).