Lower Saxony is investing 313,000 euros in innovative agricultural research!

Lower Saxony is investing 313,000 euros in innovative agricultural research!

The “trafo:agrar” research network at the University of Vechta has received significant funding of 313,000 euros from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. This financial support was announced on February 18, 2025 by Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte to Dr. Handed over to Barbara Grabkowsky. The funding aims to efficiently transfer research results into practice, enabling faster and more effective implementation of solutions in agriculture. Lower Saxony is thus taking an important step towards transforming the agricultural and food sector.

The central challenge in this area lies in a variety of topics: climate change, species extinction, food security and the increasing demand for sustainable food. The Lower Saxony agricultural sector also faces uncertain markets. An interdisciplinary team of agricultural scientists, ecologists, economists and technology developers will work together on practical solutions that combine ecological, social and economic aspects. The overarching goal of “trafo:agrar” is to establish resilient agricultural systems.

Research priorities and projects

The network's ongoing research projects deal with central topics such as the future of livestock farming, the digitalization of value chains, climate resilience and the sustainable use of resources. In particular, work is being done on biodiversity in grassland management and on the digitalization of agroforestry systems. Another focus is on the careful use of water on farms.

The association consists not only of the University of Vechta, but also of prominent partners such as the Georg-August University of Göttingen, the Hanover Veterinary University Foundation and the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture. In addition, the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Agricultural and Nutrition Forum Nord-West e.V. and the WWF are part of the supra-regional network. Further information is available on the websites www.uni-vechta.de/trafoagrar and www.trafo-agrar.de available.

Innovation Center for Agricultural System Transformation

In parallel with the funding of the “trafo:agrar” association, the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has received approval for the “Innovation Center for Agricultural System Transformation” (IAT). This initiative will work closely with the Justus Liebig University of Gießen, the University of Kassel and the Geisenheim University. The IAT is planned to open at ZALF locations in Brandenburg and in three new locations in Hesse in 2026. Five regional real-world laboratories are to be developed to address agricultural issues under real conditions.

The IAT's research areas include integrated animal-plant systems, organic agriculture and climate-resilient viticulture. With funding of 9.5 million euros annually, granted by the Joint Science Conference, the aim is to sustainably expand research capacities. The aim is to carry out systematic research in cooperation with non-scientific actors.

Challenges in agriculture

The challenges facing agriculture are complex and affect not only yields, but also the environment. Intensive agriculture can contribute to accelerating climate change and damaging ecosystems. Undesirable environmental impacts include land use change, soil erosion, and excessive water use and pollution. These problems endanger agricultural production and human health.

As part of the research area “Agriculture, Climate and Ecosystems”, conflicts between sustainability dimensions are examined in order to produce healthy and sustainable food. The research looks at processes at different levels: from plant and animal cells to agricultural operations and entire ecosystems. The aim is to develop more resilient and productive agricultural systems that protect the climate and ecosystems. Regular exchange with interest groups is essential in order to develop improved management and technological solutions.