Support making RiG more international!
Take part in our online survey at the end of your visit and share your valuable experiences and opinions. Duration: 7-10 min.
.jpg)
Agriculture and food sciences
This November, we explore how cutting-edge research across Germany is rethinking the future of farming and food. At Forschungszentrum Jülich, the AgraSim platform simulates future climate conditions to refine agricultural and climate models. At the Forschungscampus Mittelhessen, the Center for Sustainable Food Systems (ZNE) at Justus Liebig University Giessen investigates how plant-based diets and sustainable production can transform global food systems. Meanwhile, OTH Regensburg’s ELISE robot measures soil biodiversity without chemicals, offering new insights into soil health and plant resilience. Together, these projects highlight how German research is driving innovation for a more sustainable, resilient, and climate-smart food future.
Unveiling Soil Biodiversity with ELISE, an Electronical Lab for Intelligent Soil Examination
One of the key components for successful plant growth is soil biodiversity. The ratio of fungi to bacteria plays a particularly important role here, as it significantly influences plant growth and resilience to pests and diseases.
Until now, this ratio could only be determined through chemical analysis. The research project ELISE (Electronical Lab for Intelligent Soil Examination) has changed that. Hermann Ketterl, Professor for Measurement and Control Technology at OTH Regensburg and his team developed an innovative method to precisely measure the fungus-bacteria ratio without the use of chemical processes.
Learn more about their research here.
Transforming Our Food Systems Through Transdisciplinary Research
There is broad scientific consensus about the negative impacts that most food systems are having on climate change, biodiversity, healthy diets, and livelihoods, yet food systems are essential for the sustenance of humanity. To identify solutions to this tension, researchers at the Center for Sustainable Food Systems (ZNE) at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen work toward food system transformation.
Prof. Dr. Ramona Teuber, speaker of the ZNE Executive Board and head of the Chair for Agricultural and Food Market Analysis at JLU Giessen outlines the approach at the Center: “Food system transformation refers to the transition toward more sustainable food systems capable of addressing both current and future challenges. Contemporary food systems face critical environmental pressures, including climate change and biodiversity loss, alongside health challenges associated with diet-related diseases. Reducing the consumption of animal products and promoting plant-based diets represent key pathways to lowering environmental impacts, improving public health, and fostering overall sustainability.”
Explore how researchers at the ZNE contribute to a more sustainable future of food here.
AgraSim: Research Platform Simulates Climate Effects on Agriculture
With the plant chamber AgraSim, the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Agrosphere (IBG-3) at Forschungszentrum Jülich now has a globally unique infrastructure at its disposal, enabling researchers to investigate the effects of future climate and environmental conditions on agroecosystems and to derive measures for optimizing global ecosystem and climate models. Learn more about AgraSim.
