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Field day Domäne Frankenhausen
Field Day in Frankenhausen
Climate Adaptation in Organic Vegetable Farming
When: September 30, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Frankenhausen Estate
The University of Kassel’s field day at the Frankenhausen Estate will showcase practical approaches to climate adaptation in organic vegetable farming. The focus will be on current research projects related to soil fertility, water management, biodiversity-promoting cultivation systems, and resilient crops and varieties.
Extreme weather events such as droughts, heavy rainfall, and heat waves are posing increasing challenges to vegetable farming. At the same time, the need for resource-efficient and climate-adapted production systems is growing. During the field day, experiments and strategies will be presented that can help use water more efficiently, improve soil fertility, make crop stands more resilient, and ensure stable, long-term yields in organic vegetable farming.
The event brings together science, practice, and consulting. At four field stations and two demonstration stations, ongoing experiments, demonstration materials, and practical approaches will be presented directly in the field. Due to the sometimes long distances between stations, sturdy footwear is recommended. In addition to the guided tours, there will be opportunities to discuss specific measures and their practical applicability.
Field Stations and Demonstration Stations
The content of the field day will be presented at four field stations and two demonstration stations. Various approaches to climate adaptation in organic vegetable farming will be showcased through ongoing experiments, demonstration materials, and practical examples.
Program
10:00 a.m. Arrival and coffee
10:30 a.m. Welcome and introduction
11:00 a.m. Start of field tours
The content will be presented at four field stations and two demonstration stations. Please note that there may be some longer walking distances between the individual stations.
1:00 p.m. Lunch break
2:00 p.m. Continuation of the field stations and group discussion
4:00 p.m. Closing remarks over coffee
Venue
Frankenhausen Estate
Frankenhausen 2
34292 Grebenstein
Field Trials and Projects
The ROBUSTGemüse project investigates strategies to strengthen the resilience of organic open-field vegetable farms against climate change, new pests, and resource scarcity. In Frankenhausen, various mulch materials and cover cropping methods are being tested for water and nutrient efficiency as well as soil protection.
The European HydroSoilWise project focuses on improving soil health and water management in horticulture and agriculture. It showcases trials on cover crops and measures to increase organic matter in the soil in order to improve water retention, soil structure, and climate resilience.
GROUND2LIVE develops innovative strategies for soil cover in vegetable production systems. The focus is on undersowing and cover crops to promote soil quality, biodiversity, and nutrient efficiency while ensuring productivity. In Hesse, the Hesse Practical Research Network is conducting research on undersowing in winter leeks with 8 farms.
ÖkoBoden4Resilienz (2022–2025) – PFN Hessen
Results from the completed ÖkoBoden4Resilienz project by PFN Hessen show how green waste and livestock manure composts, as well as various cover crops, can influence water-holding capacity, soil fertility, and humus formation, thereby contributing to the resilience of cropping systems under drought and heat stress.
OekoTom – Open-Field Tomato Project
The OekoTom open-field tomato project is developing robust tomato varieties for organic open-field cultivation. Various open-field tomato varieties will be presented, along with approaches to improving drought stress tolerance and plant health.
ZUG – Breeding of Reproducible Cucumber Rootstocks
The ZUG project is developing open-pollinated and resistant cucurbit rootstocks for organic cucumber production. The presentation will feature various rootstocks as well as approaches to promoting plant health and independence in organic vegetable breeding.
The Bio-Klima-Gemüse project investigates how regional organic vegetable farming can adapt to climate change and what role consumption, value chains, and cultivation systems play in this process. The focus is on climate-adapted production and marketing strategies.
The ADAPT project investigates measures for adapting to drought and extreme weather events. It presents experiments and demonstration materials on resilient soil-plant systems and water management under climate stress.
IAT
At the new Innovation Center for Agricultural System Transformation —IAT North Hesse—practitioners and researchers identify, investigate, and implement forward-looking questions. In the real-world laboratories, long-term cooperative structures are established with relevant stakeholders from land use, politics, and regional practice.
ALTOKA
ALTOKA is developing Alternaria-tolerant carrot varieties for organic farming and juice production. The presentation will cover approaches to promoting robust crops and reducing the need for plant protection measures.
Registration and Costs
There is no participation fee. Lunch can be provided on-site for €17.50 (registration by September 23, 2026).
To register, visit: https://veranstaltungen.uni-kassel.de/event/klimaanpassung-im-oeko-gemuesebau