ReAgt4Oeko project

Department of Organic Farming and Crop Production, contact Birge Wolf / Thorsten Michaelis

Department of Grassland Science and Renewable Resources: Contact person Dr. Rüdiger Graß

The practical research network aims to make comprehensive use of the resilience potential of agroforestry for organic farming. In a network of around 20 practical farms with already established agroforestry systems in three regions (north-east, center, south), research is to be carried out into how the ecological and economic resilience of organic farming to climate change can be increased through agroforestry.

The issues to be investigated were already coordinated with practical farms during the outline phase. In crop production, the focus is on improving soil and plant health and their effect on yield. In animal husbandry, the reduction of heat stress and improved nitrogen distribution on the land in housing systems for grazing cattle and laying hens as well as the use of leafy fodder are being researched. Scientific analyses are combined with empirical knowledge and practice-oriented monitoring. All information is integrated and then economically analyzed. The results on the topics of economics, ecosystem services, scalability, conflicting objectives and best-case analyses are incorporated into the further development of existing open source tools for planning in consulting and practice. Comprehensive consulting for the companies ensures the mutual transfer of practical knowledge and project results, practice-relevant research questions and reflected solution proposals. The transfer includes a regional, collegial exchange of knowledge between the companies, supra-regional thematic hubs and upscaling via practical formats and materials. These will be made freely accessible on a permanent basis as well as being disseminated extensively and over the long term through the involvement of multipliers. The network will be established using impact-oriented, participatory methods and will be geared towards sustainability from the outset through close cooperation with around 20 associated partners from networks, research, consulting and transfer.