Generation change: New scientific management of the Frankenhausen domain

Professor Athmann comes from the University of Bonn. Here she received her doctorate in 2011 with a dissertation on the influence of the crop environment on product quality and subsequently conducted research on increasing nutrient acquisition from the subsoil by optimizing soil structure. At FÖL, she hopes to expand on her previous research on root ecology issues in various crop rotations and mixed crops at the interface of plant and soil sciences, and also establish a broad spectrum of research ranging from crop science to inter- and transdisciplinary research on the design of resilient agroecosystems.

Professor Heß, who took over the department in 1997 in critical times (threatened closure of the department), remains connected to the site in the context of co-supervision of some research projects. His time at the University of Kassel saw the establishment of the Domäne Frankenhausen teaching and experimental farm and a large number of acquired, mainly practice-oriented research projects on plant cultivation topics such as cultivation methods for legumes and potatoes, nutrient management and composting. He was co-author of the Federal Organic Farming Program and co-editor of the Thünen study on the "Benefits of Organic Agriculture for the Environment and Society." He remains active in the organic sector as chairman of the board of FIBL Germany.