August 31, 2016: From 1st of September 2016 on, the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim has a new name: "Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)". The acronym ATB is still valid.  

ATB has provided scientific contributions to technical and technological innovations for the bioeconomy for many years. With the new name "Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)" the institute aims at improving the visibility of its long-standing research orientation on bio-economic production systems.

The major objective of ATB research is the development of site-specific, bio-economic value networks that follow the basic principles of a sustainable biobased economy with a priority on food security, stabilization of yield levels, cascadic use of renewables and residual materials, implementation of closed substance cycles, and maintaining biodiversity. ATB thus follows the objectives defined by the German National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 (Federal Ministry of Education and Research, 2010) and the National Policy Strategy on Bioeconomy (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, 2013) as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (2012). 

High expectations are attached to the bioeconomy. Its implementation should enable us to appropriately meet the great challenges of the 21st century: securing the global supply of food, bio-based materials and energy, protecting our natural resources, and adapting to climate change. In this respect, the accumulation of biomass in soils and durable products to reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere are major concerns.

ATB’s specific scientific expertise lies in the development of technical and technological solutions for bio-economic production systems. This includes the development and evaluation of agricultural production methods as well as biotechnological processes which make use of agriculturally produced biomass. Examples are the biotechnological production of lactic acid from agricultural residues or food waste for the processing into biopolymers, as well as biogas production.

„It is not just about the more efficient use of resources. Sustainable intensification of bio-economic production systems also means providing ‚more knowledge per hectare‘ or ‚more knowledge per unit biomass‘“, explains ATB’s scientific director Prof. Dr. Reiner Brunsch. „In an active transformation process we have focussed our research on bio-economic production systems and continuously developed our research structure and resources. As an example we expanded our scientific expertise in the field of data science in agriculture which opens up new opportunities for the advancement of bioeconomy in terms of the digital transformation, e. g. for implementing ‘Agriculture 4.0'", adds Prof. Dr. Brunsch.

The institute’s research focuses on selected production systems in bio-economic value networks, a. o. the systems precision plant production, innovative animal husbandry, bio-refineries, and insects as a resource. ATB follows a systems-oriented research approach - from the basic research to the transfer of knowledge into practice.

The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) is a nationally and internationally acting research centre at the interface of biological and technical systems. Our research aims at sustainable intensification. We analyze, model and evaluate bio-economic production systems. We develop and integrate new technologies and management strategies for a knowledge-based, site-specific production of biomass, and its use for food, as raw materials and fuels - from basic research to application. Thus we are contributing to food security, animal welfare, the holistic use of biomass, and the protection of climate and environment.

Please note: 

The new name Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) is valid from 1st of September 2016 on. The acronym ATB is maintained.

Contact:  

Helene Foltan and Susen Rumposch – Public relations
Tel.: 0331 5699-820, Email: presse@spam.atb-potsdam.de 
Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB)
Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
www.atb-potsdam.de 

The Leibniz Association connects 88 independent research institutions that range in focus from the natural, engineering and environmental sciences via economics, spatial and social sciences to the humanities. Leibniz institutes address issues of social, economic and ecological relevance. They conduct knowledge-driven and applied basic research, maintain scientific infrastructure and provide research-based services. 
The Leibniz Association identifies focus areas for knowledge transfer to policy-makers, academia, business and the public. Leibniz institutions collaborate intensively with universities – in the form of “Leibniz ScienceCampi” (thematic partnerships between university and non-university research institutes), for example – as well as with industry and other partners at home and abroad. 
They are subject to an independent evaluation procedure that is unparalleled in its transparency. Due to the  importance of the institutions for the country as a whole, they are funded jointly by the Federation and the Länder, employing some 18,500 individuals, including 9,300 researchers. The entire budget of all the institutes is approximately 1.7 billion EUR.