A model farm for a sustainable bioeconomy with agriculture and biorefinery that is unique in Germany is the goal of the "Leibniz Innovation Farm for Sustainable Bioeconomy". The lighthouse project, funded with 25 million € as part of the Brandenburg Future Investment Fund, will be located at the LVAT in Groß Kreutz, Brandenburg. To vitually kick off the project on February 24 and 25, 2021, the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) as the lead institution invited representatives from 13 Leibniz institutions, 5 universities as well as the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK).

"Together we want to research, develop and practically test innovative concepts and technologies that are necessary to realise a sustainable bioeconomy. The aim is to make better use of natural resources here in the Brandenburg region and to jointly develop a holistic approach for a sustainable bio-based circular economy. In this, sustainable agriculture, healthy food, biobased materials and residue management are optimally linked with each other, and the produced biomass remains in the cycle for as long as possible, adding value," said Prof. Dr. Barbara Sturm, Director of the ATB, in her welcoming address. The idea for this model farm was born during the Leibniz Strategy Forum on the conflicting goals of sustainable biomass production. Despite locally specific and global challenges, the Brandenburg region offered special opportunities for a transformation towards a sustainable bioeconomy, for example due to a high density of research institutions and a strong agricultural and food industry as one of the cornerstones of the regional economy.

"We want to realise something that in the end also benefits the farmer, and the consumer as a buyer of the products is just as much a part of it," said the managing director of 'Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt Groß Kreutz e.V.' , Detlef May. This teaching and testing institute in Groß Kreutz is already working with numerous research institutions and is to be expanded over the next five years. The concrete objectives of the Leibniz Innovation Farm are resource-saving crop production, animal-friendly and modern livestock farming, the regional production of healthy food, the use of residual materials for a variety of bio-based materials and energies, the promotion of biodiversity in agriculture and new business models and income opportunities for farmers. A central element of the project is the intensive dialogue with all stakeholders and consumers.

The kick-off meeting offered the project partners the opportunity to exchange ideas, develop new research ideas and plan the next steps for the realisation of the ambitious project.

Contakt: Jessica Lietze
Public relations
Tel.: 0331 5699-819, e-mail: presse@spam.atb-potsdam.de
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy
Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany