The research stations serve as experimental fields and innovation platforms for the Agri-Food-Health Hub and are therefore key to the holistic transformation of food systems—from basic research to practical application.
They fulfill the following important functions and provide essential services:
Real-world laboratory and test site for innovations: The experimental stations are practice-oriented real-world laboratories where new cultivation methods, digitalization, smart farming, and sustainability concepts can be piloted and tested under real-world conditions. Here, innovative production, cultivation, and management systems for crop and livestock production can be tested on a large scale—an essential foundation for systems research and the transformation of food systems.
Infrastructure for interdisciplinary research and teaching: They offer extensive land areas (a total of approximately 773 ha), diverse locations, and operational units (e.g., plant breeding, animal husbandry, biogas, agri-photovoltaics) to carry out interdisciplinary and application-oriented collaborative projects. Researchers from various disciplines (agricultural, food, and environmental sciences; engineering) have access to experimental plots, laboratories, and monitoring technologies.
Transfer to Practice and Demonstration: Results of agricultural research can be directly transferred to and demonstrated in agricultural practice, the food industry, and society—such as resource-efficient production, new varieties, or environmentally friendly management. As a demonstration site, the experimental station makes innovative approaches visible and tangible for external partners (farmers, companies, policymakers).
Support for networking activities: The experimental stations serve as starting points for connecting research, education, and practice within the hub—for example, through workshops, field visits, citizen science, participatory projects, and transdisciplinary dialogue formats. They promote research-based learning and the professional development of young scientists through hands-on training and project work.
Implementation of sustainable innovation concepts: They enable the implementation and scaling of sustainable agricultural systems and production methods in line with food system transformation (e.g., biodiversity, climate resilience, organic farming, dietary diversity).
Below, you can gain insight into our specialized infrastructure