Science & Politics

»Agricultural Systems of the Future« lives the change that the Science Council is calling for

From vision to application

In order to implement our vision for a fair, reliable and responsible agricultural economy, we have identified four transformation paths in “Agricultural Systems of the Future” (AdZ) that are geared towards sustainable agricultural and food systems:

Integrative indoor production systems

Closed, resource-efficient systems for plants and animals, technology-driven and sustainable.

Smart land cultivation & management

Digitalisation, automation & Kl for efficiency and increased sustainability

Regional (material) circulation systems

Recirculation and use of local resources, circular thinking

Healthy & attractive work systems

New working models in the agricultural sector - safe, inclusive, sustainable

The transformation pathways are embedded in overarching EU strategies (Green Deal, Bioeconomy Strategy). With their objectives, they serve as a guideline for the development of systemic solutions.

With the transformation pathways, we are consistently taking the next step: from basic research to the first prototypes to the broad application of technology. Scientific findings gradually lead to innovative practices, economic opportunities are exploited and sustainable agricultural systems are actively shaped. These transformation paths are also to be understood as our bridge between excellent research and successful transfer.

We live what is demanded

This means that “Agricultural Systems of the Future” is in line with current developments in science policy. We are living what the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR) calls for in its current position paper (2024): the implementation of systemic, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and transformation-oriented research in agricultural, food and nutritional sciences. In “Agricultural Systems of the Future”, we are already specifically implementing the five fields of action identified by the Science Council for the sustainable orientation of this research area:

Research

Research infrastructure

Education

Transfer and Innovation

Science communication and policy advice

On the way to the Food Systems Research Hub

“Agricultural Systems of the Future” already fulfills the central requirements of such a hub:

6 consortia
Over 100 partners from science & industry
Systemic ideation processes with roadmaps and work packages

Predestined for long-term sustainability →

For the implementation of systemic, inter- and transdisciplinary as well as transformation-oriented research, the German Council of Science and Humanities recommends the establishment of so-called Food Systems Research Hubs (see p. 29ff. of the WR position paper). These are stably financed networks of strong partner institutions for long-term, systemic research with impact. We are already on this path: six consortia with over 100 partners from science and industry that have undergone a rigorous ideation process: from our vision & mission, the development of transformation pathways to the elaboration of roadmaps and work packages.

This means that “Agricultural Systems of the Future” is predestined to be at least temporarily consolidated into a System Research Hub “Agricultural Systems of the Future” - a logical continuation of the successful first and second funding phases.