GreenGrass
Innovative use of grassland for the sustainable intensification of agriculture at the landscape scale
GreenGrass stands for innovative solutions in pasture farming and is committed to making agriculture more sustainable, animal welfare-friendly and efficient. The aim is to use modern technologies such as virtual fences and intelligent data analysis to make pasture farming fit for the future - for the benefit of farmers, animals, the environment and society.
Grassland areas on the decline
Grasslands have been a defining element of cultural landscapes for centuries and provide a habitat for an extraordinary diversity of species. This biodiversity is closely linked to grazing by livestock. However, grassland areas are currently continuing to decline - with serious consequences for ecosystem services such as biodiversity, climate protection and the water balance. A turnaround is urgently needed to preserve the ecological, economic and cultural importance of grassland.
Trendsetting technologies for the preservation of grassland
GreenGrass is developing and testing virtual fencing systems for cattle that are revolutionizing pasture management. Animals wear special collars, which use signals to determine the direction of grazing - without any physical fences. In addition, drones and satellite images are used to record the seasonal feed supply, biomass and biodiversity on the land. This data is fed into a digital decision support system (SMI), which provides farmers with suggestions for optimal, animal- and environmentally-friendly grazing. This allows high-quality pasture products to be produced while reducing labor and costs. The digitalization of pasture management also helps to mitigate the consequences of climate change by improving ecosystem services.
In the first funding phase, GreenGrass was able to demonstrate that virtual fencing with cattle works safely and in an animal welfare-friendly manner. The developed prototype of the collar was successfully tested and extends existing technologies. The combination of remote sensing data and operational data opened up new possibilities for optimizing pasture management both ecologically and economically.
Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Johannes Isselstein
Department of Crop Sciences
University of Göttingen
Von-Siebold-Str. 8
37075 Göttingen
Tel.: +49(0) 551 39-24375
E-Mail: jissels@gwdg.de
www.greengrass-project.de
Project partners
University of Göttingen
Humboldt University of Berlin
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg
Giessen University
University of Hohenheim
University of Cologne
horizont group GmbH
Texas Trading GmbH
Grünlandzentrum Niedersachsen/Bremen e.V.
In the coming years, GreenGrass will continue to increase its technological maturity. The aim is to carry out practical tests in living labs under real conditions. Challenges such as network coverage, legal framework conditions and economic viability will also be addressed. GreenGrass relies on the early involvement of important stakeholder groups such as trade, advisory services, animal welfare and consumers in order to strengthen acceptance and marketability.
In order to achieve forward-looking and sustainable pasture management and preserve grassland, GreenGrass integrates transdisciplinary expertise from all relevant areas along the entire value chain: from grassland research, landscape ecology, remote sensing and IT to environmental and business management, agricultural policy and transformation research.
Broad applicability and social benefits
The concept can be applied to the entire spectrum of grazing animal husbandry - from intensive dairy farming to nature conservation-oriented landscape management. Efficient agri-environmental programs and innovative premium systems reward farmers appropriately for environmental services and promote the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This gives high-quality pasture products better marketing opportunities and contributes to a modern image of age.