From digitalization and AI to biodiversity and food research, and on to algae production and mixed reality: At the 20th anniversary celebration of the Leibniz Association’s European Office in Brussels, the «Agricultural Systems of the Future» initiative, together with the DAKIS and food4future consortia, presented a wide range of approaches for the agricultural and food systems of tomorrow.
A special highlight of the evening was the mixed-reality application from food4future: Even Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the Leibniz Association, couldn’t resist putting on the VR headset and exploring the futuristic spaces of “Food Visions” for himself.
food4future coordinator Prof. Dr. Schreiner summarized the approach: “With food4future, we strike the right balance between research, application, and food security. Using immersive technologies, we’ve made it possible to take a real deep dive into our research.”
Presenting Joint Research in Europe
From digital agricultural systems to AI-supported biodiversity monitoring and nutrition research, all the way to alternative food resources and mixed reality, the joint presentation in Brussels showcased the thematic diversity of “Agricultural Systems of the Future.”Z
On September 1, 2026, the Leibniz Association celebrated the 20th anniversary of its European office under the title “Celebrating 20 Years of Leibniz in Brussels.” Representatives from the fields of science, politics, and business gathered at the Baden-Württemberg State Representation in Brussels to discuss the role of research and innovation in Europe’s future.
Also in attendance were the «Agricultural Systems of the Future» initiative, along with the consortia DAKIS—Digital Knowledge and Information System for Agriculture—and food4future (f4f). The research activities were presented by the participating Leibniz Institutes: the Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ), the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE), and the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF).
“Theoria cum praxi” – Research for Europe’s Future
The anniversary event was opened by Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research, and the Arts for Baden-Württemberg, and Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the Leibniz Association.
The keynote address by Prof. Dr. Irene Bertschek, Chair of the Expert Commission on Research and Innovation (EFI), and the subsequent panel discussion titled “Theoria cum praxi: Competitiveness, Sovereignty, and Society in Transition” focused on a central question: How can research and innovation strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and social cohesion?
Agricultural and bioeconomy research was also represented on the panel by Prof. Dr. Barbara Sturm, Vice President of the Leibniz Association and Scientific Director of the ATB.
The reception that followed, featuring an exhibition of selected Leibniz research activities, provided an opportunity to experience research firsthand and engage in conversation with representatives from academia, politics, and the European research and innovation community.
Visualizing the Agricultural and Food Systems of the Future
With its poster presentation, DAKIS highlighted current developments and new approaches to the digitalization of agricultural systems and demonstrated the role digital solutions can play in sustainable and future-proof agriculture. food4future presented a new perspective on the resource-efficient production of alternative food resources with an algae reactor and allowed visitors to immerse themselves in possible futures of nutrition using the mixed-reality application “Food Visions.” The participating Leibniz Institutes also brought their research to life in Brussels: As part of food4future, the IGZ presented the algae reactor; the DIfE used the Veggie Meter to make nutrition research immediately tangible; the ATB demonstrated an AI-based image processing program for identifying biodiversity indicators using drone imagery; and the ZALF showcased its expertise within the framework of DAKIS and the digitalization of sustainable agricultural systems.
A special highlight of the evening was the mixed-reality application from food4future: Even Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the Leibniz Association, couldn’t resist putting on the VR headset and exploring the futuristic spaces of “Food Visions” for himself.
food4future coordinator Prof. Dr. Schreiner summarized the approach: “With food4future, we strike the right balance between research, application, and food security. Using immersive technologies, we’ve made it possible to take a real deep dive into our research.”
Presenting Joint Research in Europe
From digital agricultural systems to AI-supported biodiversity monitoring and nutrition research, all the way to alternative food resources and mixed reality, the joint presentation in Brussels showcased the thematic diversity of «Agricultural Systems of the Future».
Posters, demonstrations, and interactive applications provided numerous opportunities for discussion and highlighted just how diverse the scientific approaches to more resilient and sustainable agricultural and food systems can be.
The anniversary celebration provided a special setting to highlight research approaches for the agricultural systems of the future in a European context, to forge new connections, and to discuss the transfer of scientific findings into practice with representatives from academia, politics, and the innovation sector.
We would like to thank the Leibniz Association, the Baden-Württemberg State Representation in Brussels, and all participants for a successful anniversary evening, the inspiring panel discussion, and the many exciting conversations and encounters.
We are delighted that «Agricultural Systems of the Future», together with DAKIS, food4future, IGZ, ATB, DIfE, and ZALF, was able to be part of this special evening.
