The agricultural research centres in Brandenburg and Berlin are the backbone of practical research for local agriculture. In the ‘Workshop on the future vision for field trials’, stakeholders from the agricultural sector recently drew the first lines for an ideal experimental system. The Institute of Food and Environmental Research (ILU) was represented by Maxie Grüter and Julian Delbrügge. Both work for the Coordination Office, which supports the networking of the trial sites, among other things.
15 arable trial sites in Brandenburg for practical agricultural research
There are around a dozen institutes with associated trial sites in the state of Brandenburg. Over 15 arable trial sites are available in Brandenburg for practical agricultural research. This corresponds to an area of 201 hectares, according to Sabrina Scholz, who, together with Maxie Grüter, conducted numerous interviews with those responsible. Scholz is a research assistant at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) specialising in policy and markets in the agricultural and food sector. As part of AnpaG, a project in which expert advice is organised within groups of farmers, she interviewed those responsible for the trial sites in the state, as well as advisors and farmers. The scientist wanted to find out what wishes and demands, but also problems, the stakeholders have. The aim was to strengthen the unique and diverse structure of the agricultural research centres, underpin their importance and develop a common self-image.
Finally, a ‘Future Vision of the Research Centres in Brandenburg’ is to be drawn up in order to prepare these important agricultural research institutions for existing and future challenges.
As part of AnpaG
This vision has now taken shape at a workshop on 16 October. The workshop was organised by Sabrina Scholz with the support of the Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL), which is a partner in the AnpaG project. The organisers had invited representatives of the trial sites, the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture (MLUK), agricultural advisors and representatives of educational institutions and practitioners.
Research centres important for sustainable and successful agriculture in Brandenburg
Sabrina Scholz began by presenting the initial results of her survey. The results show that the trial centres are seen as an extremely important component for sustainable and successful agriculture in Brandenburg. However, an increasing shortage of skilled labour is affecting the work of the research institutes, explained Scholz. It also became clear that the range of programmes on how to successfully transfer knowledge into practice should be expanded. The representatives of the Coordination Office at the ILU, which takes on tasks in this area, declared that they would develop further formats in this regard.
Research projects closer to practice for ideas from farms
In the subsequent workshop, the participants also emphasised that current forms of knowledge transfer into practice do not reach enough farmers. The pooling of field days and new formats, such as online offerings, were suggested. The trial centres would also like to work more closely together. Many participants would also be pleased if research projects were more practice-orientated and if it were possible to respond more quickly to technical suggestions and ideas from farms.
Unique site conditions in Brandenburg
There was a consensus that the diversity of the experimental system in Brandenburg must be maintained and expanded. The joint research work with agricultural practice should be intensified and the potential of the climate-relevant, unique Brandenburg site conditions should be fully utilised.
The representatives decided to continue working on the initiated process. A brochure on the results of the workshop is to be produced.
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