Kick-off event ‘From challenge to opportunity’ – Launch of the EU project GroundWork and for AGRI FUTURE LAB Bavaria pioneer

Agriculture in Transition: From Challenge to Opportunity

Climate change, biodiversity loss and social change present significant challenges to European agriculture. As the interface between humans and nature, agriculture must reconcile ecological stability, economic viability, and social acceptance.

This is where the EU project GroundWork comes in (duration: 2025–2030, total budget: €12 million, of which around €1.5 million is for Bavaria, funding programme: Horizon Europe). This European research and practical project aims to demonstrate how agriculture can become more resilient to climate change while safeguarding soils, biodiversity, and water resources.

Living Labs: real-world laboratories for sustainable agriculture

What sets GroundWork apart is that its research is conducted not only in laboratories, but also directly on real farms. At the heart of the project are five European Living Labs, including one in the Allgäu region. These real-world laboratories bring together 26 partner institutions and 75 livestock farms to test new methods of pasture management and soil cultivation.

The aim is to:

• improve soil health by adapting grazing times and animal densities.
• promote humus formation to store more CO₂ in the soil;
• increase the water retention capacity of the soil, which is particularly important during periods of drought;
• increase biodiversity in grassland areas.

Scientists are monitoring these measures, measuring and evaluating their effects, and developing recommendations based on their findings. This generates practical knowledge that can be transferred to other regions.

Examples of issues that GroundWork is working on include:

• Which grazing systems improve soil structure and promote microorganisms?
• How can adapted management bind more CO₂ in the soil?
• How can feed quality be improved without harming the environment?
• Which economic models make sustainable management profitable?

BayFOR contributes its expertise in setting up such living labs. In its presentation, ‘How does a living lab succeed?’, BayFOR demonstrates how collaboration between research, industry, government and society can accelerate change.

AGRI FUTURE LAB Bavaria: an innovation network for agriculture of the future.

As part of GroundWork, AGRI FUTURE LAB Bavaria (AFL) will be established as a long-term innovation network bringing together stakeholders from agriculture, science, business and politics. The network's goal is to develop practical solutions that will strengthen rural areas, promote biodiversity, and ensure the future viability of agriculture.

Programme highlights

• 13:00 – Arrival and visit to the information stands
• 13:45 – Opening and welcome speeches by Mayor Florian Schmid and political representatives
• 14:00 – Keynote speeches by Christine Bajohr (AERA Land gGmbH), farmer Tobias Ruppaner, and project manager Dr Carmen Schwartz
• 14:45 – Scientific contributions on soil, water, climate, biodiversity and transformation from leading Bavarian experts, including a BayFOR presentation entitled 'How does a living lab succeed?'
• 16:30 – Panel discussion: 'Change in practice – How AGRI FUTURE LAB Bavaria is shaping solutions for tomorrow'
• 17:45 – Closing remarks and dinner (registration required).

The full agenda and further information can be found here.

Event date

Wednesday,12 November 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner

Event location

Gasthof “Goldener Adler”
Hoheneggstraße 25
87480 Weitnau

Registration

Please register here by 30 October 2025.

Contact at BayFOR

Dr Thomas Ammerl
Head of Environment, Energy & Bioeconomy Department
Tel: +49 89 9901888-120
Email: ammerl@bayfor.org