Research

Funding: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR), 684.441 EUR

Project Details:
The "pfloeZ" project aims to sustainably improve the environmental performance of agriculture and optimize nutrient cycles in organic farming systems. The project focuses on the targeted use of biochar to enhance long-term carbon storage in soils, reduce nutrient losses, and promote both soil fertility and animal health.
In organic farming, crop production and livestock farming are closely interconnected: nutrients from animal husbandry are returned to the fields as organic fertilizer. PfloeZ develops innovative approaches in which biochar is used either as a feed additive for livestock or directly in organic fertilizers such as manure and slurry. In this way, the biochar can absorb, store, and gradually release nutrients into the soil as needed. This helps reduce uncontrolled nutrient losses into groundwater and surface waters while simultaneously supporting humus formation and healthy soil microbiology.
PfloeZ therefore provides the foundation for a resource-efficient, climate-oriented, and future-proof agricultural system that supports long-term carbon sequestration, closes nutrient cycles, and promotes healthy, fertile soils.

Cooperation Partners:

Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e.V. (DIL)

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur über die Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 5.035.385 EUR

Project Details:
agri:change addresses the necessary sustainability transformation of Lower Saxony's agriculture and food sector (AgF) and aims to actively shape and promote a sustainable, resilient system - adapted to the specific characteristics of Lower Saxony. Resilience is understood as protecting the ecosystem while maintaining social responsibility and economic viability.
In agri:change, a targeted transdisciplinary and systemic approach is taken to develop resource-saving solutions, offerings, products and concepts that simultaneously maintain and expand income and value creation.

Goal 1: Understanding and shaping transformation processes, managing sustainability innovations in value creation systems
Goal 2: Using resources in a circular manner, shaping animal husbandry in the context of a circular economy that conserves nature, the environment and resources, and holistic material and by-product management
Goal 3: Improve animal welfare, provide optimal husbandry conditions for farm animals
Goal 4: Develop innovative AgF business areas. Develop and test innovative business areas for new sources of income in the agricultural and food sector (AgF)
Goal 5: Promote acceptance and sustainability skills, advance education and participation.

These goals are addressed in four agri:labs and the associated issues:
agri:lab X1 | Sustainable value creation systems and sustainability transparency
agri:lab X2 | Livestock farming under Nature Restoration Law conditions
agri:lab X3 | Upcycling of plant and animal by-products
agri:lab X4 | Integrated agricultural landscape development
as well as cross-cutting topics across agri:labs:
- Macro connections for markets and the environment
- Acceptance of transformative processes and developments
- Legal framework for the AgF data space.

Cooperation Partners:

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Universität Osnabrück

Universität Vechta | trafo:agrar

Funding: Gefördert durch die Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, beauftragt durch das Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat; Förderkennzeichen: 281E309A24, 370.838 EUR

Project Details:
Ziel des Projektes ist die Entwicklung eines innovativen Produkts für eine effiziente, resiliente und nachhaltige (umwelt- und ressourcenschonende) Verwendung der Zinkverbindungen zur Optimierung der Zinkversorgung von Legehennen.

Cooperation Partners:

MIAVIT GmbH

Funding: Drittmittelprojekt, gefördert durch gefördert im Rahmen der Europäischen Innovationspartnerschaft "Produktivität und Nachhaltigkeit in der Landwirtschaft" (EIP-Agri), 410.450 EUR

Project Details:
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Cooperation Partners:

Betrieb Scholten, Betrieb Föcke, BHZP GmbH, Förderverein Bioökonomie e.V., Schweinegesundheitsdienst Niedersachsen

Funding: Nds. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur über Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 1.811.726 EUR

Project Details:
This initial project within the ZERN research and transfer network is dealing with the future-oriented keeping and use of fattening pigs. There are deficits in current fattening pig husbandry, particularly in the areas of animal welfare, emissions and nutrient efficiency. This project has therefore set the objective of scientifically evaluating relevant aspects of sustainable pork production synergistically and gaining new, practice-relevant knowledge.

Cooperation Partners:

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL)

Project Details:
Im Rahmen der Dienstleistungen werden kontinuierlich Proben diverser Futtermittel (inkl. Tränkwasser) von Tierhaltern und Tierärzten auf ihre chemische Zusammensetzung, aber auch hinsichtlich ihrer hygienischen Qualität untersucht und bewertet. In entsprechenden Intervallen erfolgen dann Auswertungen, wobei die vorberichtlichen Informationen im Kontext zu den Untersuchungsergebnissen berücksichtigt werden. Auf diese Weise entstehen nicht zuletzt Kasuistiken, die für die Ausbildung der Studierenden, aber auch für die Fortbildung von Tierärzten, Tierhaltern oder auch Mischfutterherstellern von größtem Wert und Nutzen sind.

Funding: Teilprojekt gefördert aus Mitteln des Nds. Ministeriums für Wissenschaft und Kultur im Rahmen des Forschungsverbundprojekts "Institute of Biomedical Translation Lower Saxony (IBT)", weitergeleitet durch die Niedersachsen.next GmbH und das HZI, 316.191 EUR

Project Details:
Ziel dieses Projekts ist die Entwicklung eines lebenden biotherapeutischen Produkts zur gezielten Dekolonisierung des Darms von gramnegativen multiresistenten Bakterien.

Cooperation Partners:

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) GmbH;

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)

Funding: BB horses GmbH & Co. KG, 58.390 EUR

Project Details:
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Funding: QS-Wissenschaftsfonds, 34.980 EUR

Project Details:
As part of the project, a practical feeding concept will be developed that utilizes a protein-rich by-product stream from insect production and, while taking ecological and economic aspects into account, enhances food safety by reducing zoonotic pathogens in fresh poultry products.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 630.245 EUR

Project Details:
The FUETURE project aims to efficiently utilize regional feed resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency in broiler chicken production. It seeks to develop an innovative approach based on the use of adaptable and resilient sustainably cultivated feed crops and previously underutilized domestic crops. Sustainability will be strengthened by reducing imports of unsustainable soy products from overseas. The scientific objective is to formulate regional feed rations taking into account sustainability criteria and the availability of co-products to reduce the environmental footprint of chicken meat. The environmental impact will be significantly reduced through innovative feed technology and precise supplementation of feed additives. The project aims to strengthen more sustainable regional food production and supports the German sustainability strategy.

Cooperation Partners:

KWS Lochow GmbH, Technische Hochschule Bingen, IFF Braunschweig