On November 5 and 6, 2025, the nationwide network meeting of the European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability” (EIP-Agri) took place at the Wälderhaus Hamburg. Under the motto “Tackling climate change with innovation,” stakeholders from the fields of practice, research, consulting, and administration came together to discuss current challenges and solutions for sustainable agriculture.
The first day began with optional excursions: a climate city tour of Hamburg and insights into the Science Center at the Wälderhaus in Hamburg. Dr. Leonie Göbel (DVS) then opened the event. In the following keynote speech, Peter Poete, Head of Division 825 at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Home Affairs, emphasized the importance of innovation for the sustainable transformation of agriculture.
The subsequent presentations and panel discussion highlighted a wide range of innovative approaches that are being tested and implemented in EIP projects. After an introduction by Dr. Bernhard Osterburg (Thünen Institute) on current challenges in climate protection, Tim Müller (Milchteam Müller agricultural business, EIP project UMZOG) presented cooperative moorland use in the Oldenburg Graben.
Michael Diestel (Agrokraft GmbH) then explained the potential of hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge for fertilizer production and presented the associated EIP project.
Short pitches and topic-specific workshops gave participants practical insights into innovation processes, market stabilization, climate communication, and climate-adapted management strategies. A central part of the program was the innovation market, which intensively promoted exchange between projects, initiatives, and interested parties and initiated new collaborations.
The second day of the event focused on the adaptation of agricultural and forestry systems to the consequences of climate change and successfully tested practical examples. Felix Riecken (Rieckens Eichhof) introduced the topic with experiences from his farm.
The “RoboForest” innovation project showed how robot-assisted systems and sensor data can be used for clearing and vitality control of forest seedlings. Thomas Linkugel (HAWK) and Christoph zu Stolberg presented the current state of development and the technical possibilities of the robotics solution. In addition, organic farmer Maximilian Kainz presented strategies for climate-resilient potato cultivation, illustrating how farms are coping with increasing weather extremes. The panel discussion was moderated by Markus Hartmann from the Innovation Office at the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Agriculture.
The workshops once again provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange between participants. The event concluded with a joint plenary session, which not only summarized the key findings but also looked ahead to the future of EIP Agri in the coming years, particularly for the period after 2027.
The network meeting showed how diverse and effective innovations are already being used in practice – from new technologies and adapted farming methods to cooperative project approaches.
We would like to thank the German Networking Agency for Rural Areas and all those involved who organized the event and contributed to a successful exchange. The event documentation can be found on the DVS website.