On 10 May 2021, two new EIP-Agri projects received their notifications from the Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Claudia Dalbert. The Minister praised the projects in her speech: "Agriculture needs nature conservation, needs healthy soils, clean air and clean water. Agriculture can itself make a major contribution to climate protection and the preservation of biodiversity. Promising ideas that break new ground are on the table. I am pleased that we are now funding two innovative projects that think climate protection, soil protection and renewable energies together!"
The innovation projects address current challenges facing agriculture in Saxony-Anhalt: The OG "Black Wood Agrar Solar" aims to further develop and evaluate existing methods of agri-photovoltaic systems (APV) with regard to their agronomic and ecological benefits. For this purpose, production-side advantages are to be investigated using so-called tracker modules, which align themselves according to the position of the sun, in combination with subsurface drip irrigation (UTB). The combination of energy and crop production on one area also promises to mitigate existing land competition.
The OG "MC Environmental and Soil Management" also contributes to the adaptation of the sector to the consequences of climate change. Through an innovative composting process (MC composting), carbon of the biomass from primary agricultural production is to be bound in the soil as "permanent humus". The advantage of the process lies in the storage of carbon in the soil, increased soil fertility and safeguarding productivity with reduced tillage and fertiliser use.
Further information on the projects and EIP-Agri in Saxony-Anhalt:
https://mule.sachsen-anhalt.de/landwirtschaft/europaeische-innovationspartnerschaften/
Contact persons at IfLS: Oliver Müller (mueller[at]ifls.de) and Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)
