Robots, sensors, drones and artificial intelligence (AI) already offer agriculture the opportunity to make work in the field and in the barn more efficient and sustainable. The use of these digital helpers is now being specifically supported in Lower Saxony as part of two major projects to drive forward the transformation of the agricultural and food industry in the state. The funding totalling 43.6 million euros is being provided by zukunft.niedersachsen - an economic development programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.

Establishment of Agri-Labs

Around 24.8 million euros are being channelled into the ‘Agri:change - Future through change: sustainability transformation of the agricultural and food industry in Lower Saxony’ project. Under the leadership of the University of Göttingen, so-called agri:labs will be created over the next five years. Practical and transdisciplinary solutions as well as products and concepts will be developed here - for example to assess sustainability along the entire value chain or to identify social trends that provide impetus for change. It is also about innovative business models for a cycle-orientated use of resources, improved animal welfare and new sources of income in agriculture.

Living labs for AI research

The second major project is focussed on the use of AI. The project entitled ‘KI Reallabor Agrar’, led by the University of Osnabrück, is being funded with around 18.9 million euros. Together with seven collaborative partners, living labs are to be set up here to enable research into basic AI and robotics elements. It builds on existing networks and structures and develops them further.

Investing in food security

Both major projects complement the content of the joint project ZERN - Zukunft Ernährung Niedersachsen, which has been running since 2024 and has already received 25 million euros in funding. "The Agri:change and KI Reallabor Agrar research projects are working in a networked and interdisciplinary manner to gain practical insights and further develop key technologies in a targeted manner. Our investments in today's research are investments in our food security of tomorrow," said Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs.

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