Research and Innovation Programme "Climate Protection in Agriculture"

The Federal Climate Change Act calls for the annual reduction of emissions in agriculture to 56 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalents by 2030. In order to achieve the government's climate protection targets, agriculture must undergo an ambitious transformation process to reduce greenhouse gases. Research, development and innovation shall prepare and accompany this process. Based on scientific results, effective climate protection measures are developed and shall be continuously refined against the backdrop of constantly changing conditions.

The research and innovation programme "Climate Protection in Agriculture" contributes to this by funding research and development projects to reduce greenhouse gases. Funds are available from the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) between 2023 and 2027. The programme focuses on universities, non-university research and development institutions and companies. Funding is provided via call for proposals for projects in the following five thematic focus areas.

Alternative drive technologies without fossil fuels as well as renewable energies

Research and innovation projects in this thematic focus area address alternative drive technologies, improved techniques for the storage, preparation and application of fertilizers and for soil cultivation, among similar issues.

Further details on funding opportunities are available here.

In addition, research is done on multifunctional land use systems (e.g. agri photovoltaics).

Research on and development of practical applications, including the corresponding software to optimise individual farms’ climate assessments

Funding is provided for research and innovation projects that conduct research on optimising individual farm climate assessments through innovative digital techniques and procedures for farm management. The establishment of topic-related, digital experimental fields supports the associated knowledge transfer.

Further details on funding opportunities for this thematic focus area are available here.

Processes and technical approaches in plant production and processing

Funds are available for the following research and development projects:

1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through adapted cultivation measures in arable farming and horticulture (e.g. emission-reducing cultivation methods, optimised fertiliser management, improved nitrogen efficiency).
2. Optimising the carbon footprint of protein foods through increased use and improved production and processing technology of domestic legumes (e.g. through measures along the value chain from cultivation to utilisation as well as through the use of climate-friendly innovations concerning the utilisation and processing of legumes for human and animal nutrition).

Further details on funding opportunities for this thematic focus area are available here.

Innovative processes and technologies in animal production

Funding is provided for research and innovation projects that contribute, among others, to optimised manure management and adapted feeding strategies and concepts. Furthermore, financial support is available for projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gases and to saving energy through suitable process and construction measures and management systems in animal husbandry.

Further details on funding opportunities for this thematic focus area are available here (Module A) and here (Module B).

Socio-economic studies on climate protection measures and other aspects of climate protection in agriculture

Funds are provided for accompanying socio-economic research on the above mentioned thematic focus areas, including economic assessment and/or sociological impacts of climate protection measures on farms. In addition, further socio-economic questions of climate protection can be addressed, for instance with regard to structural change, the role of agriculture in rural areas and the relationship between producers and consumers.

Funded projects shall address the following exemplary questions:

• How will individual farm sectors develop and how can farms be restructured or maintained in order to address climate and structural change sustainably?
• How can labour and asset values be preserved?
• What role do technologies such as agro-photovoltaic systems play here?

In addition, funded projects shall examine how climate protection measures in crop and livestock production affect food prices and which roles politics and society can play in this context.
Further details on funding opportunities for this thematic focus area are available here.