DiP-FaiReSyst (FaiReSyst) 01.04.2024 – 31.12.2028

The digital transformation, globalisation and demographic change pose challenges for the economy. The agricultural industry plays an important role in the crop value chain and regional competitiveness. In view of the noticeable climate change in Germany, especially in southern Saxony-Anhalt, measures to protect soil and water are of great importance. Digital innovations and the diversification of agricultural ecosystems will contribute to a sustainable transformation. The latter can be achieved, for example, by utilising field margins.

Background and goals

Field margins are strips of land at the edge of fields that are increasingly being pushed back by agriculture and are not used for arable farming. The enhancement and restoration of field margins with the help of marginal agroforestry systems is intended to contribute to biodiversity and the creation of carbon sinks. The aim of the project is to establish agroforestry systems in field margins and to investigate their effects on ecosystem services digitally down to the landscape level under current and future climate change. By integrating woody plants into marginal agricultural areas, biotic interactions are to be regenerated and yield-supporting ecosystem services stabilised. The focus is on solutions for strengthening the resilience of arable land to climate change with the help of field margins, reducing conflicting goals in the area of climate-water agriculture and researching the connection between sustainable agriculture, agrotechnical and bioeconomic innovation as well as climate protection and regional development.

Sub-goals

• Status quo analysis to identify endangered field margins and determine relevant target areas for valorisation
• Establishment of monitoring sites to assess the ecosystem services and climate resilience of field margins
• Utilisation of innovative and digital options for data collection, processing and interpretation
• Identification of best practices and win-win management strategies for the sustainable use of field margins in the South Saxony-Anhalt model region
• Evaluation and recommendations of measures and adaptation potentials in field margins
• Knowledge and technology transfer from science to business and society

Methodological approach

The project will be realised in three phases. In the orientation and planning phase, the focus is on the development and optimisation of strategies and suitable monitoring measures for existing field drainage structures. This involves determining technical and region-specific principles and clarifying legal requirements. In addition, the interest and acceptance of the project objectives among stakeholders is determined in order to achieve early involvement. In the implementation phase, the focus is on monitoring, measures, optimisation and the long-term safeguarding of the enhanced field margins. The results are also evaluated and possibilities for transferability to neighbouring regions are assessed. This is initiated by the implementation phase. The application of recommended measures using an evaluation tool is intended to ensure the monitoring and sustainability of the project.

Expected results

The project to enhance agricultural land by establishing favourably structured field margins in the agricultural landscape SSA is intended to contribute to an increase in value creation and competitiveness in agriculture by developing and implementing innovative approaches to the sustainable management of field margins. The transfer of the knowledge and ideas gained in the project into innovative digital product and service solutions creates excellent opportunities for the establishment of growth-oriented start-up companies within the model region, which will scale up by expanding into other geographical markets. Various stakeholders are to take over the implementation of the project results in the next phases.