Social Responsibility
Future-Oriented Agriculture: The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt at the "Werkstatt des Wandels"
Making Farms Fit for the Future – Addressing Challenges through InnovationsAs part of the “Werkstatt des Wandels" event series, a project initiated by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the third “Werkstattgespräch” (workshop discussion) took place this month. On May 7, experts in the fields of agriculture, climate tech, science, innovation promotion, politics, and climate action gathered in an exclusive setting in Brandenburg to discuss challenges and possible solutions in the agricultural sector.
Diminishing harvests, a decrease in the number of farms, adaptations to evolving rules and regulations, climate change – these are just some of the many major factors that pose a risk to current agriculture. To guarantee food security and at the same time minimize agriculture's negative climate impact, it takes the cooperation of science and business, biodiversity, and the use of satellites and new technologies.As part of the "Werkstatt des Wandels," the participants first visited the Fürstenwalder Agrarprodukte GmbH. There, they were introduced to practical applications of digital technologies in agriculture, such as smart farming and climate-smart agriculture. At the next stop, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), they were presented research-based approaches to agricultural robots, carbon storage in soils, soil health, and the reduction of pesticides.Linking Science with PracticeThe workshop discussions revolved around linking science and practice with the aim of facilitating a successful transformation in light of planetary boundaries and the necessity to promote ecological as well as social and economic sustainability.A key focus was on the topic of biodiversity. While increasing biodiversity has a positive impact on soil resilience and carbon storage, it may present farmers with cost-intensive investments. A promising approach is the utilization of artificial intelligence to supply farmers with the necessary data.Cooperatives and alliances are another approach that can help address emerging problems. Wetland desiccation, for example, annually releases 52 million tons of carbon dioxide. To combat this, the toMOORow initiative has launched the “Allianz der Pioniere” (Alliance of Pioneers), which works for the cultivation of renewable resources in so-called "paludiculture" – that is, on (rewetted) wetlands.Heike Schneeweis, Member of the Board of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, who was at the workshop discussions, said about the need for cross-sector collaboration: "Traditional family farms represent 89 percent of the total of 276,000 farms in Germany. Many of them are worried about the future – not least because they don't feel heard and have lost faith in the changes that various sides call for. There are already numerous solutions and innovative projects out there waiting to be realized. Our goal now must be to bring all stakeholders to the table in order to define and implement a sustainable transformation process."Using Satellites to Fight Climate Change: Future-Oriented Business ModelsThe discussed best practices also included how to develop business models with a view to the future. For example, potatoes are far more than a traditional food. The starch they contain finds increasingly broad application in the food industry (for example, as meat substitute), offering new opportunities for farmers.The participants, including Dr. Oliver Schmolke, Director for General Domestic Policy at the Office of the Federal President, and Dr. Felix Streiter, Managing Director of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, already gathered on the eve of the event at the BMW Foundation’s Berlin office for an official welcome."There exist numerous solutions at the interface of agriculture and energy transition. This includes not only the protection of ecosystems through biodiversity enhancement and carbon storage in healthy soils, but also the future importance of green ammonia – which can used both as an energy source and to produce nitrogen fertilizer. Given the approaching end of the fossil fuel era and its related transformations, it is essential to provide scientific data, promote co-creation between various sectors, and develop a coordinated strategy for the transition towards a new era," said Heba Aguib, Member of the Board of the BMW Foundation, in her welcome remarks. "The RESPOND accelerator program at an early stage supported ConstellR and Climate Farmers, two very successful startups who stand for the necessary innovation and mindset change in a very important industry," she continued.ConstellR presented its innovative approach at the workshop discussion. The startup offers satellite-based climate and agricultural monitoring for farmers, companies, and government agencies. This makes it possible to save up to 40 percent of water in agriculture, and to monitor soil temperature and the conditions of plants. ConstellR was part of the 2021 cohort of RESPOND, the six-month accelerator program launched by the BMW Foundation and UnternehmerTUM. Since then ConstellR has grown enormously to currently over 80 employees, its own satellite in space, more than 30 million in funding, and support from both NASA and the ESA.Werkstatt des WandelsThe “Werkstatt des Wandels” was launched in 2023 by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and operates in cooperation with the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. The events are designed and realized in collaboration with the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (Fraunhofer IAO).The event series addresses the far-reaching structural transformations in society and economy and their impact on society. Bringing together representatives from politics, society, business, and research, the "Werkstattgespräche" discuss obstacles and opportunities faced by the different sectors. So far, two workshop discussions have taken place. The first event revolved around the potential for innovation in the health-care sector. The second event, which took place in February 2024 in Jena, dealt with transformation processes and the necessary location factors.
BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt
The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt unites the brightest minds from business, policy, science and civil society to collaborate on forward-looking approaches and solutions to the challenges of our time. Together, we work across borders, cultures and systems for innovative pathways to strengthen an innovative and responsible economy while also promoting an open-minded and future-proof society.
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