NEW COUNTRYin 1986. HBLFA Now you are the new Direktor. How are you finding it?
Johann Gasteiner: As a recent graduate from Raumberg, my parents gave me the opportunity to study veterinary medicine. After my studies, I was able to acquire broad and international knowledge in teaching, practice, and research as a staff member at the bovine clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. However, I turned down a fantastic university career opportunity to move back home with my young family, a decision I have never regretted. I became a veterinarian and research associate in Raumberg-Gumpenstein, while also working part-time in a large animal practice, and this combination allowed me to gain further valuable experience.
I then took on increasing responsibility in various roles, traveled extensively abroad for professional reasons, and at a certain point, things started to take on a life of their own. The work and responsibilities as Direktor bring me joy every day because I can rely on a large team of experienced, motivated, and loyal staff. The topics we address in Raumberg-Gumpenstein are cutting-edge, and we have excellent infrastructure and modern equipment for agricultural research. Our 410 inquisitive students also contribute to our continued activity and development.
All of this makes my work exciting, challenging and eventful.
NL: You grew up on your parents' dairy farm in Gaishorn. To what extent does your farming background ground you in your new role?
Gasteiner: I am grateful for and proud of my background. Knowing what the daily work of a farmer looks like, what challenges our farmers constantly face, and understanding their motivations, but also their worries and fears, is incredibly important to me in order to remain authentic. However, simply producing international publications that are read primarily by the scientific community is not enough for me.
My aim, and this applies to my staff as well, has always been that every researcher must be able to explain their work, their goals, and their results to practical applications. Only then does the circle close for me. Research must be translated back into practical applications through innovation; otherwise, research becomes an end in itself, which is unnecessary. I myself enjoy working manually and have no problem getting my hands dirty—quite the opposite. I owe this groundedness to my farming background.
NL: At the HBLFA , great emphasis is placed on the collaboration between research and schools. To what extent do the students, but also the farmers, benefit from this?
Gasteiner: Our researchers also teach in schools, bringing their topics, projects, and latest findings to young people in a very timely manner. Our students are also required to complete a pre-university research thesis, and they receive intensive support from the research team, especially since we can draw on a wealth of topics and opportunities. Practically relevant training opportunities, such as artificial insemination courses, hoof trimming courses, skilled worker and master craftsman courses, and much more, round out our educational offerings.
We offer more than 80 external conferences, workshops, and events annually, covering current and related topics in grassland and livestock farming. Our staff are sought-after speakers at external events, we produce numerous independent expert reports for agriculture each year, and I certainly think farmers benefit from this.
NL: the HBLFA As the largest agency of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism in agricultural research,
Gasteiner: Raumberg-Gumpenstein has a decades-long tradition of education and research in the fields of grassland and livestock farming, and numerous innovations have originated here. Currently, 104 scientific projects are underway in Raumberg-Gumpenstein. We are well-connected both nationally and internationally and are a sought-after project partner. We are addressing particularly important topics such as climate change, digitalization, animal welfare, biodiversity, and emissions and immissions from agriculture with great intensity and success.
I highly recommend exploring our website. Ultimately, our goal is always to promote local food production and provide expert support to family farms.
NL: The Bioinstitute building was opened in the summer of 2021. What other projects are planned or already underway? And what research topics will be the focus in the future?
Gasteiner: One topic that will be particularly interesting for organic dairy farms is mother-calf rearing. The wave of digitalization will also continue to increase. We see our role in this area not merely as demonstrating the possibilities available to our farms, as in the Innovation Farm project, for example. We also want to define the limits of the technical and economic viability of digital systems, as well as weigh up any potential added value, for example, for animal welfare or reduced use of medication due to early detection of animal diseases. Ultimately, we simply have to accept that our society is undergoing rapid and enormous change and that we live in a society shaped by the majority.
Technical terms that are inherently and a priori unproblematic are thus stigmatized. I'm referring to simple terms and activities such as animal transport, slatted floors, tethering, animal testing, pesticides, slaughter, meat consumption, and many others. Superficiality, ignorance, and emotionally charged discussions in the media and social media lead to a distortion and misinterpretation of these terms by laypeople, who unfortunately represent the majority of society. I see major challenges for the future here, especially since industrialized agriculture is taking hold in many parts of the world. While this is indeed problematic in many areas, it guarantees cheap food, dictates global market prices, and feeds a large portion of the world's urban population. We believe that the Austrian approach should be site-adapted agriculture.
NL: What additional priorities would you like to set in school operations in the future?
Gasteiner: Our students are with us during a very important formative phase between the ages of 14 and 18. It's essential to implement the curriculum and prepare them for the standardized final exams, where we consistently achieve very good results compared to other schools and school types. But that's not all that defines the Raumberg-Gumpenstein school. It's also about character development, where seemingly "outdated" moral concepts like politeness, greetings, proper conduct, traditions, civilized discussion, and empathy, as well as developing independent opinions while simultaneously accepting others, play a crucial role.
We want to instill in our students the simultaneous engagement with other important issues of our time – for example, questions about how we treat the environment or what we leave for future generations – combined with an open-mindedness and a curiosity to think outside the box. We will develop a school development plan that, alongside academic goals, strengthens awareness of these values.
NL: What is the current situation at the school regarding student numbers, registration numbers for the next school year, and the coronavirus situation?
Gasteiner: Enrollment numbers for our school are always very good, and we expect our classes in the early grades to be full again in the coming school year. We and our students are happy that in-person classes can continue even during the lockdown. The measures to contain the pandemic—regular testing and mandatory mask-wearing—have become routine, are accepted equally by students and staff, and are what make in-person classes possible.
NL: One last question! Your two predecessors, Albert Sonnleitner and Anton Hausleitner, were both also involved in local politics. Is that also the case for you, or where do you spend your free time?
Gasteiner: I am the deputy mayor of the market town of Stainach-Pürgg and I enjoy it very much. Our children have already gone their own ways and in my free time I am drawn to nature, especially to my beloved hunting grounds.
