Secretary General Dr. Johann 's adventure at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

Climate change, extreme weather events, changing eating habits, international competition, price pressure, including in the quality segment, securing self-sufficiency and, at the same time, society's high expectations of agriculture pose major challenges for farmers and the entire food sector. Research and education make an important contribution to supporting agriculture in the necessary adaptation process and also to further strengthening the comprehensive quality orientation in Austria.

On Monday, April 29th, the Secretary General of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Dr. Johann 's Abentung is the BML's largest research department. In a tour with you. Dr. Johann Gasteiner and the research director Dr. Andreas Steinwidder found out about current results , ongoing projects and the exemplary collaboration between research and teaching at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein in the research institutes.

• Current research projects on climate change adaptation in grassland as well as the SatGrass project presented. With the help of AI, complex satellite and weather data can be used to calculate very precise yield and quality trends in grassland stands for the whole of Austria on a daily basis. This will provide farmers with a valuable management tool from the end of 2025.
• Strategies for breeding for energy efficiency and reducing emissions as well as for location-adapted animal and pasture husbandry are being worked on in several ongoing projects. HBLFA to improve efficiency and reduce emissions . Building on this, sustainable management strategies and climate protection solutions are developed.
• Together with farmers and research partners, the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein is also looking for practical and economically justifiable solutions to adapt existing pig fattening stables for the future.
• The organic food crops project with cultivation strategies and options for alternative crops in organic farming, such as sweet potatoes, lentils, dry beans, etc.

Digitalization , the use of the latest technologies and a pioneering analytics unit at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein also play an important role in all research areas

The head girl Anna Lena Molterer and the school boy Maximilian Meissinger, together with the educational director DI Othmar Breitenbaumer, the very well-equipped school, the boarding school, the practical units and, in particular, the close cooperation between research and teaching at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. At the Science Days, for example, give students a deep insight into “Gumpenstein research” four times a year. Experiments are also carried out together on students' diploma theses.

Dir. Dr. Johann Gasteiner thanked GS Dr. Johann es Abentung for the intensive professional exchange, the very good support of the work on the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and the appreciative cooperation with the ministry.