26.03.2026
On March 11, 2026, the official starting signal for the EIP-Agri project "DÜNGEcht" was given at ZALF in Müncheberg. Over the next three years, ZALF will work together with partners from science, software development, and agricultural practice to develop an innovative, digital decision-support system for nitrogen fertilization.
The focus is on the challenges faced by farmers in eastern Brandenburg: unpredictable weather events such as droughts or heavy rain make the precise fertilization of crops like winter wheat, rye, and barley increasingly difficult. A lack of planning certainty often leads to yield losses, fluctuations in quality, or unnecessary nutrient leaching.
This is where "DÜNGEcht" comes in. The goal is to develop a probabilistic tool that links crop models with real-time weather forecasts and price data. What makes this project unique is that the software is developed using a "co-design" approach; a participatory method in which the future users are involved in the development process as experts from the very beginning. During the kick-off meeting, the farm partners already engaged in intensive discussions about their requirements. For all 'DÜNGEcht' project partners, it is crucial that the tool does not remain mere theory but instead integrates directly with existing precision farming systems to create measurable economic, environmental, and societal added value in the region.
The kick-off meeting served to lay the technical and administrative foundations for the cooperation. In addition to the scientific modeling by the University of Bonn and the technical implementation by the agency Flynet, regional businesses (Landfarm Hohenstein, Agrodienste Reichenberg, and the agricultural consultancy Paul Klemke) form the backbone of the project. They not only provide operational data but also test the prototype under real conditions in the field. This successful first meeting marks the beginning of a close innovation partnership driven by the vibrant exchange between science and practice.
