International Exchange

In June, DLG started a new international exchange. Titled "Knowledge Transfer Across Continents," DLG welcomed a two-member delegation from the umbrella organization of 19 national farmers' associations in southern Africa, SACAU, to the International Plant Production Center (IPZ) in Bernburg at that time. The exchange continued in October. This time, a 25-member delegation of the umbrella organization, in cooperation with the Andreas Hermes Academy and Agrar-Kontakten-International, visited the IPZ for two and a half days. This time, the focus was on concepts to strengthen climate resilience in German agriculture. Together with representatives of the University of Göttingen, the TMG Think Tank for Sustainability and BayWa AG, different approaches for climate change adapted agriculture were discussed on the first day.

After an intensive first day with many new impressions, the second day focused on the work of the DLG. The participants were impressed by the organization, the range of topics and fields of activity as well as the cooperation with the honorary experts.

In particular, their own research work at the International Crop Production Center in the areas of crop rotation, soil cultivation and also irrigation showed the activities for adaptation to climate change. The highlight was farm visits to Sven Borchert and Jörg Claus. The farms presented their concepts, showed innovative machinery and were available to answer all practical questions. Perfect timing: the visitors were able to be directly present at the potato harvest. On the one hand, they were very impressed by the size of the harvester and the technology and marketing structure behind it, and on the other hand, they were also shocked by the way "out of the norm" potatoes were handled. The fact that these, as with many other crops, are not used and remain in the field, caused thoughtfulness and head shaking.

One more topic of exchange was the building of resilient systems and the strict regulations on the use of fertilizers and pesticides. And so the impressions gained were discussed at the evening get-together.

The intensive days with the African delegation show us again how important our daily work is and how it is perceived in the world. Many thanks to our honorary experts who help to shape such exchanges and actively work on the challenges of agriculture.