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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Agriculture is under considerable pressure to adapt. Climate change, resource scarcity, and growing sustainability demands require efficient solutions. At the same time, farms are expected to remain competitive and ensure reliable food supplies. From November 9 to 15, 2025, seven Fraunhofer Institutes will showcase the role of smart sensor technology, AI-supported analyses, and sustainable materials at AGRITECHNICA in Hannover, Germany (Hall 17, Booth B15).
Our research teams from various Fraunhofer Institutes have extensive expertise in robotics, automation, sensor technology, analytics, actuators, visual computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data, as well as design, production, and process engineering. They share the common goal of developing new technologies for the sustainable production and processing of agricultural products, from seeds to finished products.
Fraunhofer EMFT:
Intelligent sensors for plant protection and monitoring
As demand for plant-based foods grows, farmers are increasingly relying on plant protection solutions. However, the widespread use of pesticides endangers insects, such as wild bees, that are essential for pollination and, therefore, crop yields.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT is developing a rapid electrochemical test based on insect cells that can quantitatively identify pesticides that are harmful to bees. The test uses no labels and is fully automated. A tabletop device handles the entire analysis process, from thawing the cells to generating the results.
Achieving high yields with minimal resource use requires accurate recording of the water and nutrient content of the plants. Fraunhofer EMFT’s on-plant sensor technology uses conductive structures on the plant leaves to monitor the vitality, water content, and nutrient content of the leaves wirelessly and efficiently. The environmental monitoring station combines gas, soil, and spectral sensors with artificial intelligence to detect pest infestations early and create optimal growing conditions.
Fraunhofer IGD:
Visual computing for biodiversity and plant health
Grasslands cover around 40 percent of the Earth’s surface, providing food for two billion people and performing important ecosystem functions. Sustainable management of these ecosystems requires accurate data on biodiversity and plant health, however. The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD uses visual computing technologies to capture this data and make it usable. A dashboard displays graphical plant identification for biodiversity indicators in grasslands, as well as weeds and invasive species. A drone equipped with an RGB and multispectral camera serves as a demonstration model for image data collection. For the detection of diseases in strawberries, Fraunhofer IGD will present a dashboard that identifies biotic stress factors such as mildew and caterpillar damage under plastic tunnel conditions. Visualization in the form of maps and hotspots allows for targeted treatment.
Peatlands store carbon and provide habitats, but they release CO₂ when drained. The only way to achieve climate targets and safeguard valuable habitats is through significantly accelerated rewetting and better monitoring. Another dashboard provides an AI-based assessment of peatlands in terms of hydrology, biodiversity, vegetation, and greenhouse gases. The dashboard is supplemented by a vegetation mapping app that provides real-time evaluation of global warming potential.
Tools that enable data-based analysis and decision-making allow agricultural producers to use their resources more effectively, secure their yields, and operate more sustainably. Using a model of a cultivator equipped with a camera and acceleration sensors, Fraunhofer IGD will demonstrate image-based analysis of the results of soil cultivation. The system detects anomalies in real time and classifies work results, which are then visualized on a tablet. An image film will show how Fraunhofer IGD Rostock develops AI solutions for agricultural operations, combining field research with programming. And an interactive 3D model will visualize the Institute’s smart farming activities.
Fraunhofer IGP:
Sustainable fertilization and wear-resistant coatings
Farms depend on fertilizers and functioning machinery, both of which incur costs and create dependencies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP) is collaborating with the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) to develop a new approach that conserves resources and increases business independence. Laboratory-scale research is currently being conducted on how to use water and electricity to generate plasma that binds nitrogen from ambient air in the form of nitrates, among other compounds. This enriched water is a sustainable substitute for fertilizer and could be produced directly on farms in the future.
Agricultural machinery and components wear out quickly due to constant mechanical stress, and changing implements costs time and resources. Thermal coating significantly increases the service life and efficiency of agricultural components. Fraunhofer IGP applies materials such as metals, ceramics, and plastics to components in adherent layers without mixing them with the base material. These coatings enhance wear resistance and allow for more precise scheduling of implement changes.
Fraunhofer IIS:
Phenotyping for climate-adapted varieties
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, the focus of research is on developing and testing technologies for phenotyping plants. These technologies are used for objectively evaluating specific plant characteristics and for quality control.
We will be showcasing a range of exhibits demonstrating solutions for both greenhouse environments and field applications. These include a CT-based quality assessment of seeds and seedlings, optical 3D plant imaging to determine biomass production, plant structure, leaf morphology, and various plant vitality indices, as well as a robot-assisted field platform. Using the autonomous field robot DeBiFiX (Determination of Biomass in the Field with X-ray), biomass can be precisely measured in growing plants in the field. X-ray technology is used to fully image and digitally evaluate visually inaccessible fruits such as chickpeas, rapeseed, or wheat grains.
Fraunhofer IOSB:
Non-destructive ripeness and quality testing
Significant variations in quality are common among agricultural products, and rejected products and inefficient testing processes result in losses and reduced added value. The Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies, and Image Exploitation IOSB will present flexible NIR sensor technology for non-destructive quality analysis directly in the field. The mobile ripeness sensor for grapes determines sugar content and acidity in seconds and can be flexibly integrated into farm management platforms or harvesting machines.
The fruit scanner uses hyperspectral technology to inspect entire crates of fruit or vegetables in seconds without cutting them open. AI-powered software detects external defects and internal quality parameters such as sugar content in real time and delivers results for an objective quality assessment directly in the crate.
Fraunhofer IVV:
Innovative recycling and packaging solutions
In order to meet the ecological and resource-conserving requirements of agriculture, agricultural products and biogenic raw materials must be produced and used more sustainably. The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV will present a solvent-based recycling process for agricultural stretch films. Silage films are already manufactured with up to 95 percent regranulate, but manufacturers have thus far produced stretch films using virgin material only, due to strict mechanical requirements. The Fraunhofer method makes it possible to produce all types of agricultural film, regardless of contamination levels, as recycled materials comparable to new products.
Fraunhofer IVV will also present peat-based packaging solutions made from rewetted peatlands. Plants such as reeds, cattails, and cogongrass contain less lignin than wood and can therefore be processed into pulp using less energy. Packaging demonstrators show that the corresponding stock can easily be processed using a pulp molding process. These materials exhibit higher strength properties than comparable packaging on the market.
Fraunhofer IWU:
Sensor-equipped tools for autonomous systems
Autonomous farming requires accurate field data and machines that can monitor their own condition. The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU develops robust, non-image-based sensor technology for soil cultivation tools. Disk harrows equipped with sensors detect loads and wear conditions during operation. While the soil is being tilled, measuring sleeves record the loads separately in the longitudinal and transverse directions and display them live. This information is combined with data from rotation sensors to gain draw conclusions about the soil cultivation and the wear status of the disk harrows.
Fraunhofer as a partner for innovative agricultural technology
With its interdisciplinary research methods and practical solutions, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a key partner for pioneering agricultural technologies. From AI-assisted phenotyping and intelligent sensor systems to sustainable material innovations, Fraunhofer is helping to transform agriculture practices, making them efficient, sustainable, and suitable for everyday use.
https://www.igd.fraunhofer.de/en/media-center/press-releases/agritechnica-fraunh...
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft presents numerous innovations for the smart farming of the future, inclu ...
Source: Katja Hofacker
Copyright: Katja Hofacker, Kompetenzzentrum für Digitale Agrarwirtschaft – KoDA
Criteria of this press release:
Business and commerce, Journalists
Environment / ecology, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing, Oceanology / climate, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
transregional, national
Research projects, Research results
English
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft presents numerous innovations for the smart farming of the future, inclu ...
Source: Katja Hofacker
Copyright: Katja Hofacker, Kompetenzzentrum für Digitale Agrarwirtschaft – KoDA
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