future of
Nutrition in
Lower Saxony
ZERN is a research and transfer network initiated by the University of Göttingen, the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and the German Institute of Food Technology in Quakenbrück, which aims to support the transformation of the agricultural and food system in Lower Saxony, which is under increasing pressure to adapt. The findings from the research alliance should enable the sustainable production, processing and marketing of food.
We would like to present the three prioritized topics in ZERN – arable farming, grassland use, animal husbandry – as well as the ongoing ZERN projects and the three junior research groups working on cross-cutting topics in the network.
How can arable farming be operated in an ecologically and economically profitable way in the future, given the current challenges of regulated nutrient supply and the regulated use of pesticides, extreme weather events and ever decreasing agricultural land?
How can we make the most effective use of our valuable grassland resource in the future? Is grazing for ruminants the best option or can technical processes perhaps also make a significant contribution to the development of grassland protein?
What should our livestock farming look like in the future? How do we resolve conflicting goals such as “biosecurity in free-range farming” and “animal health in alternative production systems”?
Food production is under pressure from climate change, resource scarcity and global competitive structures. What exactly is the "right" diet? How can we organise value chains in such a way that healthy, affordable and ecologically sound food is available to everyone?
How do we get our results "to the people"? We are testing various strategies, from the Citizen Lab to social media and cookery programmes.
The ZERN network began in 2024 with a selection of forward-looking scientific research projects. These have already been expanded through an 'open call'
We would like to invite submissions of abstracts for our conference on October 8, 2026, at Schloss Herrenhausen in Hanover. We welcome proposals for presentations as well as
A warm welcome to the ZERN Research Network’s “Culinary Talks on the Future of Agriculture & Food”! 🍲🧑🍳 Starting in June 2026, we’ll be welcoming you on the first Thursday of every month from
Curious about what we'll be eating tomorrow? 🌱 An article in the latest issue of *Rundblick Niedersachsen* offers insights into our ZERN network and, by extension, into the
On July 3, 2025, and July 4, 2025, an exciting and well-attended conference took place at the Paulinerkirche at the University of Göttingen on the topic of cultivation systems that fall between
The ZERN consortium launched in 2024 with a selection of forward-looking scientific research projects, which were subsequently expanded through an “open call” to include additional projects addressing current topics. To achieve the overarching
