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.
What should the food of tomorrow look like and what can Lower Saxony's agricultural and food industry contribute to this?
Die Möglichkeit live dabei zu sein, wenn andere
Idea Expo in 2024, with a new visitor record – ZERN was there! On the idea Expo, at the Hanover trade fair, from 08. to 16. June 2024 took place, the parties involved
How do we shape the future of nutrition in lower Saxony, Germany? The ZERN research network presents itself Where will we find our food in the future? How and in what quality should
