vision & mission
vision
Our vision is a sustainable agricultural and food system that produces high-quality food while protecting natural resources. We are convinced that this can be achieved through organic farming and that its production methods and agroecological principles pave this way.
mission
Our mission is to empower farmers and producers through research, advisory and knowledge transfer to create a sustainable agricultural and food system.
aims & objectives
aims & objectives
IBLA sees the purpose and aims of its efforts in research, consultancy, education and communication on topics of organic agriculture and agroecology.
These objectives are achieved by:
- Research and development of practical methods for organic and biodynamic agriculture; Taking into account nutritional, ecological and socio-economic aspects.
- Research of aspects of agriculture that are socially relevant;
- The establishment of an extension service for agricultural holdings and public bodies, with the aim to provide organic and biodynamic agriculture with the importance it deserves.
- Education of producers and consumers on organic and biodynamic agriculture as well as promotion of cooperation between producers, trade and consumers.
- Promotion of training in organic and biodynamic agriculture at the training and education centres in Luxembourg.
Since 2015, the IBLA has been a registered non-profit organization and has also been recognized as an official research institute in Luxembourg.
board
the board
FELTEN Claude (agricultural engineer) -President
COLLING-VON ROESGEN Jean-Louis (farmer) -Vice President
CONTER Gérard (agricultural engineer) JACOBS Francis (farmer) NOESEN Charel (farmer) NESER Jean-Michel (farmer) KONSBRÜCK Jeff (Winegrower) MANGEN Michèle (agricultural engineer) AENDEKERK Raymond (agricultural engineer)
-Members
team
Stéphanie ZimmerDr. agr. | Director IBLA
+352 26 15 13 -84
+352 621 30 25 23
Hanna HeidtDr. agr. | Research and Development
+352 621 34 00 96
Evelyne StollMRes. Env. Analysis and Assessment | Research and Development
+352 621 28 74 66
Laura LeimbrockM. Sc. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 621 647 126
Sabine KeßlerDr. rer. nat. / Dipl. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 26 15 13 -90
Kerstin KlemmM. Sc. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 621 51 24 51
Sonja KanthakVintner, B. Sc. org. agri. | Extension Service Viticulture
Mathieu WolterB. Sc. Agronomy | Research and Development | Extension Service Agriculture
+352 26 15 13 -89
+352 621 67 84 67
Jean-Paul WeisM. Sc. Animal husbandry | Extension Service Agriculture
+352 621 39 27 48
Svenja ZelderM. Sc. Animal husbandry | Extension Service Agriculture
+352 621 75 18 75
Thorsten RufDr. rer. nat. | M. Sc. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 26 15 13 -78
+352 621 73 40 05
Ben MangenB. Sc. Agronomy | Extension Service Agriculture
+352 621 49 40 09
Jörg PaulyDr. agr. | Extension Service viticulture | Research and Development
+352 621 67 73 51
Philip BarthM. Sc. Organic Agriculture I Extension Service Agriculture I Research & Development
+352 26 15 13 -92
+352 621 30 25 22
Tamina SchürmannB. Sc. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 26 15 13 -77
+352 621 494 485
Julie MouselB. Sc. Agronomiques | Administration & Accounting
+352 26 15 13 -87
Ségolène CharvetDipl.-Ing. Agricultural Science | Research and Development
+352 26 15 13 -83
+352 621 629 217
Daniel LucasM. Sc. Env. Sciences | Research and Development
+352 26 15 13 -77
Billy RechOffice
+352 26 15 13 -88
Lisa EckertM. A. Health management & B. Sc. Business administration | Finanzen & Administration
+352 26 15 13 -87
Tabea TheisM. Sc. Environmental Biosciences | Research and Development
Manon KinnMaster organic agricultural systems and agroecology | Research and Development
Nicolas MehlenVersuchstechniker
extension services offer agriculture
agriculture
The IBLA extension service for your agricultural holding presents itself
- You are a farmer and want to explore the production and business management possibilities a conversion to organic agriculture can offer your farm?
- You have decided to convert your farm to organic agriculture and need competent advice and support during the conversion phase?
- You are already an organic farmer and need help with a specific problem?
- You want to get first insights into the methods of organic farming?
- You want to profit from the benefits of leguminous crops in your crop rotation and need help in variety selection, production technology and the design of your crop rotation?
If one of these situations applies to you, the IBLA agricultural extension service has just the right offers for you. Our advisers have knowledge in all fields of organic agriculture due to their education and many years of practical experience. We combine research and practice and offer a wide range of extension services suited to fit your professional and personal needs. Our advisers are active both on a regional and Europe-wide level to provide you with the best service.
They offer a wide range of advice, from arable land and grassland to animal husbandry and feeding. They are your contact before and during the conversion. Their consulting services include crop rotation, fertilization and soil cultivation in field fodder and crop production with the aim of increasing natural soil fertility and yield potential.
You can profit from their long-standing experience and their knowledge regarding animal health and performance. This includes questions related to breeding, keeping, feeding and ration calculation, as well as grassland-management and improvement.
Variety recommendations are based on the results of our variety trials. Another focus of IBLA is the cultivation of legumes. Here you can benefit from our experience gained through field experiments on cultivation techniques and variety trials. Business analyses and individual support in the implementation of the guidelines for organic agriculture complete our offers in the agricultural extension service.
extension services and further education offers
Take advantage of IBLA's extension service and further education offers and benefit from years of experience in consulting and research. Arrange a personal consultation on your farm or choose from the IBLA modules the one best suited for your farm:
- Module 6: legume and forage cultivation, permanent grassland
- Module 16: pre-conversion - initial consultation
- Module 17: pre-conversion - intensive advice
- Module 18: organic advice in the conversion phase
- Module 19: organic farming
- Module 20: methods of organic farming
- Module 37: organic advice, including in the context of investments > €300,000
- Module 38: diversification
contact extension services agriculture
Jean-Paul Weis Mobile +352 621 39 27 48
Svenja Zelder Mobile +352 621 75 18 75
Ben Mangen Mobile +352 621 49 40 09
extension services offer viticulture
viticulture
The IBLA extension service for organic viticulture presents itself
- You already make use of the natural biological processes in many areas of production and want to explore the production and business management possibilities a conversion to organic viticulture can offer your winery?
- You have decided to change your winery to organic viticulture and you need competent advice and support during the conversion phase?
- You already are an organic winegrower and want the latest information in plant protection during the vegetative phase? You want competent expertise and want to be part of a strong network?
- You want to get insight into organic cultivation methods?
Then IBLA Viticulture Consulting has exactly the right offers for you! Thanks to his training and many years of practical experience, our viticulture consultant has knowledge in all areas of organic viticulture. He is well networked regionally and Europe-wide and will support you. IBLA Viticulture Consulting combines research and practice and offers a comprehensive range of advice according to your winery-specific and personal requirements. Jörg Pauly, who has managed his own organic winery for 20 years, studied agricultural sciences at the University of Bonn and then became a PhD in agricultural sciences (Dr. agr.). These studies were followed by 10 years of scientific work in agricultural and landscape research, as well as 20 years of managing his own organic winery. He will be happy to support you and give you advice in all matters relating to viticulture. From organic cultivation in the vineyard, to soil and greening maintenance, to plant protection and organic winemaking, he will advise you according to your operational goals and personal wishes. Wine-growing businesses are given targeted support both, before, during and after the conversion. In doing so, attention is always paid to the individual winery and weather-related conditions. Regular inspection rounds in the vineyards as well as newsletters during the growing season provide you with the most important current information on. Become part of a grown consulting community that is in close contact with practice and research.
extension services and further education offers
Take advantage of IBLA's extension service and further education offers and benefit from years of experience in consulting and research. Arrange a personal consultation on your winery or choose from the IBLA modules the one that best suited for you:
- Module 23: pre-conversion viticulture - initial consultation
- Module 24: pre-conversion viticulture - intensive counselling
- Module 25: organic viticulture consulting in the conversion phase
- Module 26: Organic viticulture
- Module 27: methods of organic viticulture
- Module 38: diversification
contact extension services viticulture
Jörg Pauly Mobile +352 621 677 351
communication
network of demonstration farms
organic agriculture Luxembourg
Our goal is to provide consumers and conventional farmers, processors and merchants with an insight into organic agriculture and through farm visits, festivals and practice days to our 9 demonstration farms. These visits offer a practice oriented insight into the everyday life on an organic farm and winery, as well as the special quality, the opportunities and challenges of organic agriculture.
In addition, the demonstration farms provide information on their production focus and marketing forms, as well as regional growing conditions. For this reason, organic farms from different regions and with different main branches have been selected to show the variety of organic agriculture in Luxembourg. If you want to visit one of these demonstration farms, contact us or the farms directly to make an appointment for your visit. The project “demonstration farms organic agriculture” is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer protection/ASTA financed within the framework of the organic action plan in Luxembourg.
An Dudel
The farm has been farmed according to the guideline of organic farming since 2000 (member of Bio-Lëtzebuerg). The main production branch is broilers; the chicken are from the French Sasso breed and are the result of a crossbreeding of different slow growing meat breeds. The farm both rears male and female animals. A big portion of the chicken feed is grown on the farms itself. Meat marketing is carried out privately and by the BIOG. In addition, pumpkins and apples are also marketed via the BIOG and on the farm.
Marc Emering / Luc Emering
Rue de la croix, L-4998 Sprinkange
691 370 886 / 621 257 410
andudel@pt.lu
Bio-Haff Baltes
The farm has been an rganic farm since 2001 (member of Bio-Lëtzebuerg). The driving force for this transition was the environmental consciousness of Myriam Baltes, as she wanted the farm from early on to be farmed as close to nature as possible. The main branches of the farm are goat dairy production and suckler cow husbandry. The produced meat is partly sold through the Luxemburgish label “Bio-Maufel”, a marketing initiative from Luxembourgish organic farmers. The produced goat milk is processed into cream cheese and hard and soft cheeses at the farm dairy. The marketing of the final products is arranged by the farm itself, and sold in various shops in Luxembourg. However, there is still much more to discover on the farm: The family rents holiday homes, keeps a donkey and Shetlandponys and wants to start again with the pork husbandry.
Daniel & Myriam Baltes
Um Suewel, L-9186 Stegen
80 74 62 / 691 711 507
mimidan@pt.lu
Domaine Sunnen-Hoffmann
Since 2001 the traditional vineyard “Caves Sunnen-Hoffmann” follows the guidelines of organic viticulture (member of Bio-Lëtzebuerg). It was the first vineyard that fully converted to organic in Luxembourg. The motivation behind this conversion was a logical consequence of the family traditions: producing wine in its typical and soil-borne character, whilst simultaneously respecting and protecting nature. The main focus of the conversion was the care and cultivation of the soil. The high-quality wines, which are influenced by the characteristics of their specific origin, can be bought directly at the vineyard or at selected organic food shops and other retailers. The vineyard also offers organic wines from other origin in their own on site wine store and supports thus organic wine pioneers from abroad.
Corinne Kox-Sunnen & Yves Sunnen
6, rue des Prés, L-5441 Remerschen
23 66 40 07
info@caves-sunnen.lu
Karelshaff
The farm Carelshaff has been run according to the guidelines of organic agriculture (member of Bio-Lëtzebuerg) since 2002. Over the last years the farm specialized in the direct marketing of Limousin suckler cow husbandry and broilers. In 2023, the farm was handed over from Alice and Jean-Louis Colling to their son Greg Colling. As the previous generation, Greg is convinced that an authentic taste and high quality food can only be achieved by treating the animals fairly and farming sustainably in accordance to nature.
Greg Colling
Carelshof, L-7730 Colmar-Berg
+352 691 59 21 57
contact@karelshaff.lu
Schanck Haff
The Schank Haff farm follows the guidelines of bio-dynamic (Demeter) agriculture since 1980 (member of Bio-Lëtzebuerg). From the start, the care of nature and environmental protection was a concern and a focus of the Schanck Hafff. The main sector of the farm is dairy production, cereal production and cultivation of specialty crops (potatoes and carrots). The variety on their farm is further complemented by the processing of various products directly on the farm, in their own farm bakery and the BIOG farm dairy. They also sell their own products in the Naturata farm shop situated on their farm.
Jos Schanck
Duerfstroos Nr. 10, L-9755 Hupperdange
99 75 08
josschanck@gmail.com
Biohaff Witry
updated soon
Biohaff Witry
1, an der Sauer Aarbecht L-4974 Dippach
+352 621 236 007
biohaffwitry@gmail.com
Fromburgerhaff
The heart of the farm cycle is the 50-strong herd of Angus beef. From spring to autumn, the family harvests vegetables from the garden to provide for themselves and other families (CSA). At Fromburgerhaff, active farming can be experienced with all the senses. In addition to the cattle, bees, chickens, rabbits and goats live on the farm and honey, energy and heat are produced.
Familie Weydert
Fromburger Hof
L-6572 Osweiler
+35272 84 01
info@fromburg.lu
projects
yeswiclim
Förderung der Zukunftsfähigkeit der Weingüter in der Großregion
Die Weingüter der Großregion im europäischen Moseltal und in der Wallonie stehen vor großen und komplexen Herausforderungen. Diese wirken sich auf verschiedenen Ebenen auf die Nachhaltigkeit und die Zukunftsfähigkeit der Betriebe aus:
Wie kann Wein unter den aktuellen und künftigen klimatischen Veränderungen überhaupt noch produziert werden?
Wie kann jeder Betrieb seinen ökologischen Fußabdruck verringern?
Wie lassen sich geeignete Arbeitskräfte finden oder Nachwuchs für eine spätere Betriebsübernahme gewinnen?
Wie können in Zeiten großer wirtschaftlicher Unsicherheiten neue Absatzmärkte erschlossen werden?
Die betroffenen Weinanbaugebiete spielen in der globalen Weinbauwelt nur eine kleine Rolle. Umso wichtiger ist es, eine enge Kooperation zwischen den Weinbaugebieten anzustreben, um von den Erfahrungen der Nachbarländer zu profitieren.
Im Rahmen des Projekts wird eine große Vielfalt an Wissenstransfer-Formaten entwickelt, um die Vielzahl aktueller Innovationen verständlich zu vermitteln.
Auch die Entwicklung eines Mehrwegverpackungssystems für die Großregion, die Modellierung von Klimaszenarien sowie die Entwicklung einer grenzüberschreitenden Ursprungsbezeichnung zählen zu den Maßnahmen, mit denen die Resilienz der Weingüter gestärkt werden soll.
2025-2028
smartregio
Sustainability Assessment of Direct Marketing Farms in Luxembourg using the SMART-Farm Tool
Direct marketing farms strive to build strong and lasting relationships with their clientele and to that end are more incentivised to adapt sustainable farming practices to stay attractive and relevant to consumers. In the project SMARTRegio we want to assess the sustainability performance of direct marketing farms and compare them to the result of farms without direct marketing.
15 direct marketing farms will be newly assessed using the SMART (Sustainability Monitoring and Assessment RouTine)-Farm Tool. The results of these 15 farms will be compared to the results of farms (with and without direct marketing) from 2017, that were assessed in the framework of the project SustEATable. The main aim of the project is to assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability performance of direct marketing farms and to analyse how this has evolved since 2017, especially before the backdrop of recent crises like Covid 19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. These results of the direct marketing farms will be compared to results from non-direct marketing farms to evaluate whether farms with a more direct contact to consumers implement more sustainable farming practices and thus attain higher goal achievements.
The individual results from the SMART assessments can be used by the individual farmers to communicate their efforts and achievements to their clientele and to use the gained insights to further improve the management of the farm. The overarching results of the study, on the other hand, will be presented to the farmers and consumers in different events, setting a spot on the sustainability performance of direct marketing farms.
2025 – 2026
This project is implemented with the support of the Fondation pour le Climat, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg, with the initial financial support of the Spuerkeess bank.
demonstration fields in bettendorf
The aim of the demonstration fields in Bettendorf is to different conventional and organic cultivation techniques, which take into state of the art technology and science in the most important crops and to test their effects on soil fertility parameters. parameters. The aim is to provide farmers with information through field inspections, information brochures and information meetings to provide farmers with important visual and verifiable findings and trends relating to various relevant indicators. relevant indicators are made available. Since 2022, three plots have been three plots have been undergoing conversion to organic farming. The management of the organically farmed plots is partly carried out as is currently as is currently standard practice, but some plots are also used to test innovative methods. Similar to the conventionally farmed plots, the organically farmed plots are organically farmed plots are based on a six-crop rotation, which involves which includes clover-grass for the first two and a half years. The work is carried out carried out by the technical staff of the Lycée Technique Agricole (LTA) in close with the Centrale Paysanne Services S.à r.l. and the IBLA. and the IBLA.
In the course of the project, the long-term development of the the long-term development of the organically farmed plots compared with the conventional ones, evaluated. For this purpose, plant growth and yield parameters will be analysed as well as the change in soil properties. In the case of the latter, the focus is on indicators of soil structure and the activity of soil organisms. organisms are the main focus. In addition, the effects of the soil structure and the water balance of the soil are also assessed.
2024-2025
renature
Helping insects into life
Insects play a central role in the terrestrial food web. They also fulfil a variety of tasks in the ecosystem. In agriculture, for example, they serve to pollinate many crops. Less well known is the role of many insects as species-specific predators of pests. The promotion of insects is important in order to achieve a balance between beneficial insects and pests, which can save agrochemicals.
Flower strips in agricultural landscapes are generally a very good measure to promote insect biodiversity and thus also the following links in the food chain. This can not only promote pollinator performance, but also the formation of fertile soils, which can ultimately lead to an increase in yields in agricultural production.
With regard to the maintenance of these flower strips, however, it should be noted that there is clear potential for improvement here. Depending on when it is carried out, the necessary mulching of the crops can presumably have a considerable negative impact on the fundamentally positive characteristics of the flower strips as a habitat for beneficial insects. This is presumably caused by the loss of overwintering habitats for insects hibernating on the soil surface or on plant parts. This unutilised potential for promoting biodiversity must be better exploited.
Over the course of two years, the project will observe how insect hatching numbers develop when flower strip maintenance, or more precisely mulching, is shifted from the current usual time in autumn to late spring. This makes it possible to evaluate the various mulching times and derive the best possible management.
The figures collected are used to sensitise farmers and agricultural students to the topic. The specific topic can also be used to raise general awareness of the importance of insects in the ecosystem.
2024-2026
Supported by Œuvre Nationale.
agroforst
Chance für eine zukunftsfähige Landwirtschaft in Zeiten des Klimawandels
Die Bewirtschaftung von landwirtschaftlichen Flächen steht angesichts zunehmender Wetterextremereignisse, ausgelöst durch den Klimawandel, vor großen Herausforderungen. Eine Möglichkeit den sich rasch verändernden Umweltbedingungen gerecht zu werden, ist die Etablierung von Agroforstsystemen. In Agroforstsystemen werden Einzelbäume oder Baumstreifen in landwirtschaftlich genutzte Flächen integriert. Im Vordergrund steht dabei weiterhin die landwirtschaftliche Nutzung der Fläche. Ergänzt wird diese durch die Vorteile und Nutzungsmöglichkeiten des forstlichen Anteils des Systems. Während über Jahrhunderte Bäume von den Äckern entfernt wurden, eröffnet der Agroforst heute neue Perspektiven: Erosions- und Windschutz, Wasserrückhalt, Kohlenstoffsequestrierung im Boden, Schatten für Weidetiere und Förderung der Biodiversität. Dies bringt neben ökologischen Vorteilen auch den Landwirten Vorteile und weitere Nutzungsmöglichkeiten.
In Deutschland sind bereits bedeutende Fortschritte in der Praxis der Agroforstwirtschaft zu verzeichnen. Luxemburg steht noch am Anfang der Entwicklung dieser nachhaltigen Landnutzung. Das Projekt wird damit Wegbereiter für die Etablierung erster Agroforstsysteme hierzulande. Um fundierte Entscheidungen bei der Anlage zu treffen, ist eine umfassende Analyse der Bodeneigenschaften unabdingbar. Diese umfasst unter anderem die durchwurzelbare Tiefe des Bodens, die Bodenart und den Bodentyp und somit auch die hydrologischen Eigenschaften des Bodens. Diese Faktoren, im Kontext mit den spezifischen Bedürfnissen und Gestaltungswünschen der Betriebe, beeinflussen nicht nur die Auswahl der Baumarten, sondern auch Ausgestaltung der Anlage der Agroforstfläche.
2023-2026
Klimafond des Ministère de l'Environnement, du Climat et de la Biodiversité
vision 2050
Vision of 100% organic agriculture in Luxembourg in 2050: Resilience, environmental impacts and dietary change
Agriculture faces major environmental challenges on global, national and local levels. The environmental benefits of organic agriculture and its potential to deal with these challenges are scientifically recognized. The previous government's target of 100% organic farming by 2050, as well as the EU target of 25% organic farming by 2030, have laid the foundations for a strategy for a sustainable food system with the potential to adapt well to climate change. However, a vision how the transition towards this may be done and a thorough analysis of the related challenges is lacking.
The VISION 2050 project will model a series of scenarios for the conversion of Luxembourg's agriculture to different shares up to 100% organic production, with the aim of developing a sustainable Luxembourgish organic agriculture and food system in 2050, taking into account climate change and environmental conditions.
The starting point is the analysis of the base scenario of the current agricultural system in 2020. This is then extrapolated to the year 2050 considering climate change, thus providing a reference scenario for 2050. Subsequently, a number of scenarios with up to 100% conversion to organic agriculture, partly complemented with other strategies, such as circular food systems, reduced food wastage or reduced concentrate feed will be analysed. The scenario specifications will be done in close collaboration with key stakeholders and with the international scientific board of the project. For all scenarios, various sustainability indicators will be analyzed, with a focus on trade-offs and synergies among them.
In close collaboration with the stakeholders, most promising scenarios for a future with higher shares of up to 100% organic farming in Luxembourg will be identified. To link this scenario analysis to the farm level, typical farms for the current baseline situation and the envisaged future with higher shares of organic agriculture will be identified, to illustrate what these changes may mean for the farms and the agricultural sector structure.
The output of the project will be a vision for a sustainable 100% organic farming system in Luxembourg for the year 2050. In this vision, climate change adaptation performance and climate change mitigation impacts will be addressed besides other sustainability aspects. These results will provide guidance to Luxembourg on how to design a future sustainable food system.
2024-2027
This research is supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), grant reference [C23/SR/179444413], the OEuvre Nationale and the Swiss National Fonds.
durum wheat and pasta from luxembourg
Development of a value chain from the cultivation of durum wheat to further processing into pasta products
The cultivation of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. Durum), is limited to the Mediterranean region and neighbouring areas. In North America, however, durum wheat is also cultivated in more northerly locations with low rainfall and higher temperatures. Thanks to breeding successes and increasing periods of drought as well as temperature rises triggered by climate change, the cultivation of durum wheat is also possible in more northerly locations in Europe. What makes durum wheat so attractive is the semolina obtained from it. This is characterised by a high protein and gluten content, which is why it is ideal for pasta production. There is currently no high-yield durum wheat cultivation in Luxembourg, although the demand for its products is increasing. In addition, durum wheat production in Europe is in deficit, which makes it a niche product and therefore there is an extremely good marketing opportunity for durum wheat.
As a result, the project “Development of a value chain from the cultivation of durum wheat to further processing into pasta” was set up as part of the “Plan d'action nationale de l'agriculture biologique PAN-Bio 2025”. As part of the project, the plan is to launch a new pasta product on the market with the highest possible proportion of Luxembourg durum wheat. This will not only expand the range of Luxembourg organic food products, but will also create an outlet for certified organic eggs that cannot be sold on the market due to deviating calibration.
The aims of this project are to encourage the cultivation of durum wheat and to provide expert advice from cultivation to marketing. In addition, long-term solutions are to be found for professional storage, cleaning and selection according to quality. Finally, an appropriate price for durum wheat should be ensured, which compensates for additional costs such as cleaning, drying, storage and transport.
2024-2027
lefasus
Investigating Legume Soil Fatigue for Sustainable Expansion of European Grain Legume Cultivation
Over the past decades, efforts have been made to promote the cultivation of legumes, especially grain legumes such as peas, faba bean, soybean or lupines, in order to reduce the use of mineral N fertilizers, increase biodiversity, reduce dependence on imported feed proteins and improve soil biological properties and humus content. However, grain legumes are still not widely grown. One of the main reasons is “legume fatigue”, which reduces the yields of grain legumes and limits the expansion of legume cultivation in many European environments. The exact causes of legume fatigue are not known, although soil-borne diseases interacting with abiotic factors are thought to play a key role. Recent results suggest that the balance between pathogen load and soil suppressiveness is critical. In several farms and/or regions legume fatigue is not reported to be a problem, while in others it severely limits legume production. The reasons for this variation are not fully understood, but Identification of the causes is urgent, considering biotic and abiotic factors.
The aim of this project is therefore to identify the main causal factors and indicators of legume fatigue in a variety of European environments. In this context, easily implementable indicators to assess the risk of legume fatigue, including soil suppressiveness in addition to pathogen load, will be developed. Proposals for agronomic measures to prevent or reduce legume fatigue will be developed and a basis for further targeted research will be established.
2024-2027
Supported by the Œuvre Nationale and the Fond National de la Recherche (FNR) within the framework of the GreenERAHub.
organicyieldsup
Improving yields in organic cropping systems
With the European Green Deal, the Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity Strategy, the EU aims to achieve the target of at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. This means tripling the current organic farm area with estimated 700.000 farmers expected to enter the organic sector. One of the obstacles hindering conversion to organic farming is the lower yields per hectare grown under organic conditions as compared with those produced under conventional farming. Therefore, improving organic yields is a key challenge of the organic sector, which however needs to be achieved on the basis of the principles of organic farming. Against this background, the overall aim of the project is to contribute to a sustainable increase in yields in organic cropping systems through a comprehensive and structured compilation and evaluation of existing knowledge, devising sustainable impact strategies relevant to stakeholders and policy. The project will set up an European-wide network of testing, experimentation and demonstration sites from 11 regions / countries, representing a wide range of pedo-climatic and structural conditions. It will connect actors from science and practice to jointly reflect on organic yield increase strategies. It will draw recommendations for the future research agenda and development of EU policies relevant for organic production. The outcomes of the project will be widely available and disseminated to actors within and beyond the organic community.
2024-2028
HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-3
precision
Advanced Machine Learning for Drone-Based Precision Agriculture: Optimisation of Nitrogen and Weed Control for Wheat Yield
The project PRECISION seeks to develop a decision support tool that can assist farmers in adjusting the N content during the growing season, leading to more sustainable agriculture practices with less leaching and volatilisation of N compounds from the farmlands. To meet these challenges and make agricultural practices more resilient and sustainable; a paradigm shift in agricultural practices is needed urgently. Much of this change can only be achieved through precision agriculture (PA) employing advanced remote sensing (RS) technologies including the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with Light Detection
and Ranging (LiDAR) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) systems.
Data processing is realised using a combination of established methods (ML, DL) and artificial intelligence.
Based on these data sets, PRECISON will develop efficient and innovative PA methods using machine and deep learning algorithms that can be immediately applied by the farmers involved in the project.
2024-2027
Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation et de la Viticulture and Fond National de la Recherche (FNR)
legendary
The main objective of LEGENDARY is to remove the barriers that hamper a significant and stable increase of the growing area of legumes in European cropping systems. Therefore, LEGENDARY has the ambition to develop tools and methods that considerably go beyond the state-of-the-art to quantify the Ecosystem Services of legumes, considering different agro-climatic zones. LEGENDARY will set up intense stakeholder networks, including food/feed processors, advisors and farmers to ensure a strong penetration of the project results into practice and to contribute significantly to more agrobiodiversity and diversified farming systems in the EU and its associated countries.
2024 – 2028
Funded by the European Union (Project 101135494) and the Œuvre Nationale.
legu-wsk
Promotion of the value chain of grain legumes for human nutrition in Luxembourg
The high prices for production factors like synthetic fertilizers, as well as their fluctuating availability due to global conflicts and weather events, highlight the need for a farm-internal nutrient supply for agricultural land. Grain legumes play an important role here as a preceding crop and green manure, as they can enrich the soil with nitrogen through rhizobia (Del Pozo & Mera, 2021). Currently, legumes are mainly used as animal feed, although their use is not always practicable due to their antinutritive ingredients and high starch content compared to their protein content. However, coarse-grained legumes also have the potential to be used for human nutrition. While legumes are attracting growing interest from consumers and the media as a foodstuff, there is currently no value chain for processing them in Luxembourg. But there is already an initiative to use protein from legumes grown in Luxembourg to produce meat substitutes. The goal of the project is to promote this development and at the same time to identify further processing possibilities for coarse-grained legumes. As different legumes have different demands on their location, species with very different requirements are selected. This should ensure that farmers can participate in the project regardless of the location of their land.
2023-2026
Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation et de la Viticulture
bio-wsk lux
Characterization of the main value chains of organic agriculture in Luxembourg
The government's goal is, to increase the proportion of organically farmed land in Luxembourg from currently around 6% to 20% by 2025 in order to help shape the “green deal” of EU policy in Luxembourg. In order to achieve the government's target of 20% organically farmed land, it must be ensured that the domestic sales channels can absorb, process and market the increased production volumes. Therefore, in this project, for the first time, a complete study of the current situation of the value chain for organic food in terms of production and distribution is being carried out. The data collected serve as a basis for evaluating the performance potential of the value chain in Luxembourg and deriving recommendations for measures. The data obtained in this way is analysed quantitatively and qualitatively in order to evaluate the various companies comparatively. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews are conducted with stakeholders at processing and sales level. Attention is paid particularly to reflect the variety of different types of business, from direct marketing to catering, retail and wholesale, in the interviews. Based on the qualitative analysis of the questionnaires and best-practice examples from Luxemburg and abroad, a catalogue of recommendations for action for each type of company is created. Together with the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Viticulture and the stakeholders involved, the various recommendations for actions are prioritized, taking into account various aspects such as potential for improvement, feasibility and costs. This classification serves as a basis for optimally using the existing potential of the value chain for organic food in Luxembourg and for efficiently steering the future direction.
2023-2024
tassili
Biotechnology To Fight Fungal Infections in Plants; The Use of Saponins Isolated from Fabaceae
Public concerns about the environment and the detrimental impact of pesticides make that fewer and fewer tools to ensure production are available for farmers. Nonetheless, studies show that banning the use of fungicides results in a decreased agricultural production, thereby further endangering the need to feed a growing world population. For these reasons, there is a huge effort ongoing to find new, environmental-friendly fungicides and these are searched in bacteria, fungi and plants.
Plants cannot run away from unfavourable conditions, but they have, through evolution, developed a number of mechanisms that allow them to survive non-optimal conditions, including exposure to pathogens. One of these mechanisms is the synthesis and accumulation of small molecules with activities that protect plants from infections. Among these compounds, saponins are known and studied to protect plants from fungal infections. However not all plants produce the same saponins and this in different quantities, furthermore not all fungi have the same sensitivity for saponins.
Mining data from previous projects resulted in the identification of saponins in stems from different Fabaceae, and it was seen that the conditions wherein these plants grow have an impact on the composition of the saponin pools of these plants. Based on this TASSILI will provide the fundamental data for further studies towards the production of saponin-based fungicides extracted from locally-grown Fabaceae (alfalfa, peas, soybean and faba bean).
Extracts will be made from different varieties of the mentioned plants. This will generate a set of extracts with different composition and thus potentially different fungicidal activities against plant pathogenic fungi. The activity of these extracts will be tested against some common plant pathogenic fungi: Botrytis cinerea (a pathogen in viticulture), Fusarium graminearum and Zymoseptoria tritici two important pathogens in grain cultivation. By testing a diverse set of extracts against these fungi, TASSILI will result in the correlation between the composition of the extracts and the measured fungicidal activity. Furthermore, the saponins that contribute most to this activity will be identified.
2023-2026
Supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) (O22/17207949) and the Œuvre Nationale.
commect
Bridging the digital divide and addressing the need of Rural Communities with Cost-effective and Environmental-Friendly Connectivity Solutions
In recent years, the importance and need for broadband and high-speed connectivity has steadily increased. The Covid-19 pandemic has even accelerated this process towards a more connected society. However, this applies mainly to cities and metropolitan areas. In Europe, 13% of the population still lacks connectivity in any form. This mainly affects rural regions. Due to the lower commercial attractiveness, solutions prove to be compareably more difficult.
COMMECT aims to bridge this gap by providing quality, reliability and security in terms of digital access for rural areas. The goal of expanding broadband connectivity in remote areas is achieved by integrating non-terrestrial networks with terrestrial XG mobile networks and low-cost Internet of Things (IoT). Artificial intelligence, edge and network automation will reduce energy consumption at both the connectivity and compute levels.
A participatory approach with end users and IT experts working together on development challenges will be key to digitizing the sector. In doing so, COMMECT will build intensive exchange of best practices and technical knowledge among agroforestry value chain actors.
Five Living Labs (model regions) will be established inside and outside Europe, where "problems" and "benefits" of connectivity will be derived from different perspectives for end users.
The "Living Lab Luxembourg", which is also the focus of IBLA's work, deals with the digitalization of Luxembourg's viticulture. At the beginning, the needs of the stakeholders (winegrowers) for digital area information for the management in the areas of irrigation, fertilization and plant protection, among others, are determined in workshops. On this basis, relevant data will be made available to the stakeholders for their cultivation decisions, as well as decision-support systems will be made usable. Demonstration events will be held to eventually improve awareness and acceptance of digital technologies in viticulture.
2022-2025
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 101060881.
water protection
Methods of organic farming for the benefit of drinking water protection
Agriculture has a direct influence on ground- and surface water through soil management and can therefore make a significant contribution to maintaining good drinking water quality. Organic farming is inherently useful to water conservation through management according to natural matter cycles, area-based animal husbandry, diverse crop rotations and the permanent avoidance of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers. With the financial support of the drinking water suppliers Ville de Luxembourg (VdL), the Syndicat des Eaux du Sud (SES), the Syndicat des Eaux du Barrage d'Esch-sur-Sûre (SEBES) together with the Landwirtschaftlech Kooperatioun Uerwersauer (LAKU), the Distribution d'Eau des Ardennes (DEA) and the Natur & Geopark Mëllerdall (NGPM), as well as the Administration de la gestion de l'eau (AGE) of the Ministère de l'Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable, IBLA advises farmers on all aspects of organic farming. In addition, pilot projects and demonstration trials are carried out on topics and techniques relevant to water protection (mechanical weed control, cultivation of legumes, alternative crops to maize) in order to support practitioners in the management of land in water protection areas in the most targeted and farm-oriented way possible. On top of that, IBLA, on behalf of Luxembourgs organic agriculture, actively participates in various committees, working groups and accompanying committees on the topic of (drinking) water protection.
since 2017
fact sheets
Preparation of fact sheets for organic farming
In order to provide farmers with the basics of organic farming as well as new scientific and at the same time practice-relevant findings from this field, there is a need for specialized written materials that are specifically targeted at practitioners. Since 2009, IBLA has already participated in the preparation and publication of such information materials in collaboration with European partners such as the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL).
To ensure that the target group of Luxembourg agriculture can be informed in a way that is as tailored as possible to their needs, the IBLA has been drafting relevant technical literature specifically adapted to Luxembourg as a location since 2021. The advantage of such an approach lies in the fact that the knowledge communicated on the basis of existing international technical brochures is both brought together and supplemented by experience gained in-house.
In addition to preparing and publishing fact sheets, IBLA is now also working on variety information sheets containing the results of variety trials in organic farming. These are a supplement to the national list of varieties and contain more detailed information on plant development, which covers the special information needs of organic farms.
since 2009
2000 m² for our food
Project to promote a sustainable agricultural and food culture
To feed themselves, the Luxembourg population uses on average about 3700 m². However, only 2000 m² per capita are available to the inhabitants of Luxembourg for the production of food. This area is divided into 50% grassland and 50% arable land. The arable land can be used to grow food for direct human consumption (e.g. potatoes or vegetables). With these products, a healthy, seasonally varied diet is possible, while fodder for the production of animal food can also be grown. The available 1000 m² of grassland are used for keeping cattle, because only they can make the best use of the grass. At the "Haus vun der Natur" this is illustrated on a demonstration area of 2000 m² and made accessible to the public. Here, regional crops are cultivated in organic farming methods in the proportions of land that could represent a possible healthy diet for the population of Luxembourg. On the project area, possibilities of an environmentally friendly diet are shown and the amount of climate-damaging greenhouse gases associated with the cultivation is presented. We welcome you at the "Haus vun der Natur", just contact us!
2018-2025
variety trials
in organic agriculture in Luxembourg
The aim of the variety trials is to give Luxembourgish organic farmers meaningful recommendations for the variety selection. For this purpose, winter wheat cultivation trials in organic farming were implemented by IBLA in cooperation with the Lycée Technique Agricole (LTA) in the season 2009/10. In recent years, further crops have been added to the variety trials. On the basis of these trials, a list of varieties is issued each year by the National Variety Commission as an aid for the selection of varieties for the farmers.
• Winter cereal variety trials since 2009
• Summer cereal variety trials in 2014-2016, and again since 2019
• Soybean variety trials in 2014, and again since 2018
• Clover grass mixture variety trials in 2013-2015 and again since 2020
• Pea and faba bean variety trials since 2016
• Potato variety trials since 2016
• Maize variety trials since 2020
Supported by Œuvre Nationale and Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et de la Viticulture.