Agricultural Technology

We combine mechanical engineering, automation, robotics, sensor technology, and digital systems to create comprehensive solutions for plant and animal production. These include harvesting and handling systems for berries, vegetables, as well as medicinal plants; intelligent cultivation methods for field crops; and data-driven assistance systems. These solutions support businesses throughout the value chain. They streamline work processes, and ensure operations continue despite a shortage of skilled workers. In livestock farming, we develop reproducible processes to reduce labor, improve animal welfare, and ensure product quality.

Our focus at Fraunhofer IGP is on quality assurance and the evaluation of new technologies. We systematically assess crop production processes for stability, quality, and cost-effectiveness. In field trials—such as those conducted at the Tellow innovation farm—we measure traction requirements, diesel consumption, load distribution, and operational strategies. Mobile robotics and drone systems provide data on crop stands, land use, and workflows to test the performance of autonomous technology in practical operations. The findings are incorporated into the optimization of cultivation and harvesting strategies, as well as into the further development of robust, energy-efficient agricultural machinery.

Digital tools play a central role in this process: We gather comprehensive information about crop stands, soils, workflows, and livestock management with sensors, satellite data, connected agricultural machinery, and autonomous or semi-autonomous systems. From this data, we develop key performance indicators and decision-making tools that help farmers use resources more effectively, reduce risks, and develop new, resilient business models.

This way, we at Fraunhofer IGP lay the groundwork for rapidly putting innovative solutions into practice—for a modern agriculture that is economically viable, ecologically balanced, and socially accepted.