Representatives of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperation (BAAC) came to the Hans Eisenmann Forum (HEF) to engage in a joint exchange. The aim of the meeting was to discuss current research projects and how scientific findings can be successfully transferred into practice. The HEF office gave an overview of the HEF and the TUM School of Life Sciences. In addition, four HEF-affiliated chairs presented their interdisciplinary and internationally networked research projects.

Precision agriculture & artificial intelligence

Prof. Kang Yu from the Chair of Precision Agriculture presented a research project that combines physical models with artificial intelligence methods. The developed a method to estimate the chlorophyll content as an indicator of plant health globally – a key technology for sustainable agriculture worldwide. Building on these findings, the team is also working on a satellite-based model for global yield estimation.

Yield forecasting using improved weather models

Maximilian Zachow from the Chair of Digital Agriculture presented an advanced method for weather and yield forecasting that is currently being used in Europe. Using case studies – for example from Spain – he showed how strongly the accuracy of forecasts depends on the local relationship between precipitation and yield.

Biodiversity and global supply chains

Veronika Schlosser and Yanfei Shan from the Chair of Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems highlighted the impact of different types of land use and international value chains on biodiversity.

Sustainable agricultural systems in a global context

Dr. Roberto Villalba from the Chair of Production and Resource Economics presented international projects such as INCiTiS FOOD, an EU-funded project that aims to promote circular and sustainable food systems in urban regions of Africa. The chair is also active in Asia, for example through an outreach visit to Vietnam in spring 2025.