Bavaria, South Tyrol and Austria jointly support cross-border research projects on agro-innovation and climate change adaptation. A total of €1.5 million is available for implementation. The aim is to enable practice-oriented research for sustainable agriculture, forestry and water management in the participating regions. Within the framework of a joint call, three projects were selected that will start in 2026 and stand out for their strong practical relevance as well as the cooperation of research institutions from at least two regions.
The call focuses on the key research themes of circular bioeconomy and climate-resilient agriculture. Among other objectives, the projects aim to unlock the potential of the bioeconomy along regional value chains and to jointly develop solutions for comparable challenges in agriculture and forestry. Similar agricultural conditions in the three Alpine regions provide a solid basis for joint research approaches and the transfer of knowledge into practice.
With the cross-border projects, we are pooling our research efforts for a future-oriented agriculture and forestry sector. Together, we can address topics such as climate change, security of supply and circular economy in a targeted and practice-oriented way, thus making an important contribution to positive ecological and economic development in the three regions. Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig
The Projects
The project HirseBohne investigates dry beans and sorghum as new crops for climate-resilient agriculture and a circular bioeconomy. The aim is to develop adapted varieties and to strengthen their cultivation, processing and use in Alpine regions. The project will start in January 2026.
The project KOMY focuses on the utilisation of apple pomace through circular strategies for the development of high-value products and by-products. Apple pomace and its fermentation by-products are treated as valuable resources and used as a basis for new circular economy approaches in the agri-food industry. The project will start in March 2026.
The project CAP-AB analyses the productivity of agricultural holdings, taking into account environmental indicators as well as circular economy and bioeconomy practices within the EU Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN). This project will also start in March 2026.
The projects strengthen networking among research institutions in the three regions and are expected to provide impulses for innovation in the agri-food sector. The results are intended to make a sustainable contribution to agricultural and forestry practice.
Further information on the projects and their results will be published on the DaFNE research platform. Additional information on the participating organisations is available on the website of BMLUK.