PhD Project
Project Information
GreenGrass 2 is a transdisciplinary research project dedicated to strengthening high-nature-value grassland in Germany through pasture-based husbandry systems with precision farming technologies like virtual fencing, remote sensing and information systems. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Research (BMFTR) as part of the Agrarsysteme der Zukunft funding programme, which supports innovative and sustainability-oriented approaches to transforming Germany’s agricultural systems.
Objectives
Working Package 5 (AP5) sits at the intersection of technology and stakeholders. Its central aim is to develop the technologies and integrative policy mixes that support the long-term viability of extensive grazing systems and high-nature-value grassland. AP5 adopts a co-design approach: bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policy actors to jointly identify barriers, leverage points, and governance instruments suited to real-world conditions.
The Living Lab and Policy Lab Approach
The methodological core of AP5 is a series of Living Lab and Policy Lab sessions conducted across GreenGrass 2’s Living Lab regions — Havelniederung, Solling, and Wesermarsch. These sessions provide a structured space for multi-actor dialogue, drawing on Technological Innovation System (TIS) analysis and transition theory to diagnose systemic weaknesses and develop context-sensitive policy responses. The Lab series runs from 2026 to 2028 and is designed to iteratively refine the precision grassland farming technologies and corresponding policy proposals based on participant feedback and emerging regional insights.
Contribution to the Project
AP5 links the empirical findings generated across other working packages to the governance and policy dimension of the project. By embedding policy development within a transdisciplinary process, AP5 ensures that the resulting policy mixes reflect not only scientific knowledge but also the practical expertise and normative priorities of those directly involved in managing Germany’s grassland landscapes. The overarching goal is to contribute actionable, coherent, and politically feasible recommendations for the transformation of pasture-based agricultural systems toward greater ecological sustainability.
LandFoodClimateInfrastructure & Energy
