The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) in Potsdam and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), USA, are sealing their continued cooperation with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The official signing of the MoU took place on 10 November 2025 at Agritechnica in Hanover in the presence of Federal Minister Alois Rainer at the stand of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (BMLEH). The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in the areas of sustainable bioeconomy, digitalisation, precision agriculture and food processing and enable comparative living lab research. It reaffirms the joint commitment to increased knowledge and technology exchange in transatlantic cooperation in order to meet the challenges of the modern agricultural and food industry.
There has long been interest in targeted cooperation between the two institutions, ATB and UNL. In 2023, a small ATB delegation led by Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Barbara Sturm travelled to Nebraska to significantly advance the cooperation. Since then, there has been an ongoing exchange, particularly regarding the work of the Leibniz Innovation Centre for Sustainable Bioeconomy (InnoHof) and the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Centre (ENREC).
Now it is time to get more specific. Joint research projects in bioeconomy are to be planned and applied for infrastructures such as InnoHof, ENREC and the Nebraska Innovation Campus are to be used jointly. A Transatlantic Living Lab is to be established as early as 2026.
Knowledge transfer also plays an important role. The focus here is on the exchange of students, researchers and technical staff from infrastructures, as well as the organisation of joint workshops or stakeholder dialogues and the joint publication of papers. In the coming years, joint workshop formats on digital agriculture and the circular bioeconomy are to be developed.
Prof. Dr. Sturm is delighted with the progress made: “Our delegation's visit to Nebraska two years ago already demonstrated the enormous potential of this partnership. With today's official signing of the MoU, we are not only sealing our shared vision, but also creating a reliable framework for international cooperation in the field of sustainable bioeconomy. The presence of the Federal Minister at our signing ceremony underlines the transatlantic significance of this research alliance. We are convinced that our future cooperation will make a decisive contribution to overcoming global challenges, and we look forward to the intensive exchange and mutual visits that will now follow.”
Derek McLean, Dean of the Agricultural Research Division, at UNL adds: “The partnership between UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and ATB in Germany reflects our shared vision to advance the science that will define the future of agriculture. Together, we will accelerate innovation in the bioeconomy and precision and digital agriculture to link Nebraska’s strength in production systems with ATB’s expertise in engineering and bioprocessing. This collaboration connects people, ideas, and technology across continents to build a more sustainable and resilient global food and energy system.
The delegation from Nebraska will continue its tour of Germany in the coming days with a visit to the ATB, which will also be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (BMLEH). Federal Minister Alois Rainer will shortly be leaving on a delegation trip to the United States and plans to visit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) with the aim of getting to know the university's excellent research infrastructures. Combined with the diverse opportunities at the ATB, these offer unique prospects for promising future cooperation between the two institutions.
About ATB:
The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy is a pioneer and driver of systemic-technical bioeconomy research.
We create the scientific basis for the transformation of agricultural, food, other industrial and energy systems into a sustainable bio-based circular economy. We develop, implement and integrate technologies, techniques, processes and management strategies, we strategically integrate a variety of bioeconomic production systems within a comprehensive system approach, and we manage these in a knowledge-based, adaptive and largely automated manner using converging technologies.
We conduct research in dialogue with society, political decision-makers, industry and other stakeholders – motivated by knowledge and inspired by application.
About UNL:
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was founded on 15 February 1869 as a state university to open up new opportunities for the state of Nebraska. A proud member of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of Public and Land-G rant Universities (APLU), Nebraska is classified in the Carnegie category "R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity". The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Contact:
Prof Barbara Sturm
Scientific Director
Email: director@atb-potsdam.de
Dr Ulrike Glaubitz
Press and Public Relations Officer
Email: presse@atb-potsdam.de
Tel: 0331-5699 820