Towards a closer collaboration between LIST and Geisenheim University

On 28 September 2017, as part of its activities in Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) welcomed the President of Geisenheim University (DE), Professor Hans-Reiner Schultz.

Research at Geisenheim University covers aspects of the complete supply chain of special crops. It ranges from the development of cultivated landscapes and regions, through scientific projects with special relevance for the cultivation of vines and other crop plants, to production and quality aspects and marketing. The research areas are consistently within the context of future challenges facing the agriculture and nutrition sector. The ERIN department has already ongoing activities with researchers of Geisenheim University in particular in the cultivation of vines.

The meeting reflects a mutual eagerness to work more closely together in the following areas of joint interest:

• Viticulture
• Impact of climate change on major crops
• Agri-environmental challenges, like groundwater pollution through pesticides
• Plant biotechnologies
• Use of Earth observation data for precision agriculture.

The discussions centred on the abilities of LIST and University of Geisenheim to meet public and private sector requests in the area of agriculture, viticulture and biotechnologies. They confirmed the potential for synergies and collaborations to contribute to each organisation's missions, and the strengths, skills and partnerships of the stakeholders present. In the short term, a LIST delegation composed of ERIN experts will visit Geisenheim University before the end of the year for further discussion of common topics of interest.

Picture: Hans-Reiner Schultz (President of Hochschule Geisenheim University), Lucien Hoffmann (Director of the ERIN department LIST), Daniel Molitor ("Plant science and biotechnologies" unit ERIN-LIST)