Exciting innovations are being developed here

A New Perspective on the Future of Agriculture - A Conversation with Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Windisch

The idea that progress is inevitably synonymous with growth is deeply ingrained in many people’s minds. However, in the face of an agricultural sector grappling with increasingly scarce resources, mounting climate pressures, and ecological limits, a new way of thinking is gaining ground: farming in harmony with nature.

Arjen Stouten runs Huyskweker Stouten V.O.F. in Oosterland, the Netherlands, together with his family. On approximately 1 hectare of greenhouse space, the family-run business professionally cultivates high-quality summer flowers, as well as a wide assortment of bedding and balcony plants and various perennials. A particular focus is on balcony and patio planters, as well as hanging baskets with built-in water reservoirs. The company sells directly to private end customers throughout the Netherlands and a small part of Belgium.

New Rules of Origin Effective June 2026

How can you tell if honey is truly from Austria? With regional specialties, organic products, and inexpensive imported blends on the shelves, it’s often not easy for Austrian honey to stand out in the supermarket. While checking the label helps, many origin labels have been rather vague up until now. That’s exactly what the new 2026 amendment to the Honey Regulation is set to change.

In the Traunviertel region, not far from Gmunden, vegetables are grown not according to trends, but based on experience. For decades, the Kirchgatterer family farm has stood for a form of agriculture rooted in careful cultivation, a close connection to nature, and a sense of responsibility toward the soil and people. Having grown across generations, the farm thrives on the belief that consistency arises where one looks closely, exercises patience, and is willing to carefully integrate new approaches into existing structures. A look behind the scenes of a vegetable farm that combines tradition and innovation.

Whether in cakes, muesli, spreads, or beverages, sugar is an indispensable part of our diet. But what seems so commonplace today was once something quite special. Until well into the Middle Ages, honey was the only sweetener in Austria. It wasn’t until later that beet and cane sugar found their way into our kitchens. The Land schafft Leben association explains the journey the beet takes from cultivation to the sugar aisle and how production works in Austria.

Anyone who grows lavender knows that behind this plant’s apparent hardiness lies a delicate soul. Heat, humidity, stress—even minor factors are enough to sap the vitality from these fragrant purple wonders. For the van Adrichem family from Germany, lavender has long been more than just a product. They have been passionately cultivating ornamental plants for over 65 years. For them, lavender represents tradition, fragrance, summer—and the knowledge that nature and craftsmanship can exist in harmony. Our conversation with Mareike van Adrichem offers insight into the company’s history, its success, and how the team ultimately finds a natural solution even in challenging times.

Marcus Fattinger has overcome a crucial challenge at his Upper Austrian breeding farm: the rapid spoilage of feed. By using Fermented Herbal Extract (FHE), he has not only improved feed preservation but also the health of his pigs.

Appreciation of quality, price, a changing climate and changing eating habits are just four of the factors that will determine how we produce food in the future.

The silage additive MK Multisil promotes optimum fermentation of the silage and improves silage quality, as three farmers from Upper Austria report.

Many horticultural businesses and their customers are interested in preventative, plant-strengthening products, such as those from Multikraft. Frank Korting from the Rhineland-Palatinate Rural Service Centre in Germany has done some research and reports on his findings.

Since January 2019, the Steinhilber nursery in Neustadt an der Waldnaab in Bavaria has been working consistently without pesticides. Changes in crop management, the use of beneficial organisms and the Multikraft biostimulant are crucial to success.

Kurt Kirchmayr from Pupping is a founding member of the Eferdinger Landl potato/vegetable group, which acts as a direct supplier for Billa, Spar and Hofer. They cannot afford crop failures. He has been successfully experimenting with the Multikraft system on his potato fields for two years. The 2023 season brought a harvest increase of around 4.5 tonnes per hectare - an impressive increase of around ten per cent.

MK Start is used for potting at the Lundager nursery in Denmark. The loss rate of 0 % speaks for compact, strong plants that are able to defend themselves against fungal diseases.

The Lundager nursery in Odense is one of the best addresses for small ornamental plants in Denmark. Ove and his wife Olga run the business, which is constantly growing and supplies garden centres throughout Europe with its products. Preventive plant health is particularly important in glasshouses, because otherwise the plants can hardly protect themselves against fungal infestation and other diseases.

Conor O'Brien, CEO of Multikraft Probiotics Australia, shares impressive results: The use of Multikraft's biostimulants has resulted in yield increases of up to 35 per cent. This innovation not only improved quality, but also enabled a drastic reduction in the use of fungicides and pesticides on the cultivation areas.
Multikraft has been represented in Australia since 2014. Conor O'Brien is particularly proud of the successful development in Margaret River in the south-west of Western Australia - one of the youngest wine regions in the world, which has achieved international recognition in record time. Multikraft looks after a large number of winegrowers there, including Cherubino Vineyards, Australia's most award-winning winery. 

Sustainable plant fortification, peat-free substrates, the multi-weed system in viticulture and many other field reports and experiments were presented at the Ornamental Plants & Vegetables Conference 2024. Gardeners shared their practical experience in the use of plant strengtheners, which enable pesticide reduction through regular use. Frank Korting from DLR Rhineland-Palatinate reported on his trial results on the multi-weed system using the cold fog method.