Welcome to the ZIM – Innovation Network „Food Systems - Highly sustainable value creation from safe food“
Managed by T+I Consult
About us
Network partners
Agrargenossenschaft EG Heinersbrück
Location: Heinersbrück
Established since: 1990
agrargenossenschaft-heinersbrueck.eatbu.com
Agrargenossenschaft eG Heinersbrück is an agricultural enterprise from Lusatia active in plant and animal production. The farm focuses on arable farming and grassland as well as milk production with direct marketing. In addition, the farm is involved in recultivation and the design of new utilisation concepts for agriculture and forestry and thus also brings practical expertise to the development of a circular economy.
Bauern AG Neißethal
Location: Groß Gastrose
Established since: 1991
The Bauern AG Neißethal is an agricultural enterprise in Lusatia active in arable farming and animal production. The farm has expertise in pig production with a sow breeding and fattening plant and in cattle production with suckler cow husbandry and milk production. In addition, the farm is involved in the recultivation of land for agriculture. Thus, the Bauern AG Neißetal brings into the network experience in different agricultural practices to the expansion of a circular economy.
DIL Technologie GmbH
Location: Quakenbrück
Established since: 2010
The DIL Technologie GmbH develops sustainable and efficient solutions for process technologies and new product developments for the food sector. Problems in the pre-competitive as well as in the commercial sector can be dealt with from the different perspectives of food technology under the aspects of innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. As a link between science and practice, the DIL Technologie GmbH continuously supports its customers and partners in the innovation process and ensures a technology transfer to the food industry.
IGV GmhH
Location: Nuthetal
Established since: 1960
IGV GmbH is a privately owned company with decades of experience in food, feed and microalgae.
In addition to the analytical and sensory evaluation of food and feed, the cultivation of microalgae, the production of active ingredient extracts and the training centre are the main activities of the innovative company.
Oase GmbH
Location: Hörstel
Established since: 1949
Oase GmbH is a company active in water management for both business and private customers. Core products are the development of different water systems such as fountains and ponds. The company’s core competencies include various technologies related to irrigation and drainage systems, drinking water treatment, pumping systems, water analysis and remediation. Further competences around the automation of the systems are the basis for the further development of the technologies.
sense.AI.tion GmbH
Location: Wildau
Established since: 2018
Sense.Al.tion GmbH is an IT company focused on the application of artificial intelligence in various applications. With this area of expertise, the company brings experience in the processing of big data. In addition, software systems for the automation of machines are adapted to changing environmental conditions.
QuoData GmbH
Location: Dresden
Established since: 1995
Quodata is an IT company working in the field of life science with public and private institutions. The company’s core competence is model development using artificial intelligence and statistics for various areas of biotechnology. Quodata brings expertise to the processing of Big Data through experimental design, method validation, data interpretation and evaluation.
Associated Partners
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Location: Cottbus
The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is a university that can draw on a wide range of technical expertise. In the department for polymer-based lightweight construction, the spezial field is the design, simulation, prototype production and testing of function-integrative fibre-plastic composite construction methods.
Along the product-oriented value chain, the department deals with the cross-industry development of energy-efficient lightweight construction solutions and associated manufacturing technologies.
DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e.V.
Location: Quakenbrück
The DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. (German Institut of Food Technologies) is a non-university, non-profit research institute in food technology and food science. Over the last three decades, an internationally active institute with competencies along the entire food value chain has developed in Quakenbrück. The DIL operates in the research areas of food safety and authenticity, structure and functionality, and sustainability.
Forschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V (FIB)
Location: Finsterwalde
The FIB is conducting application-oriented research for the rehabilitation and recultivation of mining regions with the focus on the model region Lusatia. Core competences are in the agricultural and forestry recultivation, soil improvement, landscape development, Renaturation and river ecology. Further areas of work are the adaptation of land use and water management to climate change and the development of value chains for renewable raw materials. Therefore, the FIB uses its own environmental laboratory, greenhouse, pilot plant, lysimeter and field experiments.
Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen Sustainable Packaging Institute SPI
Location: Sigmaringen
The Sustainable Packing Institute SPI has its research focus „Sustainable Packaging Concepts“ for the Life Science industry. The SPI mission is to support all actors in the packaging industry on their way towards a more sustainable, circular bioeconomy. Its thematic fields (biogenic raw materials, process technology and design, functional materials, smart packaging, preservation and packaging, and bioeconomy and sustainability) address this mission.
Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee (KOB)
Location: Ravensburg
The KOB combines science and industry with a focus on practices for fruit growing with the large aim of promoting regional fruit cultivation at lake Constance. Thereby the KOB has knowledge competencies in many fields, which comprise plant health, optimal harvesting and production techniques as well as economical experience to support businesses. Therefore, they contribute with capacities for specific quality, pests and profitability in the cultivation of fruit and thus overall, to the production of healthy food.
Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V. (INP)
Location: Greifswald
The research program Agriculture, Biomass & Decontamination of the Leibniz Institute of Plasma Science and Technology develops processes for applications in the agricultural and food sector, as well as the decontamination of water.
Plasma describes the state of an excited, electrically conductive gas. It emits, among other things, electric fields, shock waves, reactive species, and UV radiation.
These properties are suitable, for example, for replacing pesticides, extending the storage stability of products and increasing hygiene standards. Plasma processes can also be used to degrade microorganisms and stable chemical compounds. Targets of the application are the treatment of waste water and the treatment of process water. Cell disruption can also be triggered, e.g., for the recovery of temperature-sensitive ingredients from microalgae.
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Location: Halle
www.ernaehrungswissenschaften.uni-halle.de
The Chair of Nutrtional Physiology is part of the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. The institute develops fundamental concepts for sustainable and economical food production and healthy nutrition. In this context, the aim of the Chair of Nutritional Physiology is to investigate the effects of nutrition and food substances on bodily functions and to understand their significance in the ageing process and the development of chronic diseases. Focal points relevant to the network are the identification of biomarkers and their effects on metabolis.
Universität Potsdam
Location: Potsdam
The working group „Instrumental Analysis in Nutritional Science“ at the Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam combines state-of-the-art analytical equipment with high technical competence in the field of identification and application of secondary plant constituents and proteins. The focus is directed thereby to the importance of their interactions while considering the effects on nutritional and techno-functional properties in complex food matrices.
Foreign Partners
Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI)
Location: Urrbrae, Australia
The AWRI conducts research on a wide range of topics relevant to the production of high-quality wines and other beverages. Research priorities relevant to the network are the development of new technologies and techniques for sustainable and profitable viticulture and wine production. The AWRI has extensive expertise in research fields of flavour chemistry, analytical and physical chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, sensory science and metabolomics. In addition, the AWRI and its commercial arm Affinity Labs regularly undertake life cycle analysis and benchmark novel technologies, food additives, processing aids and packaging materials.
Biodegradables Ecuador
Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Biodegradables Ecuador® develops, produces and distributes sustainable and compostable packaging for food made from renewable resources. Of particular relevance to the network are the knowledge in packaging production technologies and the experience of the market in Ecuador. The focus of the research is on the analysis of materials to determine the suitability of renewable raw materials in food handling.
Soil Assist
Location: Yorkeys Knob, Australia
As a service provider, Soil Assist advises customers on how to bring their soil to a healthy biological state and increase soil fertility. Relevant areas for the network are increases in yields, produce health, profitability and carbon sequestration. On one hand, they bring experience in the field of plant health with laboratory capacities for leaf and water quality and biological fertilizers adapted to the location. This expertise is particularly relevant because the focus is on Australia, although adaptable to other conditions, and therefore expertise for recultivation from another vegetation zone is available.
IMB Centre for Solar Biotechnology – The University of Queensland
Location: Brisbane, Australia
The Centre for Solar Biotechnology at the University of Queensland conducts multiscale and multidisciplinary research to fast track the development of advanced light driven industries. The research focus relevant for the network includes the integration of microalgae technologies to establish innovative and sustainable protein production. The Centre offers additional experience in metabolic engineering to enable the production of food ingredients to enhance human health.
Rubens Technologies Pty Ltd
Location: Knoxfield, Australia
Rubens Technologies has developed a quality and maturity assessment system for fruit and vegetables based on spectral data and machine learning. The company has expertise in spectroscopy and in the development and training of AI and machine learning models. In addition, it brings domain expertise in the Australian horticulture sector to the network.
Our International Activities
News
Kick-off Meeting - 22. February 2023
LuTraCo Workshop on Agri-Photovoltaics
Circular Bioeconomy Cluster Meeting in Australia - 31. October - 4. November 2022
Projects
Several projects in preparation
T+I Consult
Network Management
T+I Technologie- und InnovationsConsult GmbH has extensive know-how in the field of ZIM network and cluster management. Within the networks that we initiated we support partner companies and scientific institutions in the identification of ideas and development of joint projects. We also support funding applications for innovative projects and ensure that reporting and billing to the promoters is compliant with the guidelines.
Furthermore, we ensure a constant exchange between the participating companies and scientific cooperation partners.
Lena Karwen
Project management
T: +49 (0) 30 23592665
E: karwen@ti-consult.de
Cecilie von Bernstorff
Project management
T: +49 (0) 30 23592667
E: bernstorff@ti-consult.de
Bärbel Riemann
Administration
T: +49 (0) 30 23592662
E: riemann@ti-consult.de