Dec 2, 2004

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Agro-biotechnology test facilities

The AgroBioTechnikum in Groß Lüsewitz opens its doors.

After two years in construction, the AgroBio-Technikum, a centre for agro-biotechnological research was officially opened in Groß Lüsewitz, near Rostock, on 22 November 2004. The EU, the German government and the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania raised €9.2 million to fund the facility. For agricultural minister Till Backhaus the new centre builds on the region’s tradition of agricultural research.

Agro-Biotechnikum Groß Lüsewitz. The “bio-incubator” is ready for business.

Tour of the greenhouses

Till Backhaus, agricultural minister in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Joachim Hünecke, Mayor of Sanitz, laying the foundation stone on 17 September 2002. The state and the commune are financing the construction of the bio-incubator.
(Photograph: Ostseezeitung/ Treder)

Biological safety research, especially when publicly funded, is often far removed from practical commercial applications. In many cases it tends to focus on gaining insights into basic correlations, rather than testing actual products.

Although the manufacturer has a duty to ensure the safety of new products and technologies, with agricultural innovations, unlike consumer goods or machines, this is not done using simple test procedures.

• New agro-technological procedures generally affect the ecosystem. To understand these effects in all their complexity, researchers need to develop special test methods tailored to each individual case.
• With agricultural innovations in particular, the public nowadays expects more than mere safety. New products are accepted more easily if they contribute to sustainable development. They should be non-polluting, economically viable, socially acceptable and conserve resources. Even before being introduced onto the market, new products must be assessed to see if they meet these additional requirements.

Today environmentally sustainable quality requirements are incorporated into product development. But with agricultural products in particular, there is often doubt as to whether these requirements will in fact be met in the field.

Providing a safety and quality testing service

The new AgroBioTechnikum in Groß Lüsewitz aims to help bridge the gap between the limited test facilities of developers and the resultant market introduction risks. In addition to laboratories and a technical centre, the facility has a 1000 square metre greenhouse and 260 hectares of arable land for field trials, where new plant varieties can be tested under field conditions.

“Our intention is to offer tailor-made tests and trials for each new product. For this we can draw on the extensive expertise available in the region,” says Dr Inge Broer from the University of Rostock and chairperson of FINAB (the Association for the Promotion of Innovative and Sustainable Agro-Biotechnology in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). The association will coordinate the practical work. “Complex assessment procedures are not possible without interdisciplinary cooperation,” explains Kerstin Schmidt, a member of the FINAB board. Researchers will also be able to draw on the experience of several biological safety research projects, which have been undertaken by working groups from outside the centre.

Not just genetic engineering

The association does not want to restrict itself to genetic procedures and products. On the contrary: “Regardless of how a new plant variety is bred and regardless of the technology on which a new agricultural procedure is based – interventions in ecosystems are unavoidable. Our task is to understand and assess them,” explains Inge Broer. Biotechnologies are used in all forms of agriculture, including organic farming.

The long-term objective is to establish a recognised quality and safety seal. It will be awarded to products which have passed extensive scientific tests. But this is still a long way off.