ProLOEWE faces

Professor Gattinger, together with Professor Lutz Breuer, you were the spokespersons for the LOEWE Research Cluster GreenDairy. What was the project about – and how did the idea come about?

The initial impetus for GreenDairy came in 2017 with the revised Fertilizer Ordinance, because we needed a larger manure storage tank for water protection reasons. We could only have built this tank further away from the site of the old dairy barn on the Gladbacherhof farm. And so, in this case, "the tail was wagging the dog": a new building was necessary! And then, of course, it was best to go with a suitable research concept accompanying it! No sooner said than done, and after a short amount of time the concept, the new barn, and 64 cows fed in different ways on either side of the feeding trough were in place. Our goal with GreenDairy was to develop innovative animal-plant farming systems that are ecologically and economically sustainable while simultaneously ensuring a high level of animal welfare. The project was based on the new research infrastructure of a digitized dairy farming system at the teaching and research unit Gladbacherhof of the Justus Liebig University (JLU) Giessen. This system enables the scientific comparison of so-called high-input and low-input milk production systems. Low-input systems with grazing and predominantly roughage from grassland are currently considered the ideal model for organic dairy farms, while high-input systems with grazing also incorporate increased proportions of farm-produced corn silage and grain. The entire trial management process is system-specific, and thanks to digitalization, we can guarantee a very high degree of precision in trial execution as well as data acquisition and documentation.

Would you like to tell us something about your personal background?

I come from a farming background, and since starting my position at JLU Giessen in April 2017, I have been living with my wife and son on my parents' farm in Selters in the Taunus region, just 6 km from Gladbacherhof. My parents initially didn't want me to study agricultural sciences; they didn't see a future for me in agriculture. So, I first completed an apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory technician at Fresenius Pharma, then worked on several farms in New Zealand, and finally studied agricultural sciences in Kassel and Aberdeen, Scotland. During my time in Aberdeen, my interest in soil ecology was sparked, so upon returning to Germany, I conducted research at the former Institute of Soil Ecology at Helmholtz Munich on "methane-producing and -consuming soil microorganisms in agroecosystems," which I ultimately submitted as my doctoral thesis at the Technical University of Munich. A few years later, I joined a Frankfurt-based start-up focused on greening desert sites in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Abu Dhabi. This was a demanding but also very educational and exciting period, which also brought me into contact with Professor Urs Niggli. From 2010 to 2017, I had the opportunity to establish the climate research area at his Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Frick, Switzerland. At the end of my seven years at FiBL, I had achieved a gratifying track record, as evidenced by the approximately six million euros in external funding secured and my appointment as Professor of Organic Farming at the Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU).

LOEWE is considered a unique funding instrument in Hesse. What were you able to achieve through this support?

With the LOEWE research funding, we were able to establish a platform for comparative agricultural systems research with cows in Hesse that is unique in Europe, perhaps even worldwide. Although the building permit and the financing plan for the research stable were already in place before the LOEWE funding approval, the two mutually reinforced each other. Due to the pandemic, there were delays and price increases for some construction trades, and the nationwide Öko-Feldtage (Organic Field Days) at Gladbacherhof were also just around the corner. The arrival of the funding commitment from LOEWE in the summer of 2021, with the project starting in January 2022, was therefore extremely motivating and also underscored the urgency of construction progress. As a result, the cows moved into the new barn at the end of May 2022, and four weeks later we were able to present this brand-new research infrastructure of the GreenDairy project to a considerable number of around 12,000 visitors during the Öko-Feldtage.

The LOEWE funding for GreenDairy ended in late 2025. What happens now?

Even though the LOEWE funding for GreenDairy has ended, we by no means consider the project finished. On the contrary: The research of the past few years has generated a great deal of interest – now even internationally. My colleague Deise Knob has made a significant contribution to this. Through her contacts, agricultural scientists from Brazil approached us directly, scientists who, like us, are looking for environmentally friendly, climate-resilient, and animal-welfare-oriented solutions for the dairy industry. This exchange has led to close scientific cooperation. Together with our Brazilian partners, we have submitted a DFG grant application aimed at further developing our findings and transferring them to new climatic and agricultural contexts. This will allow us to consider issues of resilience, emissions reduction, and sustainable management globally in the future – and to learn from each other. 

Besides research and a farm, is there still time for a balance to your job?

Let's put it this way: because my research and teaching revolve around agriculture, and my free time is all about the farm – which is also agriculture – these two worlds don't compete with each other as much. I've also leased out some land and have work like sowing and harvesting done for me. So, this part-time farming isn't stressful for me, and I can selectively choose tasks like building fences, spreading compost, or plowing as a way to unwind.

This morning, for example, I was already on the tractor at six o'clock. The light frost at dawn made for ideal plowing conditions. It's precisely during such tasks that I find peace, focus, and space for my thoughts. When the engine hums steadily and the landscape slowly emerges in the clear morning air, I can switch off – and, admittedly, my best research ideas often arise during these times. For me, it's not additional stress, but rather exactly the kind of activity that grounds and inspires me.

Other opportunities for recreation are also available right on my doorstep. For example, we have seasonal gardens attached to our farm, which are currently being used by people who don't have their own garden and rent a plot of land from us for the season. We plant the area with a colorful mix of vegetables and salad greens at the beginning, and from then on, the renters take over the care, harvesting, and reseeding. With our expert guidance, even complete gardening novices can proudly go home with baskets full of vegetables at the end of the summer.

My animal farm staff also provides me with balance: Alf, the loyal farm dog, several cats, eight sheep who are very communicative companions, and a flock of chickens that we affectionately call our "circular chickens." These are former laying hens that are no longer "needed." We rescue them, and they thank us with plenty of personality, a touch of chaos, and the occasional egg.

And of course, there are my family and friends, who constantly help me refocus. They ensure that a wonderful balance emerges from all the hustle and bustle. This mix of people, nature, and animals allows me to find my equilibrium quite naturally.

 Interview conducted by Tanja Desch.