Network meeting "Round table on practical research" in Frankenhausen
17.+18.10.2024 | EVENT
On 17. and 18 October, the PFN Hessen organized the round table on practical research and invited various regional and national practical research networks to the Frankenhausen domain. In the inspiring, secluded atmosphere, valuable experiences and perspectives on the topic of practical research were exchanged over two days.
Approaches and diversity in practical research
At the beginning of the meeting, the participants presented the diverse structures and working methods of the networks. Regardless of the structural differences, there was a common view of how important it is to actively involve stakeholders and work together on solutions. The presentation of the various networks therefore not only offered the opportunity to learn from the individual approaches and perspectives, but also to discover the potential for cooperation and exchange between the projects.
Field inspection: UMKREIS project
A particular highlight was the field tour with Johanna Hoppe on the UMKREIS project, a project of PFN Hessen. This project investigates how different plowing methods of catch crops affect the fate of the nitrogen (N) that the plants have stored in their shoot mass before winter. The participants were impressed by the scope of this project, as all nine participating farms were sampled in four replicates. The insights stimulated interesting discussions and showed impressively how important such practical research work is for the further development of agriculture.
Presentation of the position paper on the promotion of practical research
As part of a presentation, Natalia Riemer introduced a joint position paper by V.Ö.P, ÖkoNet, NutriNet and PFN Hessen, which describes important framework conditions for the promotion of practical research in the agricultural context. Central topics included the debureaucratization of application procedures, the need for appropriate remuneration for farmers and ensuring continuous co-creative cooperation. Another concern of the position paper is to strengthen the practical relevance of research and develop practical quality criteria. In a subsequent discussion round, strategies for disseminating the paper and for strengthening practical research in the long term were critically discussed and supplemented.
The first day of the network meeting thus created a valuable basis for exchange and cooperation in the context of practical research and offered a variety of impulses for the further development of the networks.
Communication is key
The second day of the Practical Research Network Meeting focused on intensive workshop work with a focus on communication within and outside the network.
Workshop: Designing networking
Katharina Cypzirsch (Ökoleitbetriebe RLP) opened the workshop with an introduction to the topic of networking. In two groups, the participants worked out what kind of networking is necessary in the planning phase of a new project, such as preparation and establishing contacts, through to the establishment of a stable test facility, and how networking can be actively maintained even after the project has started. In particular, regular exchange and trust-building were seen as crucial for successful networking. A constructive error culture within a network was also mentioned as an important point.
Workshop: Knowledge communication and transfer in the PxF context
The second workshop, moderated by Esther Mieves, was dedicated to the challenges and success factors of knowledge communication and knowledge transfer of results from practical research projects. The aim of the workshop was to use the so-called Nawik arrow to develop communication strategies that can be used to effectively communicate research results to different target groups. The final reflection showed that many participants left the workshop with new ideas and valuable impulses for their work.
All in all, the conference offered a successful mix of theory and practice and facilitated an intensive exchange between the participants, which strengthened both the network structures and communication in practical research.
