PFN Winter Conference 2024

The Farmers led research network Hesse is Growing and Expanding

On February 8–9, 2024, more than 50 members of the Farmers led research network Hesse (PFN) gathered in Herbstein for the second Winter Conference. As with all PFN events, the meeting brought together not only many practitioners of organic farming but also representatives from research, advisory services, organic farming associations, and the VÖL Hesse. The goal of the gathering was to strengthen networking, develop new practice-driven research ideas, and exchange findings collected within the network over the past year.

The Winter Conference program was diverse, featuring plenary discussions with all network members, a workshop on “Future Perspectives of Organic Farming”, and group work sessions focusing on arable farming, vegetable production, and pig farming. This year, two additional projects are planned: one on the effects of undersown crops in vegetable cultivation and another on the use of fine-seeded legumes in pig farming.

When the entire PFN comes together, as it did at the Winter Conference, it becomes clear how dynamically the network continues to evolve. The intensive two-day collaboration highlighted the value of building regular exchange structures with flat hierarchies. The group work was highly productive, characterized by expert discussions aimed at achieving jointly defined goals. At the same time, the event also provided space for personal and professional exchanges beyond the specific projects.

Participants reported that engaging with like-minded individuals from both practice and science gave them a sense of momentum and motivation, making them eager to take on new projects with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Tim Treis, spokesperson for the Vereinigung Ökologischer Landbau in Hesse e.V., summarized the event with the following conclusion:
“The PFN Hesse is essential for organic farming—not only here in Hesse. In addition to generating practice-relevant research results, the PFN also serves as a model for how collaboration between practitioners and researchers can be successfully implemented in other federal states.”