Thünen Innovation Farm

The Thünen Innovation Farm serves as a real-world laboratory for testing and developing digital and automated technologies in agriculture. The goal is to trial forward-looking smart farming solutions for arable farming under real conditions and to support the transition toward resource-efficient agriculture.

Practice-oriented research for the future of agriculture in Germany

With the Thünen Innovation Farm in Tellow (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), an outstanding hub for applied research and product development in the agricultural sector is being established.

The 370-hectare consolidated Innovation Farm is one of the largest real-world laboratories in Germany. Its fields are characterized by heterogeneous soil conditions, providing ideal prerequisites for practice-oriented research and development. Together with an agricultural partner farm, the Fraunhofer Society conducts applied research in cooperation with partners from industry and academia.

The Fraunhofer Society has access to an actual agricultural enterprise to work together with partners from industry, research, and practice in developing new solutions for resource-efficient, economically viable, and climate-friendly agriculture.

Living Lab for Digital Agricultural Technologies

The Thünen Innovation Farm is a living lab coordinated by Fraunhofer IGD, where smart farming technologies such as sensors, AI-based control systems, digital twins, and autonomous agricultural machinery are specifically tested under real-world conditions. The focus lies on transferring research results into market-ready applications. The Thünen Innovation Farm continues the innovative tradition of the estate in Tellow, where Johann Heinrich von Thünen in the 19th century already brought together economic principles, agricultural practice, and social responsibility.

Infrastructure with Many Advantages for Partners
The living lab is aimed at:

• Agricultural machinery manufacturers who want to evaluate prototypes under real conditions or develop new products
• Start-ups and SMEs seeking access to experimental infrastructure and expertise
• Research institutions looking to transfer their findings into practice
• Farmers who want early insights into upcoming technologies
• Policymakers who want to help shape innovative framework conditions

Making Smart Farming Visible
To not only research but also make smart farming visible and tangible in practice, the Thünen Innovation Farm is building exchange formats for different target groups. The Agriculture Industry Club is creating a network for industry partners to test and further develop their technologies in the living lab. At the same time, an Experts Club for smart farming users invites farmers, advisors, and service providers to actively participate in the development and practical application of new methods. Regular demonstration days make ongoing research projects and experimental results accessible to a broader professional audience.

Duration:

From autumn 2025