(Rostock) Making the agriculture of tomorrow both sustainable and economically viable requires the further development of established technologies, the implementation of new approaches, and close cooperation among research institutions, the agricultural machinery industry, start-ups and technology users. The Smart Farming Field Day at Thünen Innovation Farm brings these stakeholders together and offers insights into current developments in digital agriculture.

The event will take place on September 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The program includes live demonstrations in the field as well as opportunities to exchange ideas with experts from research, industry and agricultural practice. Dr. Till Backhaus, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment, will also attend the Field Day and be available for discussions.

Living lab for the agriculture of the future

The Thünen Innovation Farm provides an environment in which digital and automated agricultural technologies can be developed and tested under real-world conditions. Coordinated by Fraunhofer IGD, the living lab combines scientific expertise with agricultural practice and creates space for the joint development of new smart farming solutions.

The two Fraunhofer Institutes based at the site, contribute different yet complementary expertise. Fraunhofer IGD specializes in the acquisition, analysis and use of data with technologies such as sensors, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and digital twins, while Fraunhofer IGP develops automated and robotic systems for practical use, among other solutions.

Using 3D, AI and remote sensing to monitor plants and the environment

Using cereal breeding as an example, Fraunhofer IGD will demonstrate how field data acquisition can become increasingly automated. A camera system captures plants in three dimensions and automatically identifies and analyzes individual ears of grain and other plant traits. This enables previously labor-intensive manual surveys to be conducted more efficiently and larger areas to be examined. At the Field Day, the system, which until now has been moved manually across the field, will be operated autonomously for the first time.

Fraunhofer IGD will also show how aerial and remote-sensing data can be combined with artificial intelligence to automatically identify invasive plant species and document their spread. Image data from satellites, aircraft, drones or ground-level cameras can be analyzed to map affected areas more precisely and plan measures more effectively.

The Institute will also use an interactive peatland dashboard to demonstrate how diverse environmental and sensor data can be transformed into a clear basis for decision-making. The dashboard combines AI-supported analyses of drone imagery, vegetation information and hydrological data, among other sources, to clearly visualize the condition of peatland areas and how they change over time.

Automated technology for fields and agricultural land

At the Field Day, Fraunhofer IGP will present practical solutions in agricultural robotics and sensor technology. The focus will be on autonomous and sensor-based systems that support workflows, collect operational data and automate recurring tasks.

For example, an autonomous vehicle is designed to combine maintenance and inspection tasks in solar farms. While mowing or mulching, sensors and thermal imaging technology simultaneously monitor the condition of the solar modules. This allows potential damage or performance losses to be identified at an early stage.

In addition, measurement and sensor systems will be presented that can record load and operating data from agricultural equipment under real-world conditions. A mobile field office also makes it possible to process and analyze data directly at the deployment site, including drone imagery and information for planning the routes of autonomous vehicles.

The Smart Farming Field Day will thus demonstrate how digital technologies, artificial intelligence, sensor technology and automated systems can work together to develop new solutions in close cooperation with agricultural practitioners.

Come along and experience smart farming live:

Representatives from agriculture, industry and research are invited to explore the technologies at the Thünen Innovation Farm on September 2, exchange ideas with the experts on site and experience the applications in real-world use.