Research at Hochschule Geisenheim University

Creating Strategies for a Sustainable and Livable Future

Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Sustainability Targets – We're Meeting the Planet's Most Urgent Challenges

Our mission is to develop resource-efficient, innovative, and sustainable solutions in the area of agriculture and food. Our work spans a broad range of key issues: advancing organic, climate-resilient cultivation strategies for specialty crops, developing sustainable production and marketing methods, and designing livable cultural landscapes and urban regions. By uniting ecology, profitability, and a focus on quality of life, we aim to create a sustainable future in which society and nature can flourish together.

Our Focus Areas

Sustainable Cultivation Systems for Specialty Crops

Cultivating grapevines, fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals is particularly resource intensive – as such, a careful balance between producing the highest quality products possible and ensuring sustainable practices needs to be struck.

Through our research, we are developing innovative, ecofriendly strategies that ensure healthy harvests and preserve resources. We breed varieties and growth forms that are optimally adapted to climate change, environmental factors, and potential pests and pathogens. Modern sensor systems help control water and nutrient supply with pinpoint accuracy, alternative plant protection strategies – such as the use of antagonists – strengthen plants and their environments, and new digital techniques make precise management measures possible. Together with our partners, we are establishing diverse cultivation strategies that promote biodiversity and preserve ecosystem functions, creating an economically and ecologically sustainable future for viticulture and horticulture.

Innovative and Safe Processing and Marketing for Plant Products

Sustainability in food production spans the entire journey, from cultivation and processing to the moment the product reaches the customer. At every stage, product quality and safety needs to be guaranteed. The bioeconomy plays a key role in this context, enabling the more efficient use of resources, processes, and systems, while supporting the livelihood of the businesses that produce them. 

Through our research, we develop energy and resource-efficient methodologies for processing plant products and extracting valuable ingredients from crops and by-products. We examine microorganisms as natural protective cultures, evaluate the health effects of plant-based ingredients, and conduct sensory tests with our university panel. Market research, consumer behavior analyses, and industry data deliver essential insights for sustainable marketing strategies, particularly in the wine industry. We also analyze the logistical processes, from packing to distribution, and boost the efficiency and sustainability of the entire value chain with the help of modern, digital technologies.

Livable Cultural Landscapes and Urban Regions

Intensified land use has reduced valuable landscape features and biodiversity in many areas. Urban regions are also under pressure to maintain quality of life through green infrastructure such as parks and green belts.

Through our research, we develop methods to optimize and assess urban open spaces and enhance their social sustainability. We create techniques for greening sites with limited soil and for using plants in urban areas in a targeted manner, particularly in the context of climate change. For viticultural landscapes, we design strategies to adapt to climate change and preserve rare species. Additionally, we develop concepts for multifunctional, ecologically valuable, and attractive landscapes that enable new, sustainable production scenarios.

Questions about Our Research?

Please get in touch!

Christiane Jost
Dr. Christiane Jost
Building 5924
Room 01.01
Phone +49 6722 502 6334
Christiane.Jost(at)hs-gm.de Details

News & Latest Projects

Successful Presentation of the Vipoll ‘Small-in-One’ Beverage Filling System at BrauBeviale

From left to right: Dr Christian von Wallbrunn, head of the Beverage Technology M.Sc. program; Dipl.-Ing. Michael Ludwig, Department of Beverage Research; Professor Bianca May, head of the Beverage Technology B.Sc. program; Jens Neidhardt and Patrick Scheerer, Vipoll. Photo: Tina Kissinger

The BrauBeviale trade fair, which took place in Nuremberg at the end of November, provided the perfect stage for presenting Vipoll’s new ‘Small-in-One’ beverage filling system. Numerous industry experts, partners, alumni, and interested visitors had the chance to learn about this innovative bottling system, which will soon be available to students at Hochschule Geisenheim University in the new Beverage Technology Center (Getränketechnologisches Zentrum; GTZ).

Together, representatives from the Slovenian company Vipoll and Hochschule Geisenheim University introduced attendees of the BrauBeviale trade fair to the full potential of the Small-in-One filling system. This state-of-the-art filling system offers impressive flexibility and efficiency in filling beverage containers, whether glass bottles, cans, or PET, and thus sets new standards for research and education in the field of Beverage Technology.

The official presentation was accompanied by a welcome address from Michael Ludwig, from Geisenheim's Department of Beverage Research, and Vipoll’s Jens Neidhardt and Andreja Markoja, who emphasized the importance of the new system for training and beverage research. According to Ludwig, the system will become “the heart of the Beverage Technology Center”. Attendees then had the chance to experience the Small-in-One filling system in action and see its versatility and efficiency for themselves. The event concluded with a get-together, where attendees had the opportunity to sample beverages, exchange ideas, and network with other professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

 Vipoll is a company specializing in the integration of complex packaging systems, ranging from project management to packaging line audits and automation. For more information, please visit:

https://www.vipoll.si/

About the new Beverage Technology Center (GTZ)

With the new GTZ, Hochschule Geisenheim University is creating a unique facility for research, development, and praxis-oriented teaching. The center comprises:

  • a production hall, classrooms, and practical training rooms;
  • a Sekt production facility for practice-oriented degree programs; and
  • state-of-the-art filling technology, including the Small-in-One filling system from Vipoll.

“This new technology makes Hochschule Geisenheim University a forerunner in modern beverage technology and emphasizes the importance of innovation in the industry,”  says Michael Ludwig from the Department of Beverage Research.

 

Insights from Geisenheim Scientists at the Trade Fair

From their stand at the BrauBeviale trade fair, representatives from Hochschule Geisenheim University provided interested guests with information on its various degree programs and current research projects. Attendees also had the chance to try coffee and low-alcohol Sekt produced by the university.

BrauBeviale 2024 once again provided an excellent stage for innovative ideas from the beverage industry. Hochschule Geisenheim University, with its broad range of focus areas and expertise, garnered plenty of attention.

 

Special Exhibition: Wein@BrauBeviale – Hall 4A

 

Geisenheim scientists presented on current research findings in the field of viticulture and enology through the medium of their ‘Wissensdurst – or ‘thirst for knowledge’ – wines. Visitors to stand 4A-521 therefore had the chance to learn about topics such as the influence of the vine’s age on the quality of the wine or the measures that are best suited for reducing alcohol levels in wine.

The following presentations held at stand 4A-413 attracted plenty of visitors:

  • Dr. Matthias Schmitt: the latest developments and challenges in producing non-alcoholic wine
  • Lucía Garstka: the interplay between generating green energy and Riesling production
  • Prof. Dr. Gergely Szolnoki: how wine tourism can be a particularly successful marketing strategy
  • Prof. Dr. Jon Hanf: panel discussion on the analysis of the market for non-alcoholic wines 

Craft Drinks Area – Hall 6

In this section of the trade fair, researchers presented on innovative beverages and maturation processes:

  • Dr. Matthias Schmitt: ways to optimize the sensory properties of No & Low wine.
  • Dr. Christian von Wallbrunn: new approaches to fermented beverages, ‘Kombucha and Water – Kefir 2.0’.
  • Michael Ludwig: experiments on extreme aging methods for Apfelwein.

#YoungTalentsCamp – Hall 6

The Young Talents Camp offered young professionals a platform for career opportunities and networking. In presentations such as ‘Level Up – Personal Branding’, held by Simone Böhm, vistors could receive valuable tips for starting a career. Another highlight was a talk titled ‘Enjoy with Soy’ held by Dirk Klinner, which aimed to inspire young people with entrepreneurial ideas to make the transition from a concept to a successful start-up.

Categories: MyHGU-App, Mein-Netzwerk, Veranstaltungen, Messe, Fachmesse, Presse und Kommunikation, FORSCHUNG, Projekte, Wissensdurst, Wein- und Getränkewirtschaft, Oenologie, Mikrobiologie und Biochemie, Getränkeforschung, Allgemeiner und ökologischer Weinbau, Nachrichten

Images

Presentation of the Vipoll Small-in-One filling system at BrauBeviale. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Interested visitors at the Vipoll Small-in-One filling system presentation. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Interested visitors at the Vipoll Small-in-One filling system presentation. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Presentation of the Vipoll Small-in-One filling system at BrauBeviale. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Coffee produced by the university at Hochschule Geisenheim University’s stand. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Networking at the university’s stand. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Networking at the university’s stand. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Professor Bianca May presenting the ‘Wissensdurst’ wine. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Interested visitors at the university’s stand. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Ludwig from the Department of Beverage Research during his presentation about experiments on extreme Apfelwein maturation processes. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Apfelwein tasting during the presentation on maturation processes. Photo: Tina Kissinger
Part of the Hochschule Geisenheim University trade fair team. Photo: Tina Kissinger

Research brochure (click to enlarge)

Our University has unique opportunities to conduct scientifically recognized and applied research along the entire value chain of special crops. In doing so, we benefit both from a strong network of national and international partners and our own excellent research infrastructure at Geisenheim. Vice-President of Research Professor Annette Reineke