DMKNL study trip to Germany
The German-Mongolian Cooperation Project Sustainable Agriculture (DMKNL), funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and implemented by IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH, organised a study trip to Germany from Nov 11-19, 2023. Representatives of the Mongolian Ministry of Agriculture, the Mongolian Research and Development Centre for Agriculture and Light Industry and the Association of Mongolian Vegetable Producers were also present.
The technical information trip focussed on vegetable production and marketing. Another stop on the trip was Agritechnica in Hanover, the world's largest trade fair for agricultural technology, where the delegation was able to find out about the latest developments and innovations. The trade fair reopened its doors to visitors in 2023 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. This year's focus was on "Green Productivity", which aims to increase productivity with less use and intensity of operating resources while protecting the environment and nature.
Apart from the visit to the trade fair, there was also a lively exchange of information and experience with advisory organisations as well as vegetable producers and marketers in Lower Saxony. During a visit to the Horticulture Division of the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture in Hanover, the members of the delegation were given an in-depth insight into vegetable production in Germany and detailed information on quality management in vegetable production and marketing. The Förderverein Bauernmarkt Hannover e.V. presented a joint marketing concept for regionally produced products.An inter-company cultivation and marketing concept for onions was discussed with the producer organisation Heidel-Zwiebel AG in Uelzen.
Organic vegetable cultivation was also discussed during the specialist information trip. During the visit to the Competence Centre for Organic Farming in Lower Saxony (KÖN), the participants were able to find out about the centre's diverse projects and advisory services as well as the development and framework conditions in the production and marketing of organic vegetables. KÖN also organised visits to two organic vegetable farms with different business structures and orientations. One of the farms pursues the concept of solidarity farming. This means that the food is no longer sold on the market, but flows into its own transparent economic cycle, which is co-organised and financed by the consumers.
The participants of the study trip returned to Mongolia with a wealth of new impressions and information. The DMKNL will continue the dialogue with the Mongolian project partners and the advisory services to promote vegetable production and marketing in the further implementation of the project.