FRUGALL

A sustainable food system is built where farmers, food processors, retailers, the hospitality sector, policymakers, researchers, and civil society work together. This is exactly where the FRUGALL Living Lab Münster comes in. FRUGALL is a European research project that aims to strengthen regional agri-food systems by developing Living Labs at different stages of development and in diverse regional contexts, enabling them to learn from one another. Our project partners are based in France (ISARA and INRAE) and Spain (University of Seville).

The project is guided by the principles of agroecology, which promote environmentally sustainable and socially just agriculture, strengthen regional connections between urban and rural areas, and encourage more conscious food choices. The FRUGALL Living Labs explore new ways of connecting existing agroecological initiatives and fostering innovation.

Project lead: Prof. Dr. Tillmann Buttschardt, Dr'in Cornelia Steinhäuser

Project duration: May 2026 - April 2029

PerPlacsBio

Perspectives of biobased and decomposable plastics in agriculture and forestry. Knowledge buildup, analysis & solutions regarding user views, product properties and competencies of companies

The aim of PerPlacsBio is to investigate the potential for reducing plastic use and long-term plastic persistence, while at the same time strengthening awareness and knowledge regarding the sustainable use of (bio-)plastics. The project is conducted as a collaborative initiative. The NOVA Institute provides the foundational knowledge for decision-making, for example on the appropriate application of bioplastics, while the University of Münster and the University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg take the lead in conducting surveys and interviews in the agricultural and forestry sectors. In cooperation with practitioners, industry actors and other stakeholders, the feasibility of proposed measures and alternatives will be examined and discussed through participatory formats. The results of the project will be made publicly available in a user-friendly and clearly structured database.

Project lead: Dr'in Cornelia Steinhäuser und Dr'in Friederike Gabel

Project duration: Nov 2025 - Sept 2027

Making the future appealing! Utopias for inclusive implementation of the sustainability strategy in the Tecklenburg real-world laboratory

The project establishes a real-world laboratory in Tecklenburg and explores ways to implement the municipal sustainability strategy in an inclusive manner, in which citizens dream up desirable futures and actively help to shape them. Various building blocks for the future contribute to strengthening the region's transformative resilience and transforming fear of the future into optimism about the future. As part of the project, building blocks for the future are being designed and tested that tie in with the fields of action of the Tecklenburg sustainability strategy and focus on individual transformation challenges. At the table of utopias, citizens are invited to dream and encouraged to take action.

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Project duration: 2025 - 2025

Establishment of a nationwide model and demonstration network for agroforestry in Germany; sub-project 12: Continuation of knowledge production through a citizen science network – acronym: MODEMA

The project is part of the joint project ‘Model and Demonstration Project for Agroforestry in Germany’, in which it contributes to work package 8 ‘Knowledge Transfer’ through participatory contributions using the citizen science approach. The content of the project will be developed in moderated exchange processes between specialist scientists and local citizen science groups at the cooperating agroforestry farms. The two-year project aims to lay the foundations for the continuation of research activities and the expansion of a citizen science network for agroforestry. This should enable farm managers and local stakeholders to evaluate the functionality of their agroforestry systems and the success of management options on site. 

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Term: 2024 - 2027