Collaborative project: Agro-Nordwest: Experimental field for digital
transformation in agricultural crop production (Agro-Nordwest)

Subproject: “Work Processes and Competence Development for digital agriculture”

Projektdauer:10/2019 – 09/2024
Projektleitung:Prof. Dr. Uta Wilkens
Projektmitarbeit:Dr. Saskia Hohagen, Niklas Obermann seit 02/2023
Finanzierung:Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL)
Förderkennzeichen:28DE103D22

Background and objective:

The Agro-Nordwest experimentation field focuses on the practice-oriented digital transformation in crop production. Considering economy, ecology and human integration, problems of heterogeneous digital infrastructure, variable network coverage and changes in the working environment are addressed. To promote sustainable digital transformation in the agricultural sector, the Agro-Nordwest project partners are working together to set up a test farm infrastructure. This agricultural technology test site serves application-oriented research across manufacturers in a realistic test environment and practical testing of innovative technologies without discrimination. The focus of the experimentation field is on intensive cooperation with farms and the different requirements, experiences and farm structures of agricultural users and the development of demand-oriented solutions.

The IAW is working on the sub-project: “Work Processes and Competence Development for digital agriculture”, where development potentials and prerequisites for the digital transformation in agriculture are being investigated and measures for opening up new business models are being illustrated using examples of good practice. This includes collaboration in the digital ecosystem (e.g. farmers, contractors, agricultural technology companies, etc.). In addition, changes in the work environment are linked to changes in the learning environments by creating new e-learning-based teaching offers, that are guided by specific case descriptions based on the participating companies from agriculture and agricultural engineering. The target groups for this are vocational school students and students from colleges and universities, especially those studying agriculture and economics.

Insights into the Agro-Nordwest experimental field in moving images:

Project partners:

Multiplier:

Current events

Publications and lectures:

  • Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft. Braucht´s das? Teilnahme des Projektes Agro-Nordwest mit einem Workshop am Digitaltag 2020 [Digitization in agriculture. Do you need it? Participation of the project Agro-Nordwest with a workshop at the Digitaltag 2020] (19.06.2020)
  • Hohagen, S., Wilkens, U., Zaghow, L., & Westerkamp, C. (2021). Digitalisierung in der Arbeitswelt – ein Beispiel aus der Landwirtschaft. [Digitalization in the world of work – an example from agriculture.] Online-Workshop auf dem 67. GfA-Frühjahrskongress 2021, Bochum, 03.-05.03.2021. (angenommen) (angenommen)
  • Hohagen, S., Wilkens, U., & Zaghow, L. (2021). Zum Verständnis von Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft – Ergebnisse einer Expertenbefragung. [Understanding digitization in agriculture – results of an expert survey.] 67. GfA-Frühjahrskongress 2021, Bochum, 03.-05.03.2021. (angenommen)
  • Hohagen, S. (2021). “Neue Interdisziplinarität“: Innovationstreiber der praxisorientierten Autonomisierung im landwirtschaftlichen Pflanzenbau !? [New interdisciplinarity”: innovation driver of the practice-oriented autonomization in agricultural crop production !?] Geladenes Podiumsmitglied bei der Zukunftslabor Agrar-Konferenzreihe, 27.05.2021, Online.
  • Wilkens, U., Hohagen, S., & Zaghow, L. (2021). Digital Innovation Strategies in German Agriculture – How to come in close with resilience?. European Academy of Management Conference 2021, Montréal, 16.-18.06.2021. (angenommen)
  • Hohagen, S., Zaghow, L., & Wilkens, U. (2021): Current insight into the world of work in agriculture – results of a survey among farmers. Projektbericht abrufbereit unter [Current insight into the working world of agriculture – results of a survey among farmers. Project report available at]: https://www.apf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/ergebnisreport_landwirtebefragung_final.pdf
  • Hohagen, S., Wilkens, U., & Zaghow, L. (2021). Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft – Resilienz der Entwicklung aus arbeitswissenschaftlicher Perspektive. [Digitalization in Agriculture – Resilience of Development from an Occupational Science Perspective.] In A. Meyer-Aurich, M. Gandorfer, C. Hoffmann, C. Weltzien, S. Bellingrath-Kimura & H. Floto (Hrsg.), Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien in kritischen Zeiten? [Information and communication technologies in critical times?] (S. 145-150). Bonn: Gesellschaft für Informatik.
  • Hohagen, S. (2021). „Interdisziplinäre Innovationstreiber in der Landwirtschaft?“ [“Interdisciplinary Innovation Drivers in Agriculture?”] Geladenes Podiumsmitglied auf der Regionalkonferenz Experimentierfeld Agro-Nordwest, 09.09.2021 auf Gut Arenshort, Osnabrück, Deutschland.
  • Hohagen, S. (2021). Chancen und Herausforderungen der Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft – ein Einblick in aktuelle Untersuchungsergebnisse. [Opportunities and challenges of digitalization in agriculture – an insight into current research results.] Geladener Vortrag auf der Regionalkonferenz des Experimentierfeldes EXPRESS am 22.09.2021 auf Schloß Poschwitz, Meißen, Deutschland.
  • Hohagen, S., & Steckel, T. (2022). Entwicklung der landwirtschaftlichen Arbeitswissenschaft im Kontext der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung. [Development of agricultural work science in the context of advancing digitalization.] 23. Arbeitswissenschaftliches Kolloquium, Potsdam, 08.-09.03.2022. Arbeit unter einem D-A-CH: Der Landwirt im 4.0 Modus (S. 18-24). Potsdam: Leibnitz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. Arbeit unter einem D-A-CH: Der Landwirt im 4.0 Modus (S. 18-24). Potsdam: Leibnitz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (accepted)
  • Hohagen, S., Langholf, V., & Wilkens, U., (2022). Reifegradbasierte Integration künstlicher Intelligenz in landwirtschaftliche Betriebsabläufe – Implementierungsunterstützung für unterschiedliche Betriebstypen. [Maturity-based integration of artificial intelligence into farm operations – implementation support for different farm types.] In M. Gandorfer, C. Hoffmann, N. El Benni, M Cockburn, T. Anken & H. Floto (Hrsg.), Künstliche Intelligenz in der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft (S. 123-128). Bonn: Gesellschaft für Informatik.
  • Hohagen, S., & Wilkens, U. (2022). Towards a digital maturity model for agriculture – Diagnosis instruments and measurement results from farming in Germany. European Academy of Management Conference 2022, Winterthur, 15.-17.06.2022. (angenommen)
  • Wilkens, U., & Hohagen, S. (2022). Digitalisierung der Landwirtschaft aus arbeitswissenschaftlicher Perspektive. Vortrag beim Kompetenznetzwerktreffen des Experimentierfeldes AgroNordwest zur Digitalisierung der Landwirtschaft, 21.09.2022, Osnabrück. [Digitalization of agriculture from an occupational science perspective. Lecture at the competence network meeting of the AgroNordwest experimental field on the digitization of agriculture, 21.09.2022, Osnabrück.]
  • Herzog, M., Wilkens, U., Bülow, F., Hohagen, S., Langholf, V., Öztürk, E. & Kuhlenkötter, B. (2022). Digital transformation in SMEs from a socio-technical systems perspective – Pathway to technology acceptance with a holistic approach. In P. Plapper (Hrsg.): Digitization of the work environment for sustainable production (S. 17-35), GITO-Verlag.
  • Hohagen, S., Obermann, N., & Wilkens, U. (2023): Antecedents of organizational resilience and how these can be transferred to agriculture – A systematic literature analysis. In C. Hoffmann, A. Stein, A. Ruckelshausen, H. Müller, T. Steckel & H. Floto (Eds.), Resilient agri-food systems (pp. 113-124). Bonn: Gesellschaft für Informatik.
  • Zaghow, L., Hohagen, S., & Wilkens, U. (2023): Stakeholder analysis in the agricultural value chain – inventory and design recommendations. Projektbericht abrufbereit unter [Stakeholder Analysis in the Agricultural Value Chain – Inventory and Design Recommendations. Project report available at]: https://www.apf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ergebnisreport-Stakeholderanalyse_final.pdf
  • Hohagen, S. & Obermann, N. (2023). Reinventing yourself: In uncertain times like these, it is important to ensure the resilience of agricultural businesses in order to survive in the market. What can resilience-promoting development options look like? Farmers’ Journal, 47, 44-45.
  • Hohagen, S. & Obermann, N. (2023). Ensuring the resilience of farms – what can resilience-promoting development measures look like? Leading a session at the Agri Idea Sprout on 24.08 at Hof Schlamann, Lengerich, Germany.
  • Hohagen, S. (2023). “Panel discussion with representatives from science, industry and practice” Invited panel member at the annual meeting Experimentierfeld Agro-Nordwest, 30.11.2023, Osnabrück, Germany.
  • Hohagen, S. (2023). “What does “digital skills” mean – practical requirements for the employees of today and tomorrow?” Invited panel member incl. pitch at Agritechnica 2023, 16.11.2023, Hanover, Germany.
  • Jorissen, T., Beinke, L., Henseling, C., Hohagen, S. and N. Obermann (2023): Weed control with the robot. From practice into the future. Landwirt 21, 50-51.
  • Jorissen, T., Beinke, L., Henseling, C., Hohagen, S., & Obermann, N. (2023). Integration of robot technology for weed control. A review of necessary measures for successful practical application. DLG maize 50 (3): 8-10.
  • Wilkens, U, McGuire, M.-R., Schulte Nölke, H. & Beinke, L. (2023). Use of digital technologies and smart agricultural machinery – an occupational science and legal perspective. Presentation at the Experimental Fields Conference, 28.04.2023, Berlin, Germany.
  • Wilkens, U. & Hohagen. S. (2023): Digital technologies and workload – a holistic occupational science approach. In: Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.V. (KTBL), (ed.): Bewerten und Entscheiden in der Landwirtschaft, pp. 34-39, Darmstadt: KTBL e.V.
  • Hohagen, S. & Obermann, N. (2023). Ensuring the resilience of farms – what can resilience-promoting development measures look like? Leading a session at the Agri Idea Sprout on 24.08 at Hof Schlamann, Lengerich, Germany.
  • Hohagen, S. (2023). “Panel discussion with representatives from science, industry and practice” Invited panel member at the annual meeting Experimentierfeld Agro-Nordwest, 30.11.2023, Osnabrück, Germany.
  • Hohagen, S. (2023). “What does “digital skills” mean – practical requirements for the employees of today and tomorrow?” Invited panel member incl. pitch at Agritechnica 2023, 16.11.2023, Hanover, Germany.
  • Wilkens, U, McGuire, M.-R., Schulte Nölke, H. & Beinke, L. (2023). Use of digital technologies and smart agricultural machinery – an occupational science and legal perspective. Presentation at the Experimental Fields Conference, 28.04.2023, Berlin, Germany.
  • Hohagen, S. & Obermann, N. (2024). The future of agricultural businesses: What strategic decisions need to be made today? Lecture at the AGRAR Entrepreneur Days 2024, 09.02.2024, Münster.
  • Hohagen, S. (2024). Digital competencies from farmers in Germany and the influence of digital transformation. In E. Quendler, & O. Kajdy (Eds.), Proceedings of the 24th Labor Science Colloquium of the Technical Committee for Labor Science in Agriculture (pp. 30 – 33). Vienna: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.
  • Hohagen, S., Obermann, N., & Wilkens, U. (2024). Work evaluation in agriculture – Status quo analysis and future research agenda. 70th GfA Spring Congress 2024, Stuttgart, 06.-08.03.2024.
  • Hohagen, S., Obermann, N., & Wilkens, U. (2024). Work evaluation in agriculture – Status quo analysis and future research agenda. Presentation at the 70th GfA Spring Congress, 06.03 – 08.03.2024, Stuttgart.
  • Hohagen, S. (2024). Digital competencies from farmers in Germany and the influence of digital transformation. Presentation at the 24th Labor Science Colloquium of the Technical Committee for Labor Science in Agriculture (AKAL), 27.02.-28.02.2024, Vienna.

Insights into the content of the IAW sub-project: Work processes and competence development for Agriculture 4.0:

2020 Progress Report:

Insights into project results:

Further information:

Promotion: