Joint press release from the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, and the Volkswagen Foundation:
Hanover, 18. May 2026 – Climate change is placing increasing pressure on agricultural productivity, biodiversity and key ecosystem functions. To better address these challenges, the new AgRe-Lab Climate and Future Laboratory will develop strategies for climate-resilient agricultural landscapes. This multi-site, transdisciplinary research network is investigating how climate and biodiversity measures can be effectively implemented in rural areas and how the socio-ecological resilience of agricultural systems can be strengthened in the long term. AgRe-Lab is part of the network of Climate.Future Laboratories at the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research. It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation for six years with five million euros from the ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’ programme. AgRe-Lab is part of the funding call ‘Climate-resilient ecosystems and habitats in rural-peripheral regions’.
Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture: “Climate change demands new solutions for our agriculture and rural areas, so that we can continue to enjoy healthy, locally sourced food in the future. With AgRe-Lab, we are specifically strengthening the science-led climate adaptation of our most fundamental means of livelihood. The network exemplifies the mission of the Climate Future Labs: excellent research, close links to practice and concrete solutions to ecological and societal challenges. In this way, we generate knowledge that has a lasting impact.”
“We are delighted to welcome AgRe-Lab as the sixth Climate Future Lab at the ZKfN. The new laboratory complements the existing Climate Future Labs by addressing the topics of agroecosystems and agricultural landscapes, which are particularly important for Lower Saxony, and creates new opportunities for cross-site collaboration,” says Katharina Zickwolf, Managing Director of the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research.
Under the leadership of the Georg-August University of Göttingen, AgRe-Lab will bring together Leuphana University, TU Braunschweig, the University of Vechta and the Thünen Institute from October 2026. In four real-world laboratories in Lower Saxony, solutions will be tested in collaboration with partners from the fields of agriculture, nature conservation, administration and education. These solutions aim to integrate the ecological and social functions of agricultural landscapes and support regional transformation processes.
Further information on the ZKfN and the Climate Future Labs: www.zkfn.de
About zukunft.niedersachsen
zukunft.niedersachsen is the largest research funding programme in the history of the State of Lower Saxony. The aim of this joint programme run by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation is to strengthen Lower Saxony’s position in the national and international scientific arena. The Volkswagen Foundation funds the ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’ programme primarily from the annual dividend payments on the 30.2 million ordinary shares in Volkswagen AG held by the State of Lower Saxony. In the reporting year 2025, a total of 202 million euros was available for ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’. Further information on ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’ can be found here.
About the ZKfN
The Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research (ZKfN) brings together science, civil society, politics and business to develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary solutions for a safe and just climate future. It strengthens climate and climate impact research in Lower Saxony and promotes the transfer of knowledge between research and practice.
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