Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee

Name

Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee

Legal name

Stiftung Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau-Bodensee

Website

https://kob-bavendorf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Advisory Services

akta.pro primary industry

Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Control for CEA (IPM, Screening, Sanitation) (AFAAAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF)

Keywords

• Fruit cultivation research
• Pomology advisory services
• Variety identification
• EU school program
• Plant protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ravensburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Research Grants: As a foundation (Stiftung) under the state of Baden-Württemberg, KOB receives public funding for research activities in fruit cultivation science.
2. EU School Program: Supply of fresh produce and dairy products to schools and kindergartens under the EU school program, with sponsorship covering the difference between EU funding and actual costs.
3. Advisory and Consulting Services: Module-based consulting services for fruit growers, including plant health, organic cultivation, and variety selection advice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee (KOB) is a non-profit research foundation that conducts applied research, variety testing, and expert advisory services for commercial fruit cultivation in the Lake Constance region. It delivers the EU School Programme, distributing fresh produce and dairy to schools and kindergartens across nine counties in southern Baden-Württemberg, reaching roughly 60,500 children weekly. The foundation also provides laboratory services (genetic fingerprinting, variety identification), ripening and weather data services, and modular consulting for fruit growers.

Product overview

Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee is a research and consulting foundation that operates as a multi-service agricultural institution rather than a single product company. Its core offerings include the EU-Schulprogramm food distribution service to schools, and a digital SEPP App for orchard documentation. The organization provides data-driven services including Reifedaten (ripening data), Wetterdaten (weather monitoring), and Sortenkunde (variety identification) through its laboratory and advisory services. Research divisions cover Betriebswirtschaft, Ertragsphysiologie, Nacherntephysiologie, Ökologischer Obstbau, Pflanzengesundheit, Sortenerhaltung, Sortenprüfung, and Biodiversität. Services are delivered through expert consultations, digital tools, and the EU-School Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EU-Schulprogramm (EU School Programme) A food distribution service delivering fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products weekly to approximately 770 schools and kindergartens across nine counties in southern Baden-Württemberg, reaching about 60,500 children weekly under the EU school program.
• SEPP App (Sortenerfassungs- und Pflege-App) A smartphone application for digital recording and documentation of orchard trees, including variety identification and maintenance status, with data stored in a central tree cadastre.
• Modulberatung (Module Advisory) Modular consulting services for fruit growers covering various aspects of orchard management, plant health, organic cultivation, and production technology.
• Sortenkunde (Variety Knowledge / Pomology) Expert pomology services for determining and characterizing fruit varieties based on external and internal fruit features, used for variety identification and preservation.
• Genetisches Fingerprinting (Genetic Fingerprinting) Laboratory genetic analysis services for fruit variety identification and authentication using DNA-based methods.
• Pflanzenschutzfax (Plant Protection Fax) Regular plant protection information updates and recommendations distributed to fruit growers in the Lake Constance region.
• Sortendatenbank (Variety Database) Comprehensive database of apple and pear varieties including descriptions, characteristics, and cultivation information.
• Kernobstnotierung (Core Fruit Quotation) Regular pricing and market data service for core fruit (apples and pears) in the Lake Constance region.
• DyNatCool Research Project Research project developing optimal cooling concepts with alternative refrigerants for fruit and vegetable storage facilities, minimizing resource use and energy consumption.
• Reifedaten (Ripening Data Service) Weekly ripening analysis results and fruit maturity data for apple varieties in the Lake Constance region, supporting optimal harvest timing decisions.
• Wetterdaten (Weather Data Service) Real-time weather monitoring data from the Bavendorf location, including annual weather comparison analysis against reference periods.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~60,500 children receive fresh produce weekly through the EU school program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PomologenvereincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for the SEPP app development; the Pomologenverein serves as the registration portal for orchard owners and enthusiasts using the app for variety documentation.
• ADTV Tanzschule GötzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the EU school program vehicle, contributing to the logistics infrastructure for distributing produce to schools.
• Obst vom Bodensee Marketing GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional marketing organization for Lake Constance fruit producers; collaborative partner in promoting regional fruit cultivation and distribution.
• Regierungspräsidium TübingencoreOthersGovernment authority responsible for approving school program participants and overseeing EU school program compliance in Baden-Württemberg.
• Local Fruit Growers (Ortenau, Allgäu, Bodenseekreis)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional fruit producers who handle local delivery of produce to schools within their respective areas, complementing KOB's central logistics.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Versuchsstation für Obstbau Haidegg: Austrian regional fruit research station under the Landwirtschaftskammer Steiermark, conducting variety testing, plant protection trials, and organic fruit research. Comparable regional applied research mandate to KOB.
• NIAB EMR (East Malling Research): UK horticultural research center focused on fruit crops, including variety evaluation, post-harvest science, and pest management. Closely comparable research and grower-advisory mandate to KOB's fruit cultivation focus.
• Laimburg Research Centre: South Tyrolean research center for agriculture and food quality, with strong focus on apple variety testing, plant protection, and post-harvest physiology. Closely aligned to KOB's apple/pear research focus and regional mandate.
• Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim: German university research institute focused on horticulture, viticulture, and fruit science, providing applied research, variety testing, and grower advisory. Highly comparable research/advisory model to KOB.
• Esteburg - Obstbauzentrum Jork: Regional German fruit cultivation research center in the Altes Land region near Hamburg, with very similar mandate covering variety testing, plant protection, and grower advisory services. Closest functional peer to KOB within Germany.

Others

• BLE (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung): German federal agency overseeing EU School Programme implementation and agricultural policy compliance in Germany. Indirectly related as the federal counterpart that channels EU school scheme funding to KOB's programme.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE: France's national research institute for agriculture, food, and environment, covering fruit cultivation, plant health, and agroecology. Broader scope than KOB but highly comparable applied agricultural research mandate.
• Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI): German federal research institute for cultivated crops, including fruit cultivation and plant protection. Operates at a national scale but covers overlapping plant health and variety testing domains relevant to KOB.
• Agroscope: Swiss federal agricultural research institute conducting research on fruit cultivation, plant protection, and sustainable agriculture. Comparable applied agricultural research model with broader crop scope than KOB.
• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch agricultural research university with leading horticulture and plant science programs, including variety testing and sustainable cultivation. Larger scale but functionally comparable research/advisory model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kompetenzzentrum-obstbau-bodensee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee