Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy - University of Hohenheim

What Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy - University of Hohenheim does

The Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (Nachwachsende Rohstoffe in der Bioökonomie) is an academic research and teaching unit within the Institute of Crop Science at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Hohenheim, a public university (Körperschaft des Öffentlichen Rechts) in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Established in 2010 under Prof. Dr. Iris Lewandowski and renamed in 2020 to reflect its broadened scope, the department conducts interdisciplinary research on sustainable agricultural systems and integrated biobased value creation networks. Its work spans four research teams: Residue Utilization Systems (novel biobased fertilizers from nutrient sidestreams, soil enhancers from food industry waste), Sustainable Bioeconomy Systems (multi-criteria decision-making tools including life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and true cost accounting), Secondary Biobased Resources (cascading biomass feedstocks, value chain emergence models, digital technologies for agroecology), and Perennial Systems (Miscanthus, camelina, hemp, amaranth, willow, mixed cropping, agroforestry, urban agriculture, agri-photovoltaics).

The department's core technology assets include the Biomass Quality Laboratory (fiber analysis, ash/melting behavior, mineral and elemental analysis, substrate-specific biogas and methane yield, gas chromatography, VDLUFA-compliant soil analysis) and access to the university's approximately 400-hectare agricultural experimental station across five sites in different climatic regions of southern Germany. Outputs include an open online MOOC ('Concepts of Sustainable Bioeconomy' on iVersity, developed under the ABBEE Erasmus+ partnership), 200+ publications since 2020 spanning journals such as GCB Bioenergy and Industrial Crops and Products, and the Bioeconomy Science Hub Hohenheim for stakeholder knowledge exchange. The department does not generate commercial revenue; its funding is derived from state appropriations and competitive public research grants (EU Horizon, Erasmus+, BMBF, BMEL). Its 'customers' in the academic sense are Master's and doctoral students, practitioners enrolling in lifelong-learning programs, and European research consortia partners within the European Bioeconomy University (EBU) network.

Name

Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy - University of Hohenheim

Legal name

Universität Hohenheim

Website

https://biobased-resources.uni-hohenheim.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academic research and teaching department at the University of Hohenheim focused on sustainable agricultural systems, biobased value chains, perennial biomass crops such as Miscanthus, and life cycle sustainability assessment. Serves graduate students, practitioners, and European research consortia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research and Bioeconomy Education

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioenergy & Industrial Biomass Crop Farming (Energy Cane, Miscanthus, Switchgrass) (AFAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Crop Rotation & Whole-Farm Cropping Systems Design (AFACABAJ), Nutrient Stewardship & Soil Fertility Management (4R Nutrients, Compost, Biofertilizers) (AFAGAMAE), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Bioeconomy research
• Biomass production systems
• Bioenergy crop cultivation
• Life cycle assessment
• Sustainable agriculture education

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public University Funding: As a department of the University of Hohenheim (a public university), the department receives institutional funding through the German state of Baden-Württemberg for teaching and basic research operations.
2. Research Grants and Project Funding: Funding from European research programs (Erasmus+, EU Horizon projects), German federal ministries (BMBF, BMEL), and state-level funding bodies. Notable projects include ABBEE (Erasmus+), GRACE, MAGIC, Miscomar, BioEcoSIM, OPTIMISC, and various BMBF-funded initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The department conducts interdisciplinary academic research and teaching on sustainable agricultural systems and integrated biobased value creation networks. It operates four specialized research teams (Residue Utilization Systems, Sustainable Bioeconomy Systems, Secondary Biobased Resources, and Perennial Systems), runs a Biomass Quality Laboratory and 400-hectare multi-site field trial infrastructure, delivers university teaching and the open online course 'Concepts of Sustainable Bioeconomy' on iVersity, and coordinates the Bioeconomy Science Hub Hohenheim.

Product overview

The Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy at the University of Hohenheim is an academic research unit led by Prof. Dr. Iris Lewandowski that focuses on interdisciplinary research, teaching, and knowledge transfer in sustainable agricultural systems and biobased value creation networks. The department offers an open online MOOC course 'Concepts of Sustainable Bioeconomy' (developed under the ABBEE Erasmus+ partnership), maintains four core research teams (Residue Utilization Systems, Sustainable Bioeconomy Systems, Secondary Biobased Resources, and Perennial Systems), operates a Bioeconomy Science Hub, provides academic teaching programs, and offers laboratory services for biomass quality analysis. The research encompasses topics including biomass supply, low-input production systems, nutrient recycling, peat replacement, grassland management, urban agriculture, agri-photovoltaics, agroforestry, and sustainability assessment, with field trials conducted across the university's approximately 400-hectare agricultural experimental station.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Online Course 'Concepts of Sustainable Bioeconomy' (MOOC) A free, open online course developed under the ABBEE Erasmus+ strategic partnership that provides a holistic, interdisciplinary perspective on bioeconomy to students, practitioners, and lifelong learners globally.
• Academic Teaching Programmes University-level taught modules (including 'Bioeconomy at European Level', 'Grassland Systems', 'Value Chain Development and Risk Management in the Bioeconomy', and 'Grünlandbewirtschaftung') plus supervision of Bachelor's and Master's theses, delivered as part of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences curriculum.
• Biomass Quality Laboratory Services Laboratory analytical services covering fiber analysis (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose), ash content and melting behavior, mineral analysis (P, K, Ca, Mg, etc.), elemental analysis (C, H, N, S), substrate-specific biogas and methane yield testing, gas chromatography, and soil analysis according to VDLUFA standards.
• Bioeconomy Science Hub Hohenheim A coordination and knowledge exchange hub established by the Bioeconomy Office Hohenheim that advances bioeconomy research and stakeholder engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 publications since 2020 covering bioeconomy, bioenergy, and agricultural sustainability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABBEE (Accelerating the transition towards the Bio-Based Economy via Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership funded by the Erasmus+ program. The department led development of the open online course 'Concepts of Sustainable Bioeconomy' with contributions from 30+ instructors. One of four courses offered by leading European universities in the field of Bioeconomy within the partnership.
• GRACE (Multiple projects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded research projects in bioenergy and biobased products. Prof. Lewandowski presented on comparing biorefinery concepts within the GRACE project.
• MAGIC (H2020 project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon 2020 research project focusing on sustainable bioeconomy systems with the department as an active participant.
• OPTIMISC (EU FP7 Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU FP7 project optimizing Miscanthus biomass production for the European bioeconomy. The department, led by Prof. Lewandowski, played a central role in developing miscanthus production systems for marginal lands across Europe.
• Miscomar ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch project addressing miscanthus cultivation and utilization, contributing to the department's expertise in perennial biomass crops.
• BioEcoSIMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch project on bioeconomy simulation and modeling contributing to assessment frameworks for biobased systems.
• European Bioeconomy University (EBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Lewandowski serves as Speaker of the EBU since 2018. The department's online course is part of the EBU Label program. EBU is a network of leading European universities cooperating on bioeconomy education and research.
• Geco GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch project on urban gardening and circular cultivation systems, part of the department's urban agriculture research focus.
• MIDAS ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject on utilization of marginal lands for growing sustainable industrial crops and developing innovative bio-based products.
• DeliSoil ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject on soil enhancers from food industry waste streams, involving Living Lab, Lighthouse and Regional Working Group activities for evaluation of impact on soil health.
• BioBeo ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransdisciplinary pathway to circular bioeconomy, contributing to knowledge integration and stakeholder engagement in sustainability assessment.
• German Bioeconomy CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Lewandowski served as Co-Chair of the German Bioeconomy Council (2021-2023), providing policy advisory role at national level.
• Baden-Württemberg Bioeconomy Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Lewandowski has served as Co-Chair of the Baden-Württemberg federal government's advisory board 'Sustainable Bioeconomy' since 2020, advising on state-level bioeconomy strategy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy - University of Hohenheim