Training in agroforestry and regenerative agriculture at universities in Slovakia and Germany

Keywords: nature conservation, land use, environmental communication, participation

Subject and objectives of the project

In Germany, agroforestry and other regenerative cultivation methods are now professionally recognized for their contribution to sustainable agriculture. There are currently 1,703 hectares in Germany that are used according to agroforestry concepts. Agroforestry and regenerative agriculture are important as climate-resilient land use systems for maintaining soil health, water retention and as habitats for animal and plant species. However, their implementation is still hampered by knowledge gaps and a lack of training opportunities. In Slovakia, 20% of agricultural land (out of a total of 2.38 million hectares) is at high risk of erosion. Establishing the topics of agroforestry and regenerative agriculture in Slovakian university education can open up new potential solutions. The project aims to introduce German experience in higher education and proven practical methods into the Slovakian educational context and at the same time test new elements in higher education.

The overall aim of the project is to integrate agroforestry and regenerative agriculture into higher education in Slovakia and to promote a broader acceptance of agroforestry in Germany. The project focuses on three main areas:

1. Development and testing of new university courses for two new master programs Agroforestry Systems and Nature-based Land Use Systems at SPU Nitra and TU Zvolen with testing in the form of lectures and field exercises.
2. Capacity building and knowledge exchange with the implementation of a conference, two excursions and a study visit to Germany with the involvement of university teachers and future external lecturers with the aim of improving the quality of teaching in the new degree programs. A demonstration field, which will be set up on the farm at SPU Nitra, will serve as a place of learning for study, teaching and practice.
3. Development and testing of at least two practice-oriented training formats at the University of Hohenheim with at least two practice-oriented training formats on agroforestry for students of agricultural courses and young practitioners in Germany.

The quantitative results of the project in Slovakia will be the development of curricula for two new Master’s degree programs, a specialist publication, at least two pilot lectures and seven field exercises for students. Furthermore, a specialist conference, two excursions and a four-day study trip to Germany for university lecturers and external lecturers are to be realized in Slovakia. As part of the capacity building, up to six teachers and up to six external lecturers are to be prepared to improve the quality of teaching in the new Master’s degree courses. The project aims to reach at least 30 young people in Germany and up to 50 in Slovakia as part of two new training formats. In addition, a new demonstration field with an area of up to five hectares is to be created on the premises of the SPU Nitra farm.

Innovation and exemplary nature of the project

The training formats introduced in Germany are based on an innovative model of knowledge transfer that directly addresses the existing implementation gap in agroforestry. This approach systematically utilizes the untapped expertise of “lighthouse farms” – pioneers who have successfully integrated tree care into agricultural production.

The project is also innovative for Slovakia because it introduces the topics of agroforestry and regenerative agriculture into higher education for the first time. As SPU Nitra is the only agricultural university in Slovakia, this represents a milestone in the development of academic and professional capacities in this field. The graduates of this training, which is offered by SPU Nitra together with TU Zvolen, will act as multipliers and transfer this knowledge into practice. Another innovative element is the creation of a demonstration field that is directly linked to university teaching. It will serve as a living laboratory in which the principles of regenerative agriculture and agroforestry will be tested and presented to students, lecturers from SPU Nitra, TU Zvolen and external lecturers as well as practicing farmers, thus linking theory and practice and promoting wider acceptance. The sustainability of the project is to be ensured through the accreditation of two new Master’s degree courses, which are embedded in the new joint study program “Agroforestry” at SPU Nitra and TU Zvolen. The demonstration field will also be maintained and further developed after the end of the project and the Slovakian-German partnership will be expanded. In order to ensure the long-term impact of the project in Germany, the University of Hohenheim will integrate the developed training formats into the Master’s degree course “Agroforestry Systems of Central Europe”.

Special aspects of the project

• Participatory approach: The project brings together universities in Germany and Slovakia and a broader group of experts associated with these universities in a collaborative process. Experts from the field will act as external lecturers, ensuring that practical perspectives are incorporated into academic education.
• Intercultural competencies: The partnership between German and Slovakian institutions ensures an effective exchange of knowledge across cultural and institutional contexts. Study visits and joint events promote the intercultural skills of teaching staff and external lecturers and strengthen their ability to work in international teams and European networks.
• Education, capacity building and professional development: The project addresses both formal higher education (two new Master’s degree programs in Slovakia) and capacity building, thus combining the education of students with the professional development of lecturers of the new degree programs in Slovakia. In Germany, the project targets students of agricultural degree programs and young practitioners (including farmers, consultants and other young professionals) interested in the implementation of agroforestry and regenerative practices. The training formats developed by the University of Hohenheim teach practical skills for the establishment and maintenance of agroforestry systems and thus directly support the professional development of this target group.

Funding theme 9: Nature conservation and water protection

Project implementation:

• University of Hohenheim, Center for Organic Farming
• Slovak Agricultural University, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscaping

Associated partners:

• Ekopolis Foundation
• Farm of the Slovak Agricultural University
• Technical University of Zvolen

Places of work: Germany and Slovakia

Funding period: April 2026 to March 2028

Project costs: Total volume: 173,414 euros, funding from DBU: 173,414 euros

DBU-AZ: 40960

Status: 04.05.2026