The Digitalisation of the Plant Value Chain (DiP) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 031B1288, ran from 15 May 2022 to 31 March 2023. Its aim was to create a concept paper that would strengthen and expand the plant‑based value chains in the Central German model region, with a particular focus on the digital transformation of the entire chain from cultivation to processing. The project was coordinated by the Martin‑Luther‑University Halle‑Wittenberg (MLU) and involved a consortium of regional research institutes, universities, and industry partners, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operations and Automation (IFF), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and several agricultural and bioprocessing companies. A consulting firm, PRO Terra Team GmbH, supported the team in structuring the concept and in navigating funding procedures.
The technical outcomes of the project are centred on the integration of advanced digital technologies into plant production and processing. The concept paper identifies key research themes such as genomics, metabolomics, sensor networks, automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, all aimed at creating a digital twin of the plant value chain. This digital twin would enable real‑time monitoring, modelling, optimisation, and traceability of material flows, thereby improving efficiency and sustainability. Climate‑resilient plant systems were proposed, focusing on enhancing nutrient use efficiency and resilience to heat and drought. The project also outlines strategies for a climate‑gas‑neutral plant production system, including the production of green urea, carbon sequestration, and the use of digital data for small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises to achieve sustainability certification.
In the chemical domain, the concept promotes the biobased production of basic and fine chemicals in biorefineries, such as ethanol, methanol, lactic acid, and mono‑ethylene glycol, as well as high‑value ingredients. New product and service opportunities were identified, including IT services, straw‑derived oil substitutes, innovative bakery products, protein foods, and dietary supplements. The project stresses the importance of networking among research, industry, and policy makers, and proposes a transfer concept with a roadmap, a set of key performance indicators, and a detailed action plan for transforming the regional economy. Training and up‑skilling of specialists and managers in the relevant digital agriculture topics were also incorporated into the concept.
The project’s milestones were achieved through a series of workshops titled “Science meets Industry,” which brought together researchers and industry representatives to refine the concept and identify potential collaborative research projects. The first draft of the concept paper was submitted for external review by the project sponsor in Jülich on 15 September 2022, and after incorporating expert feedback, the final version was submitted on 18 November 2022. No external findings contradicted the project’s objectives, and no publications were produced during the reporting period. The report concludes that the DiP concept paper provides a comprehensive roadmap for the digital transformation of plant value chains in Central Germany, outlining both scientific targets and collaborative pathways for future research and industry implementation.