Digitalisation in agriculture: HSWT and LfL in the Bavarian State Parliament
Digitalisation is a key driver for the future of Agriculture. This was highlighted during a panel discussion at the Bavarian State Parliament, at which experts from Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) and the Bavarian Institute of Agriculture (LfL) discussed key developments, opportunities and risks.
On 8 July 2026, the Bavarian State Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism focused on the question of how digital processes can support Agriculture in the future. The expert discussion examined areas of application, economic impacts, and the opportunities and risks associated with digital technologies.
Those invited included Prof. Dr Florian Haselbeck, HTA Professor of Smart Farming at the department of Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Systems (HSWT), PD Dr Markus Gandorfer, Head of the LfL-ILT Digital Farming Working Group, and Dr Isabella Lorenzini, Project Manager of the DigiMilchPro experimental field at the LfL. They presented three key areas: the use of digital technologies in Bavarian Agriculture (PD Dr Gandorfer), digitalisation in livestock farming (Dr Lorenzini) and the role of AI in Agriculture (Prof. Dr Haselbeck).
Integrating research, teaching and practice
Together with the LfL, it became clear just how important the integration of research, teaching and practice is. Professor Haselbeck provided a scientific classification of terms relating to AI and, using examples from research and teaching, demonstrated how the HSWT is driving this future-oriented topic forward at the Weihenstephan campus. These include, amongst others, the PeroHop 4.0 research project, which develops digital and AI-supported solutions to optimise hop production and processing, as well as various modules on digitalisation, AI and robotics within the Agribusiness and Digital Farming degree programmes.
PD Dr Markus Gandorfer outlined the areas in which digitalisation is already playing a key role today – from precise decision-making tools in crop production, through automated data collection, to digital assistance systems for farm management. Dr Isabella Lorenzini presented the latest developments in digital livestock farming. Using the DigiMilchPro collaborative project as an example, she explained how sensor technology, automated health monitoring and AI-supported analysis can ease the burden on farms and improve animal health in the field of Agriculture.
Reducing red tape, enabling innovation
The contributions from HSWT and LfL were recognised as valuable guidance for further policy work. The feedback showed that digitalisation is seen as an opportunity, but requires practical solutions. The researchers emphasised that digital technologies will only be effective if they genuinely reduce the workload for farms.
“Artificial intelligence is a catalyst for digitalisation in Agriculture. It will not replace farmers, but it can provide them with crucial support. We see great opportunities for innovation, and here at the Weihenstephan Campus we are ideally positioned in terms of research and teaching to play an active role in shaping this future,” emphasises Prof. Dr Florian Haselbeck.
“Departmental research is a key tool for supporting Bavarian farms by providing sound insights into digital technologies to aid investment decisions and their targeted use,” says Dr Isabella Lorenzini.
