Biomass  is an important natural resource for food, feed, fiber, chemicals, energy and fuels. As a renewable source of energy biomass can be converted into high-energy solid, liquid or gaseous forms, can be produced in many regions and has the potential to be carbon neutral. The industrial use of renewable resources is increasing worldwide and the development of a sustainable biobased economy has a high priority in the next decades. 

Improvement of the efficiency and sustainability of the production of biomass is of major importance for research and development activities. The main challenges is to ensure a production with low carbon and water footprints and their integration in the best-practice agriculture and forestry. In this context, innovative production systems can fulfil the different requirements to increase agricultural production and improving the environmental conditions.

•  Soil-plant-atmosphere processes for application in agriculture and forestry 
• Providing basic data for plant growth, water use and nutrient effciency 
• Improvement of water and nutrient efficiency 
•  From research to application: integration of ecological based results into new production system