Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein - Austria

The Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein is the largest Austrian multidisciplinary research and education centre, which holds the legal status of an institution under public law. As part of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, it is a driving-force for sustainable business in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors of rural areas in agricultural research. The head office is situated in the municipality Irdning-Donnersbachtal, in the Styrian Enns Valley, at an altitude of 700 meter a.s.l.. The rural area is dominated by grassland and forests, embedded in a mountainous landscape. More than 280 employees work in four research institutes (organic farming and livestock biodiversity, livestock research, crop production and cultural landscape, animals, technology and environment) and as teachers at the higher agricultural college (branches agriculture with a focus on agricultural management, environmental and resource management) with about 410 students. AREC has external research areas and test sites with different climate conditions all over Austria (Wels, Lambach, Winklhof, Admont). The centre is specialised in research for multifunctional farm and environmental systems and in developing complex landscape analysis in view of agriculture, sustainable and efficient usage of natural resources, climate change, preservation of biodiversity and rural development. AREC offers a high expertise in dissemination of know-how for scientists, farmers, practitioners, decision makers, stakeholders and the local population. Workshops, trainings and national as well as international conferences are organized regularly with several hundred participants each year. AREC participates in national and international projects as well as relevant research networks.