25.11.2019
Agriculture 4.0

Autonomous tractors, drones for monitoring crops, or data-supported use of crop inputs – these examples show that agriculture is undergoing a digital transformation. To meet the resulting demands, the University of Kaiserslautern (TUK) is creating a professorship for digital farming. The aim is to research new technologies and develop them in an application-oriented manner. This involves, for example, managing data and supporting agricultural processes with automation techniques. In addition to holding the professorship in the Department of Computer Science, the position includes a leading function at the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE. The association Friends of Digital Farming e.V. supports TUK in setting up the new professorship. TU Kaiserslautern cooperates closely with Fraunhofer IESE in many research projects. This is also planned for the new professorship. In addition, TUK and Fraunhofer IESE cooperate with the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and numerous technology companies also located near the university campus. The new professorship will also benefit from this network and contribute to strengthening Kaiserslautern's importance as an excellent science and technology hub for digital transformation and innovation. With modern information and communication technologies, robotics, and the "Internet of Things", the agricultural sector can become a pioneer of digitalisation and guarantee networked, socially compatible, traceable, and optimised food production. The founding members of the newly founded Friends of Digital Farming e.V. are convinced of this and support TU Kaiserslautern in the establishment of the new professorship. "We are pleased to be able to further strengthen our research profile and expand the range of our study programmes in an innovative way with the new "Digital Farming" professorship. This will create a working group that can dedicate itself to this interdisciplinary, increasingly important topic," explains Professor Dr. Arnd Poetzsch-Heffter, Vice President for Research and Technology at TU Kaiserslautern. "The high social and regulatory demands placed on a modern, European agriculture continuously require new talents, technologies, and business models. The professorship will support farmers and the agricultural industry in successfully shaping the digital transformation," says Dr. Matthias Nachtmann, Chairman of the Friends of Digital Farming e.V. Applicants for the professorship are cordially invited to submit their documents by mail or e-mail to the Dean's Office of the Department of Computer Science at TUK: Dean's Office of the Department of Computer Science
University of Kaiserslautern (TUK)
P.O. Box 3049
67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
or by e-mail to dekanat@informatik.uni-kl.deAbout Technische Universität Kaiserslautern The Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (TUK) can be described under the heading ‘The international university of the Palatinate – active globally, networked regionally’. It has a presence at both regional and national levels as well as in an international, competitive environment for excellence in research, teaching, education and services. The university is characterised by strong cooperativeness and interdisciplinary practice. An attractive range of courses and learning options shape the profile of the TUK. The university promotes talent and enables top academic performance. Represented in this performance are the engineering disciplines of civil engineering, electrical engineering, information technology, mechanical engineering and process engineering along with biology, chemistry and physics. Architecture, spatial and environmental planning, social sciences and business are included in there too. In mathematics and computer sciences, the university enjoys close connections with renowned research institutions The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern has been one of the world’s leading research institutes in the area of software and systems engineering for more than 20 years. Its researchers have contributed their expertise in the areas of Processes, Architecture, Data, Security, Safety, Requirements Engineering, and User Experience in more than 1,200 projects. Under the leadership of Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer, Fraunhofer IESE is working on innovative topics related to digital ecosystems, such as Industrie 4.0, Autonomous Systems, and Cyber-Security. As a technology and innovation partner for the digital transformation, the institute’s research focuses on the interaction between embedded systems and information systems in digital ecosystems. Fraunhofer IESE is one of 72 institutes and research units of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Together they have a major impact on shaping applied research in Europe and contribute to Germany’s competitiveness in international markets. About the Friends of Digital Farming e.V. The aim is to optimize yields and food quality while preserving natural resources. The promotion of young talents, research and development of new technologies, as well as the testing of new business models play a decisive role. This is the strong belief of the members of the Friends of Digital Farming e.V.: ALDI SOUTH Group, BASF SE, Empolis Information Management GmbH, Hochwald Foods GmbH, HYDAC Electronic GmbH, ITK Engineering GmbH, John Deere GmbH & Co. KG, Kraichgauer Güterverwaltungen KG, Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt Hofgut Neumühle, Pessl Instruments GmbH, RAUCH Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH and Schmiedhof. Contact: Dr. Matthias Nachtmann, August Altherr
Inernet: friendsofdigitalfarming.org
Email: info@friendsofdigitalfarming.org
Phone: +49 631 41486250 Kontakt Hochwald Foods GmbH:
Kathrin Lorenz
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 6504 125 129
E-Mail: k.lorenz@hochwald.de