The aim of the Faculty is to impart knowledge of sustainable agriculture with regard to different agro-ecological and economical conditions.  The Faculty’s main focal areas are in crop sciences, animal sciences, socio-economic and food sciences.  Within each focal area, there are multiple departments that focus on areas such as, but not limited to, agricultural engineering, crop production, animal nutrition, ecological plant protection, farm management, grassland science and renewable plant resources, marketing, and food quality and culture.   

JKI is both a federal authority and research body for the German Government.  The Centre carries out a variety of research on cultivated plant systems and products at 15 different specialized institutes: Application Techniques for Plant Protection; Biological Control; Breeding Research on Agricultural Crops; Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops; Crop and Soil Science; Ecological Chemistry, Analysis and Stored Products Protection; Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics; Biosafety of Genetically Modified Plants; Grapevine Breeding; National and International Plant Health; Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland; Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture; Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests; Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance; and Strategies and Technology Assessment in Plant Protection.  Of particular interest, the Institute for Biological Control performs research on the use of natural antagonists to control arthropod pests and diseases and has produced a number of publications on the use of biological control in organic agriculture. 

IBDF was founded to research solutions for biodynamic farmers and consultants. Currently, it focuses on conducting research in organic agriculture. The Institute’s main research groups focus on long-term trials and fertilization; organic plant breeding, crop diversity, seed health and organic plant protection; and the optimization of biodynamic preparations. The long-term trials group is focused on soil organic matter and crop yields and yield components with and without biodynamic preparations.

The Institute of Organic Farming aims to evaluate and scientifically support the further development organic farming laws. Three fields are addressed by the Institute: organic animal husbandry, organic crop production, organic pasture management. Sustainability in terms of environmental and animal appropriateness and the profitability of the farms are at the heart of the research.

ICRISAT is a CGIAR research center focused on the dry regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia conducting research on sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeon pea, and groundnut. It aims to improve the well-being of the poor in the region through scientific agricultural research. Specifically, ICRISAT undertakes research in making major food crops more productive, diversifying options in staple food crops, reducing risk from the natural resource base, diversifying income generation, and strengthening support systems for rural farm communities. 

The vTI is part of the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. The goal of the Institute of Organic Farming is to optimize process and product quality in organic crop production. Studies at the Institute are in the fields of organic husbandry, organic crop production and organic pasture management.

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is devoted to developing an agriculture that can sustain the land and its resources. As a public non-profit organization, it strives to revitalize farming through research, education, technical assistance and public policy. The institute’s goals are: sustainable agriculture research and education, biodynamic and organic research and education, public policy toward sustainable agriculture, in farm apprentice and internship training.

The Program’s mission is to educate producers, consumers and policy makers in the research activities in organic agriculture. The Program engages in both research and extension at its Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm. Comparison studies are ongoing, with specific areas of focus on yield studies, pest and disease control, soil management, cover crops, and horticulture. 

SOAR offers PhD courses, seminars and a network for PhD students with interest in organic agriculture and food systems. A major goal is to raise the scientific level of research within areas relevant to organic agriculture by training the students to deal with complex problems. The research school focuses on three themes: organic crop production, organic livestock production and health and organic agriculture/food production and society.

The Rodale Institute is a US-based non-profit organization that aims to improve the health and well-being of people and the planet through organic agriculture research and training.  Most famous for the Farming Systems Trial®, a long running comparison trial on organic and conventional farming techniques, Rodale now engages in a variety of studies that focus on yield, soil fertility, pest and disease management and opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.