7 September 2025
The new AgraSim research platform at Forschungszentrum Jülich officially goes into operation on 7 September 2025. The inauguration takes place as part of Open Day, with the Board of Directors and guests of honour from science, politics, and society in attendance.
With AgraSim, the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences - Agrosphere (IBG-3) now has a globally unique infrastructure at its disposal, enabling researchers to investigate the effects of future climate and environmental conditions on agroecosystems and to derive measures for optimizing global ecosystem and climate models.
Research with vision
At the heart of AgraSim are six experimental units for investigating interactions between soil, plants, and climate. These units consist of approximately three-metre-high test chambers for plants with a volume of seven cubic metres, which are connected to a three-tonne lysimeter below these chambers. These lysimeters extend down into the basement of the building. These units, known as mesocosms, are isolated agricultural ecosystems in which all important processes can be simulated under controlled conditions.
Details on the individual components can be found on the AgraSim website.
In these closed systems, researchers can precisely control light, temperature, humidity, CO₂ content, and precipitation. This allows climate extremes such as heavy rainfall, droughts, or heat waves to be simulated realistically.
The real-time data collected - for example on gas exchange, photosynthesis, or water use efficiency - are fed directly into numerical simulations. On Forschungszentrum Jülich's high-performance computers, for example on the new exascale supercomputer JUPITER, a digital twin* is created that optimizes experiments and models in a continuous feedback loop.
The aim is to develop robust strategies for sustainable and resilient agriculture.
"With AgraSim, Forschungszentrum Jülich has created a globally unique research platform that will demonstrate in a remarkable way how we can address the pressing issues of our time. Climate change presents major challenges for agriculture and our society. AgraSim will help us to gain a better understanding of these impacts - and to translate this knowledge into concrete solutions for sustainable agriculture and actionable recommendations," says Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Chair of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich.
Unique collaboration on campus
A major advantage is that the experimental data not only provide insights for research, but also indications as to how the system itself can be further optimized from a technical perspective. The platforms and their control systems were developed, tested, and built at IBG-3 in close cooperation with Jülich's Institute of Technology and Engineering (ITE) over a number of years. ITE took responsibility for technical project management as well as the development and construction of the entire system.
This means that ITE can also implement adjustments directly on site - quickly and precisely. This close interaction between science and technology guarantees the highest data quality and makes AgraSim flexible, independent, and competitive, giving the platform a unique selling point at a global level.
What those involved in the AgraSim project have to say
"AgraSim is unique worldwide in its combination of experimental, analytical, and simulation capabilities," explains Prof. Nicolas Brüggemann (IBG-3).
"AgraSim will represent an important strategic milestone - not only for research into agroecosystems, but also for the future of the bioeconomy within the entire Helmholtz Association," says Prof. Harry Vereecken (IBG-3).
"The entire infrastructure and technology were developed, planned, and implemented here on site, from simulation to the finished components. This makes us completely independent, ensures that the highest quality is delivered, and gives us an enormous competitive advantage," says Prof. Ghaleb Natour (ITE).
"With AgraSim's digital twin, we can not only simulate different climate scenarios virtually, but also test specific agricultural management strategies. This allows us to develop courses of action that help make agriculture sustainable and resilient to the consequences of climate change," says Prof. Andrea Schnepf (IBG-3), who will be working on the modelling component of AgraSim with a team of eight modellers.
Funding
The infrastructure was funded as part of the Helmholtz programme "Changing Earth - Sustaining our Future" and by the former Federal Ministry of Education and Research (now the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space).
AgraSim's digital twin
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a real system. At AgraSim, it replicates the experimental units - soils, plants, and climate - on a computer.
All measurement data flows directly into this model. This allows scenarios to be modelled that could not run in parallel in an experiment, such as extreme weather conditions or long-term climate developments.
What makes it special is that the digital twin is not a one-way street. Simulations provide predictions about the effects of future climate conditions on agriculture, which are then verified in the laboratory. Conversely, new measurements are used to refine the model. This creates a continuous feedback loop between reality and simulation - making AgraSim a unique tool for the agriculture of the future.
Further Content
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Nicolas Brüggemann
Head of research group "Plant-Soil-Atmosphere Exchange Processes"
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences (IBG)
- Agrosphere (IBG-3)
Prof. Dr. Harry Vereecken
Direktor
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences (IBG)
- Agrosphere (IBG-3)
- Institute of Technology and Engineering (ITE)
Prof. Dr. Andrea Schnepf
Head of research group "Soil-, Root Systems and Rhizosphere Processes"
- Institute of Bio- und Geosciences (IBG)
- Agrosphere (IBG-3)
