Hollabrunn Agricultural College

Shaping the Next Generation of Sustainable Agriculture

At the Hollabrunn Agricultural College, students are trained in theory and practice for agricultural professions. Practical training takes place at the teaching and experimental farm on site. Emphasis is made on innovation in ecology and economy. Bayer ForwardFarming supports the agricultural college with innovative solutions and projects in the areas of biodiversity, water and user protection, consulting and digital services. As a measure to enhance the biodiversity on the farm, flower strips are planted to preserve native flora as well as birds, insects, and earthworms. Another measure the college has implemented are skylark plots, which are small open plots in grain fields that provide threatened skylarks a safe place to land and nest. The farm also features a beetle bank, whose loose soil provides an ideal habitat for predatory beetle species that build their nests below the earth’s surface. These beetles hunt and consume other insects that are considered to be agricultural pests.

• Farm name and location: Hollabrunn, northwest of Vienna.

• History: The college was founded in 1903 as a winter school and operates a working farm and vineyard.

• Primary crops: Winter wheat, winter barley, corn, sugar beet, soybean, potato, fruit, grapevines, field vegetables, and more.

• Notable partnerships: The collaboration between the Hollabrunn Agricultural College and Bayer is just one example of the comprehensive projects with various partners that are being pursued to advance agriculture.

Connecting Students to a Sustainable Tomorrow 

The partnership with the Agricultural College in Hollabrunn is unique for Bayer ForwardFarming - rather than partnering with a farmer, collaborating with a school draws emphasis on the value of sustainability awareness, practice, and innovation for the next generation. 

The students that study and work on this campus have the opportunity to connect with sustainable agriculture as the solution to global challenges. A Phytobac^® system was installed to handle on-farm waste water. Measures such as wind protection hedges show how wind erosion can be avoided while simultaneously providing shelter and food for wild animals, insects and birds. Digital farming tools and smart farming practices are adopted on the farm to facilitate decision-making and help students learn how to sustainably optimize overall performance. When students enter the professional world from Hollabrunn, they do so with insights and knowledge that add up to a more sustainable future for agriculture. 

Contact us

We're happy to connect with you! Contact Karl Neubauer with any questions or inquiries.