First National Stakeholders Conference in Tulln, Austria under the TRANSFER Danube project

The first national stakeholder workshop in Tulln on February 26, 2026, with the title “TRANSFER Danube – an international project to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture”, was organized by BOKU University.

12 participants representing all target groups (national/regional/local public authorities, education/training centers apart from BOKU University, operating water management company and farmers) were present and provided valuable contributions to the project.

The project was introduced by Elisabeth Gerhardt (BOKU University), outlining its objectives, partners, pilot areas, and expected outcomes.

Manfred Weinhappel (Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture) highlighted adaptation measures in crop production, funding opportunities, and innovative approaches — with a strong focus on the growing importance of irrigation.

Roland Koeck (BOKU University) presented strategic measure bundles (SMB) for large agricultural areas, such as wind breaker forest belts, multiple-purpose hedges, buffer-strip forest vegetation along water courses and forest plantations. These measures help improve the hydrological regime, reduce erosion, enhance microclimates, and strengthen biodiversity.

The concluding discussion addressed key challenges such as drought, climate-adapted crops, and economic feasibility. A central message: measures must be practical, economically viable for farmers, and embedded in support programs like ÖPUL, an Austrian Programme for Environmentally Sound Agriculture. Consumer demand also plays a role — for example, the increasing interest in soybeans and gluten-free alternatives for carbohydrates, such as sweet chestnuts.

While Austria already has strong best-practice examples in the field of wind-breaker forest belts and multi-purpose hedges, also information about the other two SMB and continued efforts for and information about funding options, knowledge sharing, and implementation strategies are essential.