Despite cool weather, the organizers counted 3,200 guests who came to learn about the topics of the Ministry of Agriculture. Under the motto “Agriculture and food: regional, seasonal, brilliant”, the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity (BMLEH) held an Open House in Berlin on 23 and 24 August. Together with all other federal ministries, the Federal Press Office, and the Federal Chancellery, the public was traditionally invited over a weekend after the summer break to get insight into political work.
The Julius Kühn Institute participated with colleagues from the Berlin-based Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analytics and Stock Protection at a booth.
Roughly 3,200 visitors made their way into the two attractively designed inner courtyards and additional rooms of the Ministry. On Saturday, Federal Minister Alois Rainer visited the JKI booth during his tour and was thoroughly briefed on the interrelations between pests infesting stored produce and the impacts on transport chains and agriculture. Dr. Christina Müller and Dr. Benjamin Fürstenau demonstrated the acoustic probes that detect grain beetle infestation at an early stage, as well as stored-product pests in their different developmental stages. State Secretary Prof. Dr. Dr. Markus Schick also visited the booth during his walkabout and conversed with Dr. Cornel Adler, especially about the connections between stock protection, climate change, and food security.
The Federal Ministry additionally offered a varied program including stage talks, activities and guided tours.
