© Eva Leiritz/Projektträger Jülich
Dialogues: Focus on Fusion and Biotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems
3 minutes to read 26. March 2026
Photo: Around 220 representatives from the worlds of politics, academia and business gathered in Potsdam for the Plant Biotechnology Partnership Dialogue to work together on the Biotechnology Roadmap.
Both fusion and plant biotechnology play a central role in paving the way for an innovative and competitive future. Fusion technology aims to enable a clean, carbon-free energy supply on a large scale. Germany’s pioneering position in fusion research makes it a potential high-tech driver for the economy. Plant biotechnology enables the development of resilient and high-yield agricultural and food systems for the future, guaranteeing food security and giving Germany the opportunity to become a leading centre for plant breeding and sustainable plant protection in Europe. The High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD) specifically strengthens this pioneering role through increased investment in order to effectively address current and future challenges.
In the field of bio- and plant technology, the HTAD aims to successfully translate research into practical applications: modern breeding technologies for crops and biotechnological plant protection ensure agricultural yields and guarantee stable harvests, despite ongoing climate change. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has held several partner dialogues on the key technologies of fusion and plant biotechnology. The results are being incorporated into the design of the respective roadmaps.
24 March 2026 | Fusionskongress
On 24 March, the BMFTR held its Fusionskongress in Berlin as the third dialogue (“Partnerdialog”)on fusion as a key technology. Federal Minister Dorothee Bär opened the congress. In her address, she reaffirmed the Federal Government’s goal of building the world’s first fusion power plant in Germany. This was followed by a technical discussion, attended by representatives from the worlds of science, industry and government. It became clear that, whilst the Federal Government’s goal is ambitious, it is achievable. In addition to overcoming the technological hurdles that still exist, it is particularly important to establish an ecosystem at an early stage that provides the conditions necessary for the successful commercialisation of fusion. The scope that such an ecosystem must cover is vast. It ranges from early-stage regulation in the legislative and pre-legislative spheres, through the training of academic and non-academic specialists, to the creation of supply chains.
24 and 25 March 2026 | Dialogues on plant biotechnology and biotechnologically produced foods (“Partnerdialoge”)
© Adobe Stock/New Africa
© AdobeStock/New Africa
Germany has world-leading scientific and technical expertise, a competitive seed industry, extensive expertise in plant protection, and a well-established, committed community. More than 220 representatives from the worlds of science, business, industry associations and politics gathered on 24 March as part of the Jahrestagung Pflanzenforschung for the dialogue (“Partnerdialog”) “Pflanzenbiotechnologie für die Agrarwirtschaft”. There was an in-depth discussion on the conditions that must be met in order to use modern breeding methods to bring new, resilient crops into use and onto the field significantly faster. The implementation of EU regulations on NGT 1 plants (New Genomic Techniques, category 1) is the key lever in this regard. The first varieties could be successfully introduced into the field as early as the next ten years. Biotechnological plant protection also offers new opportunities in the near future to reduce the use of chemical plant protection products whilst delivering stable agricultural yields.
On 25 March, the dialogue (“Partnerdialog”) “Biotechnologische Lebensmittel: Chancen der Präzisionsfermentation und Zellkultivierung” took place as an online event attended by around 30 participants from academia, industry, trade associations, and representatives of the federal and state governments. The focus was on the commercial potential of these technologies, which enable new value chains and tap into growth markets within the food industry. Key milestones and catalysts for building an innovation ecosystem were discussed, with particular emphasis placed on regulatory frameworks, access to capital and the involvement of established food manufacturers as crucial factors.
Resilient crops, sustainable plant protection and biotech foods all contribute to the HTAD’s objectives of using biotechnology to develop resilient, crisis-proof agricultural and food systems. The outcomes of the dialogues (“Partnerdialoge”) are incorporated into the Biotechnology Roadmap.