Institute für the Development of Cultural Landscapes

From Orchards to a Global Vision: Why this Institute?

Hochstamm Deutschland e.V. is widely recognized as a leading network for the preservation of traditional orchard meadows. However, orchard meadows do not exist in isolation. They are part of a global family of traditional cultural landscapes (TCL). While these landscapes vary in appearance, they share the same core strengths and challenges:

• Strengths: They are biodiversity hotspots, vital carbon sinks, and repositories of centuries-old ecological wisdom.
• Challenges: In the context of modern intensive agriculture, they are often dismissed as "inefficient," struggle with economic viability, and face severe threats from climate change

By bridging the gap between centuries-old ecological wisdom and modern technological innovation, we aim to create a new paradigm for agri-food systems. Our core philosophy is simple yet vital: traditional systems often lack the efficiency required for modern demands, while modern systems frequently lack sustainability due to ecological and social drawbacks. The Institute seeks the "best of both worlds" to ensure resilient, sustainable, and productive aggri-food-systems.

Objectives

• Harnessing synergies: Transferring successful management and conservation strategies between different traditional cultural landscapes
• Bridging science & practice: Actively engaging with practitioners to capture traditional knowledge and combine it with modern research to create practical, real-world solutions
• Collaborative project development: Initiating and organizing research and development projects based on the actual needs of the practice, working hand-in-hand with interested practitioners and partners
• Mutual Learning: Building a global alliance of pracitioners and researchers to learn from successful examples worldwide and increase political visibility at the EU level.
• Knowledge transfer: Translating scientific findings into practical guidelines and manuals to ensure these landscapes are preserved through active, sustainable use
• Value chain integration: Developing sustainable marketing strategies and integrating ecosystem services into regional value chains to ensure the economic viability of TCL products

Structure

The Institute is designed as a lean and agile research unit. It focuses on project acquisition, research coordination, and international networking. While the Institute generates the scientific foundation and innovative concepts, Hochstamm Deutschland e.V. serves as the partner for practical implementation, applying research results directly in the field.

Our Projects

Currently, we are actively developing and seeking funding for projects that address the following key pillars of traditional cultural landscapes:

• Climate adaptation & soil health: We initiate projects investigating climate-resilient management systems. This includes exploring innovative approaches to soil health, such as the use of effective microorganisms and liquid carbon pathways to increase biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
• Ecosystem services & biodiversity: A core focus of our work is the provision of ecosystem services. We aim to create a valid data basis for the biodiversity and ecological value of TCLs, ensuring their contribution to the environment is scientifically recognized.
• Agri-food innovation & value chains: We look for the "best of both worlds" by combining traditional systems with modern processing and marketing. Our work aims to strengthen regional value chains—from sustainable food processing to innovative marketing strategies for TCL products.
• Culture, art & society: Traditional landscapes are more than just agricultural sites; they are part of our Intangible Cultural Heritage. We develop projects that explore the social and cultural dimensions of these landscapes, including artistic engagement and the preservation of historical knowledge.

Get in Touch

We invite international researchers, practitioners, and organisations to join us in rethinking the future of agri-food systems. We are looking for active collaboration to bridge the gap between "small-scale successes" and "large-scale impact". We invite partners from all countries to contribute to our international network. We welcome contributions across all thematic areas of our work—whether it concerns cultivation, ecology, economics, or culture.

Who we are looking for:

• Practitioners: Are you implementing traditional or innovative cultivation practices? We want to learn from people who want to share their wisdom or can point us toward inspiring experts.
• Researchers: If you are interested in applied cultural landscape research and seek a direct exchange with practitioners, let’s collaborate on future-oriented projects.
• Organisations & Initiatives: We seek partners interested in developing and executing international projects to increase the visibility of TCLs at the EU and global levels.

How you can contribute (Tangible Inputs):

• Best-Practice Examples: Do you have successful models for management, marketing, cultural preservation, or the use of specific varieties within a TCL?
• Literature & Resources: We welcome hints regarding scientific or "grey" literature, old knowledge sources, current project reports, or data regarding ecosystem services.
• Applied Knowledge: Share your practical guidelines, internal manuals, or innovative ideas to help us standardize success for both practioners and scientists.

Join our Institute

Contact: institute@hochstamm-deutschland.de

Our Philisophy: Complementing, not Duplicating

We build on a foundation of mutual respect. Many dedicated researchers, NGOs, and local initiatives have been doing outstanding work for decades to preserve cultural landscapes. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel or duplicate these efforts. Instead, we want to acknowledge this wealth of experience, learn from it.

Our growing network

• EUCALAND: We are member of EUCALAND (European Culture expressed in Agricultural Landscapes). This partnership allows us to align our work with European standards for documenting and preserving the cultural and historical values of agricultural land.
• Practical & Professional Alliances: We leverage the deep expertise of established networks like UK Orchard Network, Streuobst Österreich, and the Pomologen-Verein e.V.. These partners provide the practical foundation for our "Preservation through Use" philosophy.

Key People: Expertise Driven by Passion

Dr.-Ing. Janet Maringer

PhD in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL; Post-Doc at the Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg (FVA); Lecturer at various universities

Janet’s motivation lies in preparing traditional landscapes for the challenges of a changing climate. With an extensive background in geoecology and forest research, she specializes in translating complex statistical models into actionable management principles. Her work ensures that conservation is not just about looking back, but about building "climate-fit" systems for the future.

Selected Publications:

Maringer, J.; Radtke, M.; Schulz, C. (2025): Climate Change Adaptation in Orchard Landscapes – A Study on the Potential for Climate-Resilient Management Systems and the Testing of Alternative Tree Species and Cultivation Systems. (Ed.) Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg. https://streuobst.landwirtschaft-bw.de/site/pbs-bw-rebrush2024/get/documents_E-1833207081/MLR.LEL/Streuobst/Endbericht_Final_Juni_2025.pdf

Maringer, J.; Radtke, M.; Schulz, C. (2025): Design and Management Principles for Climate-Resilient Orchard Meadows & Alternative Tree Species. (Ed.) Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg. https://streuobst.landwirtschaft-bw.de/site/pbs-bw-rebrush2024/get/documents_E1754040896/MLR.LEL/Streuobst/Finales_booklet_20250819.pdf

Maringer, J.; Rösler, S.; Schulz, C. (2024): Toolkits for climate-resilient orchards. Obst + Garten: 14–18.

Gehring, E.; Conedera, M.; Maringer, J.; Giadrossich, F.; Guastini, E.; Schwarz, M. (2019): Shallow landslide disposition in burnt European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. Scientific reports 9. 8638. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45073-7

Dr. agr. Sophia Philipp

PhD in Agri-Food Marketing (University of Kassel); M.Sc. in Agricultural and Resource Economics

Sophia is driven by the principle of "Preservation through use". She believes that traditional landscapes can only survive if they are economically viable and valued by society. Her research focuses on the intersection of consumer behavior and the unique marketing needs of traditional products. As a farmer herself, she brings a practical, hands-on perspective to every research project.

Selected Publications:

Špulerová, J., Bartlett, D., Kruse, A., Bürckmann, H., Eiter, S., Hribar, M. Š., Kladnik, D., Kučera, Z., Melicher, J., Philipp, S., Potthoff, K., Renes, H., Roth, M. und Sigura, M. (2025): A review of the cultural significance of traditional orchards using examples from selected European countries.Landscape Ecology, 40(159). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-025-02169-y

Philipp, S. und Bürckmann, H. (2025): Tipps zur Streuobstvermarktung. Handlungsleitfaden für die Praxis. Ergebnisse des Projekts "Streuobst 2030 - nachhaltige Sicherung eines wertvollen Ökosystems in Baden-Württemberg". Rohrdorf: Hochstamm Deutschland e.V. https://www.hochstamm-deutschland.de/files/hochstamm/fachinformationen/2025-09-19%20Handreichung%20Streuobst%20Verbraucher.pdf

Philipp, S. und Zander, K. (2025): Consumers’ associations, knowledge, and willingness to pay for products from traditional orchard meadows. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2025;40-17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170525100124

Philipp, S. und Zander, K. (2025): A conceptual framework and review explaining the role and potential of product marketing in preserving traditional cultural landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1638485

All images: Hochstamm Deutschland e.V.