Science steps up for tomorrow's agriculture

Monitoring rapeseed and its pests, issuing alerts to farmers, tracking bee colonies, and analyzing pesticides in pollen in close collaboration with beekeepers— are just some of the activities that the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has been carrying out for over 20 years in partnership with the Wine Institute (IVV) and the Administration of Technical Agricultural Services (ASTA).

On 24 April 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture and LIST have signed an agreement to provide a framework for all these projects in the LIST laboratories in Belvaux, in the presence of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, and the Minister for Research and Higher Education, Stéphanie Obertin.

The five-year agreement (2025-2029) defines the general framework for research activities and the financial contribution of the Ministry of Agriculture, amounting to €258,397 per year. Its objective is to support the agricultural, horticultural and wine-growing sectors through long-term research projects.

In addition to recurring activities, the agreement covers the implementation by LIST of research programmes and projects in the fields of agriculture, plant health, animal health and welfare, ‘One Health’, food safety and viticulture. This work consists of providing advice, technical assistance and support to farms, public administrations, policy makers and professional chambers for the definition, evaluation and implementation of agricultural and environmental policies.

‘This agreement will enable us to establish recurring activities and facilitate their organisation and that of our teams of experts within the institute. It will allow us to reduce administrative work and be even more efficient and responsive in the future by focusing on our research activities,’ said Etienne Jacqué, Chairman of the LIST Board of Directors.

Research projects and opening of an insect quarantine laboratory

After signing the agreement, Ministers Martine Hansen and Stéphanie Obertin took part in a tour of the laboratories, during which LIST's Scientific Director Lucien Hoffmann and the research teams presented some of LIST's flagship projects in the field of agriculture and viticulture.

Current research projects such as ‘Sentinelle’ and ‘BeeFirst’ cover areas that are important for the agriculture of tomorrow, namely: reducing pesticide use in current and future climate conditions, analysing pesticides in honey and pollen produced in Luxembourg, monitoring vineyards using drones, precision farming and reducing the alcohol content of Luxembourg crémant.

Martine Hansen, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, emphasises: ‘To prepare for the agriculture of tomorrow, we must join forces with research and innovation and equip our agricultural sector with the results of cutting-edge research. I am convinced that the good collaboration between LIST, our administrations and the agricultural sector will continue to provide concrete solutions to the challenges faced by our producers in the field.’

Stéphanie Obertin, Minister for Research and Higher Education, notes: ‘As a public research centre, LIST plays a central role in supporting public policy through its high-level scientific expertise. This structured collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture perfectly illustrates LIST's mission: to put research and innovation at the service of society.’

Finally, the ministers also symbolically cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of an ‘Insect’ quarantine laboratory, which will enable LIST researchers to study the biological characteristics of exotic insects that are potentially invasive and identified as a threat to agriculture.