Kathrin Goebel
Innovator
Oberfeld Farming Stock Corporation
Germany
Cultural
Farming
Rural area close to city
The innovation journey
Dr Kathrin Goebel is a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of the Oberfeld Farming Stock Corporation (AG). The legal setup including linkages between different units owning and managing the Oberfeld estate represents an extraordinary (innovative) company structure in the farming context. Kathrin is a veterinary by training. Due to her knowledge, expertise and her close cooperation with veterinary scientists. She has introduced, tested and adjusted several new techniques to the dairy system.
Oberfeld Farming AG is a Demeter-certified organic farm. Houses and traditional farm facilities are owned by the Oberfeld Foundation, a civil society initiative founded in 2006. When the foundation and Kathrin and her partners took over the Oberfeld estate, they transferred it into a certified Demeter organic farm with a bakery, milk processing and farm shop. Demeter farming includes social, animal welfare and ecological commitments. Oberfeld estate has a ‘Learning Place Farm’ (Lernort Bauernhof), which local schools and kindergartens visit regularly. Another branch is the socio-therapeutical ‘Workhouse Oberfeld’ for citizens with and without disabilities.
The innovation impact
Nowadays, as many people as a hundred years ago are working on Oberfeld Estate. The Oberfeld team does not only produce excellent organic food sold in the farm shop and its café, but it also provides an idyllic place in the periphery of the Darmstadt Science City. Hofgut Oberfeld is a part of Darmstadt’s identity. Citizens as well as politicians of all colours feel attached to it and visit the farm with visitors. Since the Oberfeld farming team is a frontrunner in applying innovative solutions in animal husbandry and cropping, other farmers, farm advisors and other private or public services benefit from such novelties piloted and maintained for several years in practice.