Smart Soils Summer School 2027 – International Summer School on Digital Soil Health and Agricultural Robotics in Diversified Cropping Systems

Smart Soils Summer School 2027 – International Summer School on Digital Soil Health and Agricultural Robotics in Diversified Cropping Systems

Date: May 23 - May 28, 2027
Location: ZALF Müncheberg & Schloss Trebnitz (Brandenburg, Germany)
Target Audience: Max. 25 advanced Master students, PhD students, and Early-Career Researchers

Overview & Theme

Transforming global agriculture toward climate-resilient and diversified crop production requires cutting-edge technology and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Smart Soils Summer School 2027 brings together researchers from agronomy, soil science, sensing, and robotics to explore how digital technologies and automation can support the implementation of diversified cropping systems.

At the heart of this summer school is a strong, dedicated focus on soil-smart agriculture, digital soil monitoring, and functional soil health. Soil serves as the fundamental matrix for sustainable agricultural production, yet accurately quantifying its physical, biological, and chemical properties under complex, diversified cropping systems remains a critical challenge. Our summer school program bridges classical soil diagnostics with modern digital solutions, ranging from proximal and remote soil sensing applications to autonomous field robotics.

Participants will gain comprehensive hands-on experience using state-of-the-art measurement devices, getting to know field robots for field intervention as well as crop and soil monitoring applications, and applying data analytics tools through a dynamic blend of interactive lectures, field excursions, and coding workshops. By working directly with field data, sensor outputs, and spatial modeling tools in R and Python, attendees will learn how to measure and monitor soil health indicators, visualize sensor data, and use robotic platforms tailored for diversified cropping systems.

Key Topics & Scientific Scope

• Diversified Cropping Systems
• Soil Health & Diagnostics
• Digital Soil & Crop Monitoring
• Agricultural Robotics & Automation
• Data Processing & DIY Technologies

Tentative Daily Schedule:

Date / Day	Morning (Lectures at Castle Trebnitz)	Afternoon (Hands-on & Excursions at ZALF)
Sun, May 23	Arrival & Check-in (from 15:00)	Welcome & Icebreaker
Mon, May 24	Crop Diversification, Legumes & Soil Health Concepts	Field Training & Tour
Tue, May 25	Intercropping Productivity, Digital soil mapping & Proximal Sensing	Lab & Field
Wed, May 26	Hyperspectral, LiDAR, Thermal Sensing & DIY Systems	Robotics & Excursions
Thu, May 27	Robot Market, Remote Sensing & Quadruped Platforms	Technical Sessions
Fri, May 28	Data Workshops: R-Scripting, LUCAS/Sentinel Mapping & Pitches	Lab & Departure (from 16:00)

Venue & Facilities

• Lectures & Accommodation: Hosted at Castle Trebnitz (Trebnitz, near Müncheberg), providing a collaborative atmosphere and evening discussions. 17 modern equipped single and double rooms with a total of 25 single beds
• Practical Training & Excursions: Conducted at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg (approx. 40 km east of Berlin), utilizing ZALF laboratories, field robotics, and experimental infrastructures. Transport is provided.

 

Costs, Funding & Grants

• Covered Costs: Accommodation (Castle Trebnitz) and all meals (full board) are fully sponsored by SoilRob from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon.
• Travel Grants: Up to €1,000 available for selected participants from low- and middle-income countries who lack institutional funding.

 

Organizers & Partners

Organized by the SoilRob Junior Research Group (www.soilrob.de) in cooperation with international researchers and experts from ZALF, ATB Potsdam, Spain, and India.

Application & Key Dates

Submit your application via Google Forms https://forms.gle/JASEcpcBaqeiaXKo8 by October 18, 2026.

You will need to provide:

1. A short Motivation Letter (max. 300 words, pasted into the form).
2. A Summary of Research Experience & Knowledge (pasted into the form).
3. A 1-page CV (uploaded as a PDF).

 

Successful applicants will be notified by November 15, 2026. Participation must be confirmed by January 31, 2027, by submitting proof of travel bookings. Unconfirmed places will be reallocated to wait-listed candidates.

 

Practical & Logistical Guidance

• Visa Assistance: Official letters of invitation will be issued upon selection for participants requiring a Schengen visa to enter Germany. Please apply early to ensure timely processing.
• Travel & Arrival: Participants are responsible for their own travel to the venue. Castle Trebnitz is directly accessible by public transport (RB26 train line from Berlin Lichtenberg/Ostkreuz directly to Trebnitz (Mark) station, just a short walk to the castle). The nearest major international hubs are Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station).
• Language Requirement: The official working language for all lectures, hands-on workshops, field excursions, and discussions is English. Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Hardware & Software Requirements: Participants must bring their own laptop. Pre-installed software required for the data processing modules includes R/ RStudio and Python with standard data science packages) and basic GIS capabilities (e.g., QGIS). Detailed setup instructions will be sent prior to the event.
• ECTS & Certificate of Attendance: All participants will receive an official Certificate of Attendance detailing the course content, practical hours, and learning outcomes.

(ECTS Calculation: Based on standard European Credit Transfer System guidelines (1 ECTS = 25–30 hours of work), this intensive 6-day program, comprising roughly 40 hours of direct contact time (lectures, field practicals, data workshops) plus preparatory work (motivation, pitch preparation) is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits.)

This summer school is supported by the German Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), project ID 031B1391.