The agricultural economist Folkhard Isermeyer, who is highly regarded in business and science, took over the presidency of the Thünen Institute shortly after the reorganisation of departmental research in 2009. Prior to this, he was Director and President of the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), one of three predecessor institutions of the Thünen Institute. Over the past 15 years, with his characteristic foresight, patience and passion, he has transformed three very different research institutes into a scientific institution whose great social importance was last confirmed by the German Council of Science and Humanities in 2024. He has consistently brought together the existing specialist research expertise in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural areas in order to present concepts for the sustainable use of natural resources and the development of rural regions. Thanks to Folkhard Isermeyer's work, the Thünen Institute enjoys an outstanding reputation as a policy advisory institution. As an honorary professor at the University of Göttingen, he has also passed on his knowledge to future generations.
Folkhard Isermeyer repeatedly used his skills as a gifted communicator and networker to bring together different people and opinions and to bring discussions that were getting out of hand back to the core and onto a solid, evidence-based foundation. International networks such as agri benchmark can be traced back to his initiative. He was an important source of inspiration for political and agricultural science debates in Germany and Europe. The Competence Network for Livestock Farming (‘Borchert Commission’) and the Future Commission for Agriculture have benefited from this. The success of both commissions was a matter close to his heart.
Although he always had the big picture in mind and also demanded a certain altitude from his scientists, he never lost his grip on the ground. He remained personally connected to the Braunschweig region throughout his life and was committed to the ForschungRegionBraunschweig network and the House of Science, for example.
He himself described his presidency of the Thünen Institute as ‘the greatest job in the world’. He died shortly before his retirement following a serious illness. The Thünen Institute will honour his memory. He will be succeeded on 1 February by the forest scientist Prof. Dr Birgit Kleinschmit.
“He was a great scientist and visionary. We will miss him very much and honor his memory at the HZI,” says Prof. Josef Penninger, Scientific Director of the HZI, in tribute to Isermeyer. Prof. Dirk Heinz, former Scientific Director of the HZI, who worked together with Isermeyer on the Executive Board of the ForschungRegion for many years, remembers: “Folkhard Isermeyer's untimely death leaves a huge gap far beyond our research landscape. I was always very impressed by his approachable professionalism.” Prof. Thomas Pietschmann, Deputy Scientific Director of the HZI, adds,“I am personally very grateful to Folkhard Isermeyer for warmly welcoming me into the circle of research institute directors and for the numerous pieces of advice he gave me during our joint commitment to science and research in the region.” Christian Scherf, Administrative Director of the HZI , emphasizes, “Folkhard Isermeyer was not only an excellent and farsighted manager of the Thünen Institute and a highly committed and thoughtful head of the ForschungRegion Braunschweig, but also a long-standing regional partner for the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research.”
Further information:
To the obituary and book of condolences of the Thünen Institute
