Deutsches Institut für Tropische und Subtropische Landwirtschaft

The German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture in Witzenhausen is a research facility that focuses on sustainable farming methods and agricultural science for tropical regions. The site has laboratories, greenhouses, and experimental fields where scientists study and develop various crops used in tropical areas.

The institute was founded in 1956 and took over the role of the former German Colonial School that had existed since the early 1900s. Today it operates as a branch location of the University of Kassel and contributes to developing solutions for agriculture in tropical countries.

The institute maintains a collection of plant specimens and seed samples from tropical regions that shows visitors the diversity of these growing areas. These collections are regularly updated and also serve as teaching materials for students and visitors.

The site is located in a protected historical building complex from the late 1800s, which includes a former Wilhelmite monastery. Visitors should know that many areas are laboratories and research spaces, so guided tours or advance registration are advisable.

The institute houses an extensive specialized library with around 50,000 monographs and roughly 900 academic journals on tropical agriculture, a collection rarely found elsewhere. This resource is an important information source for researchers and professionals in the agricultural field.