Das Projekt "Biofertilization and Bioirrigation for sustainable mixed cropping of pigeon pea and finger millet (BIOFI)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften durchgeführt. Finger millet and pigeon pea are widely grown in India, particularly by marginal farmers. BIOFI aims to optimize such rainfed mixed-culture schemes using bio-irrigation and bio-fertilization (boosting yields, improving nutritional quality). BIOFI combines biotechnology and socio-economic research. Biotech uses arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as 'biofertilizers' central to the hydraulic lift ('bioirrigation'). Socio-economic groups aim to better understand local farming and seed systems, intercropping patterns, farmers decision making and the bio-inputs market (incl. 'eco-enterprises'). Ecological and economic assessment of biofertilizer production/application. project goal: The aim of the project BIOFI is the development and implementation of an environmentally, economically and socially improved finger millet and pigeon pea intercropping system for arid/semi-arid zones, using bio-inoculants and bio-irrigation. core Competencies: On part of HAFL staff, BIOFI involves agronomic and socio-economic research competences (e.g. survey design, on-farm trials, market analysis) with a strong emphasis on methods and research in a multi- and transdisciplinary setting..