Welcome @ AIL!
Ricarda Berg and Nikolaus Kehrer are part of the Innovation Management team, working on identifying opportunities, developing new ideas, and turning them into impactful solutions that support strategic growth and transformation.
Ricarda focuses on driving innovation initiatives and fostering collaboration across projects, while Nikolaus Kehrer, as a Junior Innovation Manager, supports the development and implementation of new concepts and solutions.
Nikolaus Kehrer
Position: Jr.Innovation Manager
Contact: n.kehrer@agroinnolab.com
Your Background: Ever since I was a child, it has always been my personal goal to understand agriculture and all its related aspects. It all began on my uncle’s farm, where my passion for the subject was ignited, followed by numerous internships. These ranged from a wide variety of agricultural operations—such as Austria’s largest organic farm and its most modern fish farm—to institutions like the Ministry and REWE’s Biodiversity Foundation. At the same time, I am currently in my fourth semester of my bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences. These experiences have shown me just how complex—and at the same time, how crucial—sustainable agricultural and food systems are.
Describe the Agro Innovation Lab in 3 words: Forward-looking, international, pioneering
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time, I really enjoy going out to eat, ideally with friends and a few good glasses of wine. I’ve been playing basketball for a club my whole life, but in general, I’m enthusiastic about any kind of sport. And when I’m not playing sports or eating, I’m outside in the fresh air—whether at the lake, on a mountain peak, in the woods, or in a field. I love being outdoors, and ideally, I’m there with family and friends.
Ricarda Berg
Position: Innovation Manager
Contact: r.berg@agroinnolab.com
Why did you want to work at the Agro Innovation Lab? I want to be part of an environment that actively shapes the future of the agricultural sector. I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to support innovations from the initial idea through to market readiness and beyond, and to connect people and organizations with one another. I am convinced that sustainable change happens above all when people come together with a shared purpose, learn from one another, and forge new paths together.
What knowledge helps you in your work? I bring experience in the areas of innovation management, communication, and network building. It is particularly important to me to facilitate dialogue among different stakeholders, provide structured support for innovation processes, and encourage people to think outside the box.
What interests you about the Agro Innovation Lab? For me, innovation arises where different perspectives come together and are used to develop concrete solutions to the challenges facing the agricultural sector. What excites me most about the Agro Innovation Lab is its focus on new ideas that are further developed in collaboration with the network of RWA and warehouses, startups, and other organizations. This leads to innovations that are economically viable, sustainable, and relevant in practice.
I studied agricultural and food economics at BOKU and grew up on a farm in Westphalia. That’s why cooperation within cooperative structures, shared values, and a direct connection to agricultural practice are particularly close to my heart.
Photo: RWA, Pia Wunderer