01.09.2026

An important milestone for MOOReturn and the future of the region: The industrial partner, Agrotherm GmbH, has received a positive funding decision for the next phase of the project. The approval secures the next 18 months of project implementation through the end of 2027 and provides a key foundation for the continued planning and implementation of the MoorFiberWorks in Malchin.

With this positive funding decision, concrete preparations for the next phase of the project can now begin. The focus is on the continued implementation of the planned MoorFiberWorks, which is to be built as a pilot and demonstration plant for the processing of peat biomass.

Next Step: Construction Planning and Procurement

Based on the approval, further preparations for the facility’s construction are now underway. These include, in particular, the procurement processes for construction and facility planning, as well as the detailed technical development of the overall concept.

In the future, the MoorFiberWorks is intended to demonstrate how biomass from wet peatlands can be processed on an industrial scale and prepared for various utilization pathways. The goal of MOOReturn is to combine the rewetting and sustainable use of peatlands with economically viable value chains.

New Prospects for Agriculture

A key challenge of rewetting is to open up long-term economic prospects for agricultural businesses. In the future, the MoorFiberWorks could create a regional market for biomass from paludiculture.

This creates a new link between peatland areas and the regional economy: biomass is viewed not as a waste product, but as a raw material. Farmers could benefit from new uses for the biomass, while at the same time adapting their farming practices to high water levels.

A Hub of Innovation for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

With the MoorFiberWorks, Malchin can position itself as a hub for the development and demonstration of a new bioeconomy on wet peatlands. Scientific research, agricultural practice, mechanical and plant engineering, and the processing industry all come together here.

The demonstration plant can thus also play an important role for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: It creates a place where new processes can be tested under real-world conditions, further developed, and prepared for potential transfer to other regions.

The potential extends beyond Malchin. The experience gained from operating the MoorFiberWorks can provide important insights for other peatland regions where rewetting and new forms of land use are also to be combined in the future. MOOReturn is explicitly designed as a model and demonstration project intended to provide insights for practical implementation and knowledge transfer.

A Sign for the Future

The positive funding decision is therefore more than just a formal prerequisite for the next project phase. It lays the groundwork for continuing the research and development work to date toward a concrete technical infrastructure.

With the launch of the procurement process for construction planning, the MoorFiberWorks in Malchin is now taking further shape. Once wet peat biomass is transformed into an industrially usable raw material, it could open up new prospects for the region: climate protection will be linked with agriculture, innovation, and regional value creation.

The MoorFiberWorkscould thus become a visible example of how the transition from drained peatlands to a sustainably managed, wet landscape can be achieved economically—in Malchin and, in the long term, far beyond.

05.06.2026

As part of the MOOReturn project, the selection of suitable sites for the installation of eddy-covariance towers has begun. The first measurement tower is already in place in the Retzow polder and will provide important data on the development of greenhouse gas emissions in rewetted peatlands.

The installation of the first eddy covariance tower in the Retzow polder marks an important step forward for climate monitoring within the project. The tower will initially measure greenhouse gas fluxes on the peatland area, which is currently still dry. This will establish an important baseline for the initial conditions.

The measurement data will serve as the basis for tracking the development of greenhouse gas emissions as the project progresses and for later comparison with measurements taken on rewetted areas. This will allow for a scientific investigation of how rewetting affects the climate impact of the peatlands.

At the same time, the selection of additional suitable locations for eddy covariance towers has begun. Factors such as water level, vegetation, land use, and the planned measures are being taken into account.

22.05.2026

When the Moor Takes the Stage – Ten Years of the Malchin Moor Theater

In the Malchin/Upper Peene Valley region, where the DBFZ is conducting research on the large-scale rewetting of peatlands as part of the MOOReturn project, a new issue of the Moorjournal has been published. It tells the story of the Malchin Moortheater, which has been run by the Friends of Fritz Greve Association (Freunde Fritz Greve e.V.) since 2015 and is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Every summer, students collaborate with professional artists to develop a play right in the bog—inspired by its flora and fauna and thus by a habitat whose protection is also central to the DBFZ’s work: Intact and rewetted bogs store large amounts of carbon, a goal that MOOReturn pursues through bog revitalization and paludiculture in the same region.

To mark the anniversary, the documentary film “Wir sind das Moor” (We Are the Moor) by Florian Seeber and Uta Berghöfer looks back on ten years of Moor Theater history, premiering at the Malchin cinema—organized, among others, by Wasserwerk der Zukunft e.V., which is responsible for knowledge transfer and public outreach in the MOOReturn project.

In this way, the Moortheater demonstrates how cultural outreach and scientific bog research interact within the same landscape.

The film has also been available to watch online since mid-June 2026. 

16.04.2026

At the annual meeting of the MOOReturn Consortium, the focus was on how processed peat biomass can be turned into marketable products. Together, the project partners discussed potential applications and next steps for the material use of MoorFiber.

How can peat biomass be harvested in a climate-friendly manner and also utilized economically? The MOOReturn Consortium addressed this question at its annual meeting. Representatives from academia, industry, and the field came together to discuss the current status of the project and develop new ideas for the use of MoorFiber.

A key focus of the meeting was a joint ideas and product workshop. During the workshop, various potential uses for MoorFiber were explored—particularly for chemical substances, fiberboard, building materials, paper, and packaging. The discussion centered on the properties that the processed fiber material offers for different applications and the additional requirements that must be met for industrial use.

MoorFiber is produced by processing heterogeneous peat biomass using florafuel^® technology. The goal of the process is to produce a fiber precursor that is as homogeneous and suitable for further processing as possible from various plant materials. This opens up the possibility of tapping into the natural plant communities of rewet peatlands as a raw material source for new bio-based products.

The annual meeting served not only as a forum for exchanging ideas. The discussions are also intended to help focus the next steps in research and further develop promising product lines. Which application ultimately offers the greatest potential for MoorFiber will be scientifically investigated as the project progresses and tested in collaboration with industry partners.

01.04.2026

An investor has been secured for the planned model and demonstration plant for processing peat biomass. The ongoing negotiations and the preparation of a preliminary agreement lay an important foundation for the further implementation of the MoorFiberWorks in Malchin.

How can the biomass from rewetted peatlands become a new, regionally available raw material? The planned MoorFiberWorks aims to investigate and put this very question to the test on an industrial scale.

An important milestone has now been reached: an investor has expressed interest in establishing the MoorFiberWorks. Discussions on further collaboration are already underway. A preliminary agreement is intended to formalize this shared intent and prepare the next steps toward implementation.

From Peat Biomass to MoorFiber

At the MoorFiberWorks, peat biomass from paludiculture is set to be processed into a homogeneous fiber pre product, the MoorFiber. The demonstration plant is designed to show how this heterogeneous, moisture rich biomass can be technically processed and made usable for further material applications.

An Important Step Toward a New Biomass Value Chain

The investor's interest shows that the technology and concept developed within the project, industrial scale utilization of peat biomass, is increasingly attracting economic interest. The planned preliminary agreement provides an important basis for further advancing and concretizing the project.

The MoorFiberWorks is thus intended to become more than just a pilot and demonstration plant; it is set to become a key building block in developing a new biomass value chain. The next steps now involve further working out the technical, economic, and contractual framework.

12.03.2026

On March 12, 2026, MOOReturn was represented at the 38th German Nature Conservation Day. The event provided a valuable platform for exchange on current challenges and solution approaches in nature, climate, and peatland conservation.

Discussions centered on peatland rewetting, paludiculture, and the sustainable use of peat biomass. The exchange with stakeholders from science, politics, nature conservation, and practice once again demonstrated that successful peatland climate protection requires interdisciplinary collaboration, regional implementation, and economically viable perspectives.

We are delighted about the many engaging conversations, new impulses, and the shared dialogue on the future of our peatland landscapes.

16.10.2025

We are pleased to welcome Mareike Meyer and Thao Tran as new members of the MOOReturn coordination team. Both bring valuable experience in research, biochemistry, and project management and enrich the project with fresh ideas.

Their arrival coincided with the first MOOReturn consortium meeting, which served to facilitate discussion and coordination of common project goals. 

16.10.2025

The 2025 Moor Colloquium will take place on October 16, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Malchin and will focus on the theme “From Back-and-Forth to Joint Problem-Solving.” The event brings together agriculture and wetland conservation to develop constructive solutions to the conflict of interests that has existed to date. The Ministry of Climate Protection will present current policy developments and new funding opportunities, while scientists and companies will share concrete experiences with implementing paludiculture and sustainable value chains. .

The central question is: How can all stakeholders move forward together and find practical solutions? Registration is open until October 2, 2025, via this link.

12. - 13.07.2025

The unique concept of the Moortheater fascinatingly combined theater, music, and nature experiences in the distinctive moors of Mecklenburg Switzerland. The focus was not solely on the artistic performance—the project also drew attention to the ecological significance of these special landscapes and raised awareness about the protection of moorlands. The approximately 2.5-hour experience, including a boat ride, promised visitors an extraordinary blend of art and environmental awareness. The hands-on public outreach efforts by Wasserwerk der Zukunft e.V. as part of the MOOReturn project made an important contribution to raising awareness about bog conservation and demonstrated how cultural education and environmental protection can go hand in hand. An anniversary celebration that delighted not only theater lovers but all nature lovers and environmentally conscious individuals.

Mehr zum Moortheater unter: https://www.moortheater.de

26. - 29.05.2025

Exciting days in Malchin with a focus on paludiculture and sustainable building! Architecture students from the Technical University of Munich and RWTH Aachen University presented creative projects that make clever use of regional resources. The exhibition impressively demonstrated how traditional peatland management and modern architecture can go hand in hand, and serves as a perfect example of how interdisciplinary collaboration leads to sustainable solutions. Initiatives like these show that the future of construction lies in the intelligent use of what the region has to offer. Thank you to everyone involved for these valuable insights!

 08.05.2025

On May 8, 2025, the second round of industrial pilot tests for processing paludi biomass began. The paludi biomass was harvested and supplied by the Voigt farm in Malchin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The target throughput of 400 kg/h (FM) was achieved as planned during the second round of testing. Hans Werner (Managing Director of Werner GmbH and owner of florafuel-Anlagentechnik, left) and Ludwig Bork (Managing Director of Agrotherm GmbH, right) are satisfied with the results and are planning the main trials using the paludi biomass harvested in the summer of 2025.

10.04.2025 

On the evening of April 10, 2025, a public project presentation was held for interested landowners and farmers in the region. The event focused on the potential for utilizing grasses from peatland sites through the use of mechanical processing technology and provided an outlook on new products that may be developed in the future.  

Following opening remarks by Axel Müller (mayor) and Volker Klima (BMEL), the project team presented not only the processing technology but also the background on the drained peatlands. It is clear that rewetting projects can only succeed if they are accompanied by sensible economic use of the land. On this point, the project team was in agreement with Heike Müller (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Farmers’ Association) and other farmers from the region. MOOReturn provides the urgently needed building blocks for this and was therefore recognized as an important approach to developing a bioeconomy for rural areas.

10.04.2025

On the afternoon of April 10, Claudia Müller (Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMEL), along with other representatives from the BMEL (Bernd Farcke, Dr. Andreas Christian Täuber, and Volker Klima) and the FNR (Dr. Wiebke Baumgarten), visited the MOOReturn project region in Malchin (see photo). In addition to a presentation of the project and its initial results at Malchin Town Hall, the group took in the view of the project-relevant, drained peatlands from the Remplin Observatory. Re-wetting these areas alone could reduce GHG emissions by approximately 0.4 million metric tons over the next 10 years.

21.01.2025 

The city of Malchin, Agrotherm GmbH, and the DBFZ — acting on behalf of the entire consortium — received the grant award notification for MOOReturn at the IGW in Berlin. The notification was presented by Parliamentary State Secretary Claudia Müller and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). MOOReturn is thus the ninth project in the PaludiNetz to be selected for the further development of paludiculture.