ZALF's mission to do scientific research on ecosystems in agricultural landscapes and to develop ecologically and economically tenable land use systems. As an extra-university research institution ZALF performs through its institutes a large number of teaching activities at universities, universities of applied sciences and technical colleges.

The ATB's task is to create process-engineering bases for sustainable land-use management and to provide innovative technical solutions for industry. By combining scientific and engineering findings, especially in the field of new technologies such as biotechnology and information technology, with economic and social science expertise, ATB aims to ensure that the newly developed processes and technical solutions are profitable for both manufacturers and users, at the same time ensuring environmental protection and sustainability.