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PROJECT PLANNING OVERVIEW FOR

THE “SINO-GERMAN AGRICULTURAL CENTER (DCZ)”

PHASE IV

16.10.2026

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Project planning overview (Logical Framework) for the project “Sino-German Agricultural Center (DCZ) Phase 4”

Project period: Phase 4, January 2027 - December 2029 (3 years, with the option of extending by up to 2 years)

Created on 16/02/2026, last revision on 16/10/2026

Project Number: CHN 27-01

Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
Overall Objective: The development of an economically viable, environmentally and climate-friendly agricultural and food system in China and Germany, as well as the understanding of the necessary structures and intergovernmental agreements required for this, have been strengthened.
Project objective: The platform-based dialogue enables continuous exchange among representatives from government, business, and academia, and has strengthened rules-based trade as well as mutual knowledge of and understanding for innovative technological and regulatory approaches for a sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural and food system and rural areas.	• The Exchange between German and Chinese professional associations and companies has been strengthened by initiatives of the dialogue on agricultural trade and economic cooperation issues established by the DCZ. • Through active identification, mediation and support, the DCZ has helped to establish at least two partnerships involving authorities or associations in the areas relevant To the DCZ’s core topics. • The DCZ organises the annual Sino-German Agricultural Week featuring elements and specialist events on economic and trade policy topics, agricultural policy exchange formats, scientific dialogue, and opportunities for economic networking. • At least 3 recommendations (briefs) derived from successful demonstrations and trials conducted in	• Feedback forms, short surveys, or evaluations from participants. • Documented professional exchanges between German and Chinese authorities, MoUs, etc. • Project documents such as results reports or policy briefs • Minutes of the steering group meetings	• German and Chinese stakeholders continue to show interest in professional exchanges within the agricultural and food sectors. • Political and administrative Frameworks enable the implementation of bilateral exchange formats, whether in person or digital
	collaboration with innovative companies from Result 4 were presented – along with recommended courses of action – to the relevant technical departments within ministries and research institutions via the DCZ structure.
Overall results/principles: The DCZ is the central bilateral dialogue platform for political, economic, and scientific exchange in the agricultural sector. It serves as the secretariat for bilateral working groups, organises dialogues, connects stakeholders to foster innovative agricultural solutions, identifies economic opportunities, and ensures the systematic integration of dialogue formats.The exchange is designed to be reciprocal and transactional in nature. It fosters mutual learning and ensures that both sides benefit from insights, innovations, and new ideas. Dialogues on Agribusiness, agricultural policy, and science are complemented by practice- oriented implementation and demonstration activities, and synergies between results 1–4 are actively leveraged. The DCZ generates, documents, and consolidates results, tailoring them to specific target groups manner for use in political decision-making processes, technical reporting, and public outreach. Funding is provided on an parity basis. DCZ stands for innovation.	Below a checklist for cross-checking during steering group meetings (no indicators) • Demonstrable reciprocal and transactional exchange of knowledge and experience regarding policy approaches, research questions, and practical examples of sustainable agriculture and food systems • An existing database of stakeholders from business, politics, and academia, carried over from the previous phase, is being critically reviewed, updated with new DCZ partners, maintained, and actively used for invitations, networking, and technical coordination • Participants in DCZ formats confirm that the DCZ addresses innovative topics and employs novel formats • Regular internal exchange and coordination formats (e.g. Jour fixe meetings) take place and serve to align activities across the four results • Relevant results are published jointly under the umbrella of the DCZ (unified branding) • The DCZ website is regularly updated, and a WeChat channel is established; both provide up-to-	• Annual reporting in steering group meeting • Database • Feedback from participants • Minutes • DCZ website • • DCZ updates (newsletter or similar)	• Data protection regulations in China and Germany permit the collection, processing, and use of data from institutions and individuals.

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
The DCZ ensures the systematic integration of dialogue formats by coordinating dialogues on agricultural trade, agricultural policy, and scientific topics with practice-oriented implementation and demonstration activities and actively exploiting synergies between results 1–4. The DCZ enables the testing and evaluation of sustainable production approaches under practical conditions by utilising demonstration and model farms as spaces for implementation and learning regarding political, scientific, and economic issues. The DCZ generates, documents, and consolidates evidence-based results that emerge from dialogue formats, scientific collaboration, and practical implementation, and prepares them in a target-group-specific manner for political decision-making processes, technical reporting, and public relations work. Funding Parity The DCZ contributes to the consolidation of bilateral cooperation by developing and promoting resilient networks, transparent communication and exchange formats, and transferable and scalable solutions for	date information on the objectives, activities, events, and results of the DCZ • New content (e.g. reports, announcements, documentations) is published promptly following relevant activities • A DCZ update (newsletter or similar) is published at least four times a year and provides information on current activities, political developments, and technical results of the bilateral cooperation. The distribution list includes relevant stakeholders from politics, business, and academia in Germany and China. • A coherent monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for tracking the achievement of all results is in place and is being implemented • The entirety of the DCZ activities, as well as the provision of personnel, is carried out on a parity- based financing model (50/50) The project follows an inspirational, demand-driven and informative, as well as evidence-based approach; results and recommendations of the DCZ are derived through in- house or commissioned analyses, trials, data collection, and surveys.	• Minutes of the Steering group meetings • M&E reports

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
sustainable agricultural and food systems, as well as facilitating personal exchange.
Result 1: Practical Dialogue on Trade and economic cooperation The exchange on regulatory issues, with a focus on production and trade standards, has been strengthened through the practical dialogue by highlighting differences and opportunities for harmonisation.	• An working group on Trade and Economic Dialogue consisting of German and Chinese representatives from politics, business, and professional associations has been established. It is coordinated by the DCZ, meets up to four times a year, and discusses topics relevant to bilateral economic cooperation in the agricultural sector (including trade). • A stakeholder map has been created, covering all important German and Chinese professional associations in the agricultural and food sector. • Specialist topics are addressed through analytical studies, expert input, and seminars, and are fed into the outcomes of the working groups. An annual agricultural economics day is held as part of the DCAW. • At least one overarching economic or trade policy topic is addressed on a long-term basis each year through the HWK practical dialogue, including the preparation of a policy brief or position paper and the holding of at least one stakeholder workshop.	• Minutes of the working group meetings. • Event programmes and documentation • DCAW programme and documentation • Documentation of experiences with the funding concept • Reports	• Representatives of German and Chinese companies are proactively involved in the working group and in technical activities. • Economic cooperation between the two countries is supported by political decisions.
Result 2: Political dialogue: Sustainable and efficient agricultural and food policy In the policy dialogue, representatives from ministries and experts exchange views on regulatory issues, with a focus on production and trade standards. Joint approaches for the development of sustainable frameworks are identified, and impulses for deepened bilateral	• A bilateral agricultural policy working group (AG Political Dialogue) on jointly identified priority topics will be established by the end of the first project year at the latest, and its members have been agreed upon with BMLEH and MARA. • The working group can be convened at any time at the request of the partners. It should meet at least once a year following the DCZ project steering group	• Minutes of working group meetings. • DCZ report on the work program; publications such as studies and policy briefs; specialist events.	• Priority topics are jointly determined at the political level. • The ministries provide experts from the ministerial bureaucracy or subordinate authorities the working group.

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
cooperation are provided. The DCZ serves as the secretariat of the bilateral agricultural policy working group and supports the structured preparation, implementation, and follow-up of the policy exchanges.	meeting and involve relevant BMLEH departments. It will be supported by the DCZ as a secretariat, have clearly designated contact persons on the German and Chinese sides, and produce coordinated minutes of each meeting with agreed follow-up steps. • Each year, at least one jointly prioritized agricultural policy focus topic (e.g., comparable production standards for food and food safety, (political) dialogue on trade in animal products, market opening issues) will be prepared by the DCZ and addressed in the Political Dialogue Working Group, for which at least one bilateral exchange format (workshop, expert dialogue, or delegation talks) will be held. • A study trip per year will be organized with the participation of experts from the ministry and authorities on a specific agricultural policy topic (alternating annually between China and Germany). • The results of the working group will be made publicly available in a suitable form (e.g., policy brief, results report, event documentation, or website article). • For each ad hoc agricultural policy topic, a short report (max. 3 pages) will be prepared within a maximum of 3 months, supplemented by a structured collection of materials (e.g., presentations, background papers, relevant studies), which will be documented within the project and made available to the participants (in particular the APD working group).	• Reports (including internal reports)

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
Result 3: Science and innovation dialogue The DCZ supports the scientific dialogue, facilitating coordination between ministries and research institutions and assisting in the preparation of joint results.	• Development and approval of a concept for the future work of the Science and Innovation Dialogue by project month 9 • An annual focus topic related to science (e.g., circular economy, digitalization, or novel foods) has been agreed upon. • Three Living Lab events with stakeholders from the three other result areas were held and presented at the DCAW. • Through a dedicated science-agribusiness forum at the DCAW at least one agribusiness-relevant topic is discussed and presented from the research- perspective. • Short reports and collections of materials are produced on ad hoc identified topics. • During the project period, one study trip each to Germany and to China is conducted, during which key innovations in agricultural and food research are presented to the participants.	• Minutes and results of the working group meetings. • DCZ report on the work program; publication of joint papers; conferences held. • Reports, including internal reports.	• Relevant German and Chinese scientific institutions are willing and able to participate continuously in the bilateral scientific dialogue. • The ministries and departments involved support the exchange of expertise and provide the necessary political and institutional backing for the work of the bilateral interministrial working group. • Priority scientific topics can be determined by mutual agreement.Scientific exchange is not significantly restricted by legal, institutional, or political restrictions (e.g., data access, publication rules, travel restrictions). • The results of the scientific dialogue can be published and disseminated in an appropriate form without restrictions due to confidentiality or approval requirements.
Result 4: Economic and knowledge network for sustainable and ressource- efficient farming systems The testing and further development of innovative, economically viable, sustainable,	• During the first six months, a total of nine crop and livestock farms across three provinces (three farms per province) will be jointly selected for trials and demonstration projects; written agreements regarding the implementation of these trials –	• Documentation of the selection process for innovative demonstration	• Agricultural and livestock farms (demonstration farms) in at least three provinces are ready and able to participate in the project.

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
and environmentally and climate-friendly production methods in crop and livestock farming has been strengthened on selected farms in China, in collaboration with German and Chinese partners, and is discussed and disseminated within a knowledge network.	including details on respective contributions – will be concluded with business partners (the exact number is yet to be agreed upon with the partners). • An analysis and evaluation of sustainable plant and animal production at the selected demonstration farms is available (e.g., using the criteria developed by MARA for the recognition of eco-farms and/or the FAO TAPE tool). • The evaluation results of the demonstration farms serve as a basis for the application of sustainable and resource-saving production methods and the selection and development of innovative demonstration projects. • With the participation of German business partners, at least one or two demonstration trials will be conducted annually at the selected demonstration farms across the three provinces; these trials will focus on applying innovations to increase productivity while simultaneously reducing environmental impact and the use of chemical inputs. • At least five of the identified demonstration farms implement additional sustainable and resource- saving measures that reduce the use of synthetic inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) by at least 30%. • In-house and inter-company training courses (at least two courses per province per year) on innovative, sustainable, and resource-saving measures were conducted. • At least three demonstration events (field days on demonstration farms) for professional exchange on innovative measures (demonstration trials)	projects and their implementation • Documentation of the surveys. • Documentation of the selection process for innovative demonstration projects and their implementation • Annual reports • Annual evaluation of documents and reports from demonstration farms with regard to the application of sustainable measures.	• Communication and cooperation between demonstration farms and German business partners are smooth and transparent. • The selected demonstration farms declare their willingness to participate in surveys, data collection, and evaluations as part of the project. • A contractual agreement is concluded between the demonstration farms, the participating business partners, and the project, clearly defining the contributions, roles, responsibilities, rights, and obligations of the parties involved. These agreements provide a binding basis for implementing the demonstration measures and for the exchanging and utilising the results obtained. • Chinese partner institutions have budgets available for the co-financing of surveys, workshops, and consulting and demonstration projects. • Experts from Chinese partner institutions (MARA, FECC, REAA, CAAS, others) as well

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
	regarding innovative measures (demonstration trials) have been conducted in each of the project provinces (three events per province= 9 events in total). • A multi-stakeholder knowledge network is established and coordinated by the DCZ and meets at least six times per year, either virtually or in person, to (further) develop, test, and evaluate innovative sustainable and resource-saving measures. • Six exchange events (two events per year) are organized and conducted by the network (DCAW, specialist seminars, networking and specialist events). • A technical study tour on sustainable agriculture in Germany for delegates from China's project provinces and a technical study tour in China for delegates from the German federal states were organised during the project period • One workshop per project province to present the results of the demonstration trials and conclusions for agricultural practice at the provincial level is carried out within the framework of the network. • Ten success stories of German-Chinese cooperation in the field of innovative, sustainable, and resource-efficient plant and animal production methods are available to a broad public in five communication products (publication, workshop, updates e.g. newsletter or similar, social media /WeChat, newspaper articles).	• Training programs, reports, and participant lists • Programs and reports from demonstration events and participant lists • Programs, minutes, and participant lists • Programs, reports, and participant lists • Program, participant lists, and evaluations of the study trip • Program, report, and participant lists • Publications, newsletters, social media, newspaper articles	as other stakeholders from the scientific community, the donor community, and the private sector participate actively in the network and contribute their own ideas and experiences.

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
Cross-cutting activities • Development of an operational plan for each calendar year at the beginning of the year. • Organisation of an annual project steering group meeting to review project progress. • Establishing and maintaining a stakeholder map and a database of relevant stakeholders in China and Germany. • Setting up internal exchange and coordination mechanisms – such as quarterly regular meetings and shared activity calendars – to keep stakeholders across the four output areas informed and enable the development of synergies. • Establishing and maintaining external communication channels, such as publications, websites, newsletters, or social media. • Developing a concept for impact-oriented monitoring. • Holding regular coordination meetings with representatives from the German and Chinese project teams. Activities related to Result 1 • Identify relevant business-sector stakeholders (including start-ups); create a stakeholder map and maintain a database. • Establish and operationalize a working group or functional network dedicated to trade and economic dialogue (operational by month six). • Organize and facilitate appropriate exchange formats/sessions for working group members, such as workshops and at least four meetings (including virtual ones) per year. • Support the working group in identifying and implementing an annual priority theme (or multiple themes, if applicable). • Assist in drafting an annual plan outlining milestones, outputs, and responsibilities. • Identify and designate specialized institutions to address the relevant topics. • Support the working group’s technical work through analyses, studies, expert input, and seminars on the priority themes. • Assist the working group in producing and adopting outputs – such as technical reports, policy briefs, and social media posts (containing policy recommendations) – related to the priority themes. • Support the organization of field trips, exploratory visits, and reciprocal exchanges within the framework of the working group, as required.

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
• Presentation of results to an interested professional audience—specifically through the organization of an annual agricultural economics conference – within the framework of the DCAW. • Networking with activities related to other results. • Incorporation of results into the policy dialogue. Activities related to Result 2 • Establishment and operationalization of the Working Group on Political Dialogue (WG PD); drafting of a preliminary description of tasks and functions. • Approaching potential WG members from MARA and BMLEH as well as related sectors (subject to close consultation with and approval by BMLEH). • Conceptualization, organization, and operationalization of a working group. • Organization and facilitation of WG working sessions—held at least once a year, preferably in person. • Support in identifying and prioritizing a rotating annual focus topic as well as ad-hoc topics. • Support in drafting an annual plan outlining milestones, outputs, and responsibilities. • Support in the development of analytical products through technical advice. • Assisting the WG in organizing technical information trips and reciprocal visits. • Assisting the WG in producing materials such as technical reports, policy briefs, and social media posts. • Supporting the presentation of work results at events, particularly the annual DCAW. • Networking with activities from other workstreams and integrating results from other working groups into the WG PD. Activities related to Result 3

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
• Development of a concept regarding the intensity and working methods of the science and innovation dialogue, based on the bilateral preferences of MARA, BMLEH, and scientific institutions (within the first 9 months). • Preparation of an annual plan; coordination with activities related to other project outputs. • Support for at least one technical study tour to Germany and one to China. • Support in the production of materials such as technical reports, policy briefs, and social media posts. • Support in presenting project results at events, particularly the annual DCAW. Activities related to Result 4 • Selection of project provinces (3 provinces and 9 demonstration farms; 3 demonstration farms per province) within the first 6 months. • Identification of potential for improving the ecological and sustainability standards of the demonstration farms and for implementing sustainable agro-ecological production methods using the FAO TAPE tool. • Organization and conduct of workshops to prepare for the TAPE tool survey of the demonstration farms, as well as the final analysis and joint evaluation with all partners (REEA, CAAS, CAU, etc.). • Development and organization of demonstration trials and conclusion of contractual implementation agreements defining and recording the partners' contributions, roles, responsibilities, rights, and obligations. • Establishment of a knowledge network led by the DCZ, featuring regular exchange formats and information regarding the demonstration trials. • Evaluation and documentation of insights gained, and dissemination of results from the demonstration trials (seminars, workshops, field days at the demonstration farms, reports, etc.). • Organization of technical study tours for delegates from the project provinces (ministries, agricultural departments, universities) to Germany, and for German partners to China. In Germany: visits to organic farms (Bioland, Demeter) and familiarization with the implementation of organic model regions and the marketing of agricultural products in accordance with EU standards and regulations (e.g., Biofach trade fair in Nuremberg). In China: visits to demonstration farms/inspection of demonstration trials, organic farms, innovative Chinese companies in the agricultural sector, and the DCAW

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Summary description	Objectively verifiable indicators	Sources of verifiability	Assumptions
The listed results and the handling of the assigned indicators are binding on bidders. Activities may be supplemented and/or specified in greater detail during the preparation of the proposal.

Anlage_P4_Projektplanungsuebersicht_ENG_CHN_27-01.pdf

PROJECT PLANNING OVERVIEW FOR

THE “SINO-GERMAN AGRICULTURAL CENTER (DCZ)”

PHASE IV

16.10.2026