The projects we support
are our windows onto the world.

The projects we support
are our windows onto the world.

What We Support

Project Insights

The goal of our public relations work is to make our current activities and exemplary projects more visible. That’s why the people and initiatives that we support take center stage, both in our print publications and on our website. Lighthouse projects both large and small are given a special place.

Here, we provide short updates that reveal current happenings among our projects. In addition, we present in-depth reports and interviews that create a vivid picture of the initiatives that our foundation is privileged to enable and support.

To make this possible, our public relations team visits many of the projects together with the responsible project managers and gets to know the organizations and people on location.

We hope that these reports, in text and image, help to orient engaged individuals regarding possible support from the Software AG Foundation (SAGST) – and encourage them to tread new paths.

New Study: Better Milk Quality thanks to Horns

Horn-bearing cows in the field
Photo: C. Fischer

Cows with horns have become a rare sight: The characteristic outgrowths are usually removed or hornless breeds are used straight away to reduce the risk of injury, and not just in conventional cattle farming. In biodynamic farming, on the other hand, horns are considered a key feature: they facilitate gestural communication and are an integral part of the animal’s individual personality. These are among the reasons why horns are mandatory in Demeter cattle farming.

Numerous field reports also suggest that, apart from animal welfare, horns may also be beneficial for the quality of the milk. For instance, consumers have repeatedly observed that milk from horned cows is particularly digestible. As part of the “HornMilch 2021” study, the KWALIS research institute investigated the influence of horns, feed composition and ambient temperature on the characteristics of the milk. The study, which was co-financed by SAGST and published in 2022, showed that both horns and feed consisting solely of hay have a favourable effect on the quality of the milk. Moreover, horned cows were more resilient to elevated temperatures – a useful discovery given climate change and expected hotter summer months. These results support the biodynamic approach, where horns are considered not merely a freak of nature but an important part of the whole organism – invaluable arguments when it comes to countering the now largely hornless cattle industry.

More information on the study:

Wohlers, J.; Stolz, P. The Importance of Cow-Individual Effects and Diet, Ambient Temperature, and Horn Status on Delayed Luminescence of Milk from Brown Swiss Dairy Cows. Dairy 2022, 3(3), 513-527; https://www.mdpi.com/2624-862X/3/3/37

Wohlers, J. Milch, Qualität und Hörner (Milk, Quality and Horns). Lebendige Erde, Juli/August 4-2022, p. 40-45.


Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) – one of SAGST’s flagship projects – has successfully passed its fourth assessment by the German Council of Science and Humanities or Wissenschaftsrat, accrediting it for the first time for the longest possible period of ten years. It has also been granted the right to award doctorates for the same period.


Music therapy has a firm place in the therapeutic spectrum of anthroposophic medicine. Starting in September 2024, an in-service training programme at Alanus University in Alfter will teach its basics to artistic, social and health-related practitioners.


The Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychosomatik at the Darmstädter Kinderkliniken Prinzessin Margaret has been in existence since 2002. It has an outpatient clinic, an inpatient clinic with 22 beds and a day clinic with 10 treatment places. The sparse and uninviting premises will now be remodelled with the help of the friends’ association and a donation campaign spearheaded by Echo Media.


Community life rather than isolation: “Die gute Stube” at Munich’s Luitpoldpark has established itself as an inviting place for senior citizens to meet up and pursue common hobbies, cook and celebrate together. Since the restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis were lifted, the supporting association started expanding its activities.