01 · Change

The agriculture we knew is over

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1826 ↻ What was once natureWater, soil and vegetation formed natural cycles. ↻
1926 ↻ Became cultivated landPeople shaped nature into productive agriculture. ↻
2026 ↻ Is exhaustedDrought, soil degradation and rising dependencies are shifting the balance. ↻
CYCLESWHAT IS CHANGING

02 · Why

Why has this model of agriculture reached its limits?

The existing system is falling out of balance.

1 ↻ Natural cycles are no longer stableWater, soil and climate are changing conditions faster than existing systems can adapt. ↻
2 ↻ External inputs do not replace living soilMineral fertiliser can secure yields, but soil life, water retention and resilience must arise within the system itself. ↻
3 ↻ Costs and benefits are no longer in balanceWater, energy, operating inputs and losses are becoming an economic risk. ↻
THESESWHY THE OLD SYSTEM IS REACHING ITS LIMITS

03 · System change

When natural conditions change,
the system must change too

2030 PoC ↻ Prove what worksThe proof of concept in Namibia measures water, energy, production, costs, soil development and operational reliability.MEASURE ↻
2035 Scale the system ↻ One system becomes manyProven cycles are replicated, local structures are built and production, processing and restoration are connected.SCALE ↻
2040 Establish the system ↻ Economically viableProductive assets, operations and financing are designed to connect ecological impact with long-term economic viability.ESTABLISH ↻
TURNING POINTSHOW NEW SYSTEMS EMERGE FROM CRISIS

04 · Team

People turn ideas into systems

Strategy ↻ StrategyDiana Resch
Moritz Berkmann
Alex Dornbusch
Ludovit Garzik
Horst UnterlechnerDirection becomes a system ↻
Business ↻ BusinessConstanze Stockhammer
Elisabeth Siencnik
Miami ShigwedhaStructure becomes viability ↻
Implementation ↻ ImplementationMaria Shindaadhi
Maria Nfourshi
Amadou Nangolo
Local farmersPlanning becomes reality ↻
TEAMSTRATEGY ≈ BUSINESS ≈ IMPLEMENTATION

05 · Contact

Three ways to get in touch with LifeCircle

Science ↻ ScienceAlex DornbuschScientific partnershipsalex.dornbusch@life-circle.euFor research, cooperation and scientific exchange. ↻
General ↻ GeneralOfficeGeneral enquiriesoffice@life-circle.euFor general information and first contact. ↻
CONTACTINVEST ≈ SCIENCE ≈ GENERAL

06 · Impact

Impact at LifeCircle

Impact is not a promise. It is something to measure.

LifeCircle does not treat ecological, social and economic impact as separate categories. The question is whether an agricultural system can conserve resources, remain economically viable and strengthen local structures at the same time.

Water

In dry regions, water determines whether agriculture is viable. LifeCircle combines aquaponics, rainwater use, storage and controlled circulation with the aim of using water repeatedly and reducing losses.

Restoration

Productive agriculture and restoration are not treated as opposites. Soil building, biochar, mycorrhiza, wind protection, shading and targeted revegetation are intended to help damaged land become more productive and ecologically stable over time.

Cooperative structure

Local value creation should remain in the region. Farmers are integrated into a common structure that connects production, knowledge, infrastructure and market access. The goal is economic independence within a shared system.

LifeCircle Index

The LifeCircle Index is designed to combine ecological, social and economic indicators in one assessment framework – including water, soil development, energy, biodiversity, production, costs, local value creation, training and employment.

Scientific evaluation. The scientific evaluation of the proof of concept is planned together with BOKU University Vienna. The aim is to measure development independently, interpret the data scientifically and derive robust evidence for the further development of the system.

Impact is not claimed. It is measured.

07 · Technology

The technology behind LifeCircle

LifeCircle is not a single new technology. The system connects proven processes that are usually operated separately into one agricultural cycle.

At its core is the connection of water, nutrients, energy, plants, animals and soil. In aquaponics, fish and plant production are linked. Nutrient-rich water from fish production is used by plants, biologically treated and circulated as far as practicable. Rainwater capture, storage and controlled water management complete the system.

Residual materials are also treated as resources. Organic material can become a nutrient source, energy source or input for soil improvement. Biochar can store carbon over the long term and support soil structure and water retention.

Energy generation and agricultural production are connected. Photovoltaics, storage and other renewable sources are intended to make operations as independent as possible from external energy supply. The goal is not maximum technical complexity, but a robust system that works under real conditions.

Beyond aquaponics, the cycle continues. Soil building, regenerative agriculture, mycorrhiza, wind protection, shading and restoration are not treated as separate environmental measures, but as part of the production logic.

The entire system is measured. Water use, energy demand, production, costs, soil development and operational reliability provide the data used to improve LifeCircle.

The innovation is not a single component.
It lies in connecting the components into one system.

08 · Business

The business model behind LifeCircle

A system must not only work ecologically. It must pay for itself.

LifeCircle is not a single product, but an operating model. Value is created through planning, construction and continuous optimisation of integrated agricultural systems.

Current status: We are currently preparing the financing of the first proof of concept in Namibia. It is intended to be built, operated and measured under real conditions – economically as well as ecologically. The results will form the basis for further scaling.

The business model has two levels:

1

LifeCircle as a Service

System design, planning, operations, optimisation, data, impact measurement, training and support form the operational layer. These services are intended to create recurring revenue.

2

Financing productive assets

Aquaponics, energy, processing and other productive infrastructure require capital. LifeCircle structures models with financing partners through which these assets can be built and scaled.

The goal is not to sell as much technology as possible. The goal is to create systems that produce over the long term, control costs and enable local value creation.

Ecological impact and economic viability are not opposites.
They must work in the same system.

A system becomes scalable only when it can sustain itself economically.