# Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q1005537](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1005537)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bundesanstalt-fur-milchforschung

## Summary
The Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung (BAfM) was a German research institute dedicated to dairy research, located in Kiel. It operated as a specialized federal institution focused exclusively on milk-related scientific inquiry from 1966 until its dissolution in 2004.

## Key Facts
- Established in 1966 as a federal research institute in Germany
- Located in Kiel, Germany, at coordinates 54.321194444444, 10.123472222222
- Operated under the ownership of the German government
- Dissolved in 2004 after 38 years of operation
- Known by the alias "BAfM"
- Classified as a research institute (Wikidata Q31855)
- Assigned GND ID 2006308-8 and VIAF ID 128479191
- Had a Ringgold ID of 125569 and ISNI 0000000088379967
- Wikipedia presence in German (de) and Commons
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1213hgkz
- Commons category: "Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung (Kiel)"
- Featured image shows its high-rise building in Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1, Kiel

## FAQs

### Q: What was the Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung?
A: The Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung was a German federal research institute exclusively dedicated to dairy research, operating from 1966 to 2004 in Kiel. Unlike universities, it focused solely on milk-related scientific investigation without teaching obligations.

### Q: Where was the BAfM located?
A: The institute was located in Kiel, Germany, specifically at Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1. Its coordinates were 54.321194444444 latitude and 10.123472222222 longitude.

### Q: What happened to the Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung?
A: The BAfM was dissolved in 2004 after 38 years of operation. As a federal institute, its research activities were likely absorbed into other German research organizations or agencies.

### Q: How was the BAfM classified in knowledge systems?
A: It was formally classified as a research institute (Wikidata Q31855) with identifiers including GND ID 2006308-8, VIAF ID 128479191, and Ringgold ID 125569. These classifications distinguish it from universities, think tanks, and scientific societies.

## Why It Matters
The Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung represented Germany's dedicated infrastructure for advancing dairy science during its operational period. As a specialized federal research institute, it concentrated resources and expertise exclusively on milk-related research, free from the teaching obligations of universities or the commercial pressures of private industry. This focus likely accelerated breakthroughs in dairy technology, food safety, and agricultural science that benefited both German industry and consumers. Research institutes like BAfM play crucial roles in addressing sector-specific challenges, and its 38-year operation demonstrates the value of sustained, focused scientific investigation in specialized fields.

## Notable For
- Being Germany's federal research institute exclusively dedicated to dairy science
- Operating for 38 years (1966-2004) as a specialized research organization
- Maintaining a distinctive high-rise building in Kiel that became its visual identifier
- Holding multiple international research identifiers (GND, VIAF, Ringgold, ISNI)
- Representing a model of focused, non-academic research in agricultural sciences
- Having its research facility documented in Wikimedia Commons
- Being one of only two Wikipedia language editions (German and Commons) despite its specialized nature

## Body

### Institutional Profile and Classification
The Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung (BAfM) was a German federal research institute established in 1966 with the specific mandate of conducting dairy research. As a research institute, it belonged to the organizational class (Wikidata Q31855) distinguished from universities, think tanks, and scientific societies by its exclusive focus on systematic investigation without teaching or policy advocacy functions.

The institute was formally recognized in multiple knowledge organization systems:
- German National Library (GND) ID: 2006308-8
- Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID: 128479191
- Ringgold ID: 125569
- International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI): 0000000088379967
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1213hgkz

These identifiers positioned BAfM within the global network of research organizations while maintaining its distinct identity as a dairy-specialized federal institution.

### Physical Location and Infrastructure
BAfM was physically located in Kiel, Germany, at Hermann-Weigmann-Straße 1. The institute's most visible feature was its high-rise building, which became emblematic of its presence in Kiel. Geographical coordinates (54.321194444444, 10.123472222222) precisely mark its location, and the building is documented in Wikimedia Commons under the category "Bundesanstalt für Milchforschung (Kiel)."

The featured image in Commons shows the modern high-rise structure that housed the institute's research facilities, illustrating the federal investment in specialized scientific infrastructure during its operational period.

### Operational Timeline and Dissolution
The BAfM operated from 1966 until its dissolution in 2004, marking 38 years of continuous dairy research under federal auspices. As a government-owned entity, its closure likely reflected broader restructuring of German research institutions rather than performance issues. The 2004 endpoint suggests its research functions may have been integrated into other federal agencies or research organizations.

### Research Focus and Organizational Model
As a dedicated dairy research institute, BAfM exemplified the research institute model's advantages:
1. **Specialized Focus**: Unlike universities with broad academic missions, BAfM concentrated all resources on milk-related science
2. **Federal Funding**: Operated with government support, enabling long-term research without commercial pressures
3. **Non-Teaching Environment**: Researchers worked without undergraduate teaching obligations
4. **Applied Science**: Likely balanced fundamental research with practical applications for German dairy industry

This organizational structure allowed for sustained investigation into dairy technology, food safety, agricultural practices, and related fields that directly impacted Germany's food sector.

### Digital Presence and Documentation
Despite its specialized focus, BAfM maintained a digital presence through:
- German Wikipedia article (de)
- Wikimedia Commons category with architectural documentation
- Multiple international authority identifiers ensuring its research outputs remain discoverable
- Google Knowledge Graph entry preserving its institutional memory

The Commons category specifically preserves visual documentation of its Kiel facilities, while the Wikipedia presence ensures its historical role in German research remains accessible.

### Comparative Position in Research Landscape
BAfM occupied a unique position in Germany's research ecosystem:
- **Vs Universities**: No teaching obligations, allowing full focus on dairy research
- **Vs Think Tanks**: No policy advocacy role; purely scientific investigation
- **Vs Scientific Societies**: Operational research rather than membership organization
- **Vs Corporate R&D**: Federal funding enabled non-commercial research priorities

This positioning made BAfM particularly valuable for long-term, high-risk research that might not align with university timelines or corporate profit motives in the dairy sector.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions