The German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture (DITSL) has the legal status of a company of limited liability (GmbH) operating on a non-profit basis. Major shareholders are the University of Kassel, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal State of Hessen. In accordance with her statutes DITSL fosters sustainable rural development in the Third World and countries in the process of industrialisation. The institute mainly focuses on:

• Technology transfer and capacity building
• Resource management in agro-ecosystems
• Low external input and organic farming practices

In pursuing her assignment DITSL collaborates with organisations and institutions of an Innovation Complex for sustainable rural development. They comprise the Faculty of Ecological Agricultural Sciences of the University of Kassel, the Hessian Competence Centre for Renewable Resources (HeRo), the Agricultural Technology Training School (DEULA) and various Engineering Firms operating in respective fields, all located at Witzenhausen. There is a particularly close co-operation with organizations of German and international development co-operation.
 
DITSL organises and conducts seminars, workshops and symposiums for professionals and students of relevant subjects. A fully equipped seminar centre comprising office space, class rooms and lodging and boarding facilities is available.
 
DITSL maintains an archive and a scientific library specialised, in a wider sense, on topics of international rural development and tropical and subtropical agriculture and environments. The stock of titles comprises a considerable number of books of historic value, mainly on issues of colonial history. However, a modern standard of literature supply is likewise taken care of and constantly kept up-to-date in the frame of the institute's ability. The library is open for scientists and students of the Faculty as well as for other interested persons and can be used free of charge.
 
DITSL editor of scientific book series and co-editor of the "Journal of Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics" (JARTS).
 
DITSL supports the "Foundation Ethnographical Museum" together with the town council of Witzenhausen. The exhibition of the museum comprises the institute's old collection of ethnographical items and artefacts from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The museum is made use of as teaching media for intercultural learning by scientists and students of the University. It is open to the public and thus, contributes to the promotion of tourism in the region
 
DITSL is owner of a complex of buildings on Steinstraße 19-21, Witzenhausen forming a pleasant campus. They mainly, comprise an old monastery in which the German Colonial School had been established in 1898. The buildings are partly used by the institute but, to a greater part rented by the Federal State of Hessen and used by the Faculty of Ecological Agricultural Sciences, (FB 11) of the University of Kassel. Hence, the entire complex is devoted to education and training for agricultural development. The renown greenhouse for tropical crops is part of the complex, It is run by the Faculty and, likewise devoted to research and instruction, but also open to the public and regularly frequented by a great number of visitors.