Saxony-Anhalt is Germany's herb garden – with a long tradition of cultivating marjoram and thyme. Yet climate change and increasing regulatory pressures are threatening conventional cultivation, even as demand for plant-based active ingredients in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics continues to grow. DiP-NA-WIR and DiP-OptiLamia demonstrate how digital technologies can rise to meet these challenges. Genomic methods are being used to develop climate-adapted varieties – including frost-hardy rosemary and sage. AI-assisted analytical tools determine the optimal harvest window to maximize active ingredient concentrations. And digital provenance verification systems protect regional quality products.