Adapting soils to climate change with regenerative arable farming

Floods, drought and heat are making life increasingly difficult for farmers in this country. Important ecosystem services such as water supply and soil fertility are being impaired by climate change, resulting in crop losses. One way to counter the crisis is regenerative agriculture. Here, the focus is on measures to regenerate soil and soil organisms and to preserve biodiversity. Instead of intensive cultivation, tillage is reduced and the soil is covered by permanent planting.

Biotech start-up Insempra secures millions in financing

The demand for environmentally friendly and resource-conserving products is growing, and with it the search by companies for alternatives to their previous, often petroleum-based production methods and processes. The Munich-based biotechnology start-up Insempra has developed a technology platform that makes it possible to obtain natural ingredients from renewable raw materials.

Fungal networks in the forest: evidence for Wood Wide Web

The majority of land plants live in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. The fungal networks on the roots supply the plants with important nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen as well as water from the soil. In return, the fungus is nourished with carbon, which the plant obtains and contributes from photosynthesis. Studies have already confirmed the importance of this biocoenosis for plants, fungi and ecosystems.

Vehicle underbody made from new biocomposite material

Dashboards made of sisal, door panels made of flax fibres or seat foams made of soya: in the automotive industry, petroleum-based materials are increasingly being replaced by bio-based materials such as natural fibre-reinforced plastics. These are mostly trim parts that are not exposed to high mechanical loads. Components such as vehicle underbodies, on the other hand, have to withstand every crash and are therefore often made of glass fibre-reinforced plastics.

Major agricultural study: diversity in agriculture pays off

Whether fertilisers, pesticides or heavy agricultural machinery: Intensive farming is partly responsible for the global extinction of species. Experts have therefore long been advising farmers to use crop rotations or flowering meadows as well as soil conservation measures such as mulching to increase diversity in arable farming. In a large-scale study conducted by the Universities of Hohenheim and Copenhagen, researchers have now analysed the effects of diversified agriculture worldwide for the first time.

“Uncovering the key signals of plants under water stress”

Plants need water to survive. However, climate change is making this precious commodity scarce and posing major challenges for agriculture. But how do plants perceive a lack of water and what are the underlying molecular mechanisms? Christine Ziegler is investigating these questions in her research work. As part of the HYDROSENSING project, the biophysicist from the University of Regensburg is looking for answers to these fundamental questions. The European Research Council (ERC) is providing 10 million euros in a so-called Synergy Grant for the six-year project.

“Animal protein is difficult to replace with alternative protein”

Even if meat substitutes made from soya or wheat usually have a convincing flavour, they often cannot keep up with the animal original in terms of texture and mouthfeel. As a junior professor at TU Berlin, food technologist Anja Wagemans has spent many years researching the structure formation of alternative plant-based and microbiological biopolymers in order to give vegan alternatives more "bite". In an effort to put the results of her research into practice, she also works with companies involved in the development of cell-based foods.

Methane-reducing feed additives for livestock

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2). One gram of methane drives global warming many times more than the same amount of CO2. According to the Federal Environment Agency, agriculture is responsible for around two thirds of methane emissions in Germany. Cattle farming alone is responsible for more than half of the methane emissions produced here. In order to achieve its climate targets, the German government wants to reduce methane emissions by 30 % by 2030.

Washbasin

Advantages and disadvantages of sanitary ceramics

Ceramic, which is used in sanitary facilities, is usually made of quartz sand and limestone. The advantages of this mixture: objects made from it are particularly robust and have a long service life. In addition, these are two raw materials that occur naturally and do not have to be laboriously produced.