“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.

Tapping into the potential of salt-tolerant plants

Algae are among the marine plants that researchers have long recognised as having great potential for the bioeconomy and which are already being used in a variety of ways. Other salt-tolerant plants such as the European seaweed (Salicornia europaea), on the other hand, have received little attention - but also have many qualities. This is the conclusion reached by a European research team that spent four years investigating the potential of these so-called halophytes.

Reference genome for Arabica coffee available online

There are around 120 coffee varieties worldwide. However, the Arabica variety is at the forefront of coffee production with 70%. However, climate change is increasingly causing yield losses, as the plant is extremely sensitive. It tolerates heat and drought poorly and is therefore more susceptible to disease. What's more, experts believe that suitable areas for coffee cultivation will continue to shrink as a result of climate change. This would also affect Brazil, which is one of the world's leading coffee producers.

Thinking big with smart bioprocess technology

Industrial biotechnology utilises microorganisms or individual biomolecules such as enzymes in bioprocesses as the basis for the industrial production of chemicals, biopharmaceuticals or food additives. The key players are cells as living factories that can produce a desired product in large quantities in closed bioreactors. Developing bioprocesses in such a way that the biotechnological production of a product is optimised is very time-consuming and complex.

Bioeconomy at the Hannover Messe

"Energising a Sustainable Industry" is the guiding theme of this year's Hannover Messe, which opens its doors to visitors next week. From 22 to 26 April, more than 4,000 companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries as well as the energy sector will be presenting their solutions for a sustainable industry of tomorrow - including global tech companies and research institutions as well as more than 300 start-ups.

Key gene for toxic alkaloid discovered in barley

Plants mediate their interactions with the environment via chemical signals. One example of this is the alkaloid gramine, which is produced by barley, one of the world's most widely cultivated cereals. Gramine provides protection against herbivorous insects and grazing animals and inhibits the growth of other plants. The toxin is particularly present in the green parts of the plant, such as leaves and stalks, but hardly ever in the grains, which can be safely used for food production.