Rice is one of the most important crops in the world. More than half of the world's population feeds on it. Although there are many rice varieties, not every plant can withstand climate change. Especially in Asia, where cereal grains have always been a staple food, flooding is increasingly causing crop losses and threatening the livelihood of rice farmers. This is where the work of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) comes in.
In early December, the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) will take place in Katowice, Poland. In the Paris Climate Accord three years ago, the participating states agreed to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius. To achieve this goal, almost all sectors of the economy must rethink and establish new, sustainable and environmentally friendly processes. Now, the participants of the COP24 meeting in Poland will discuss the measures taken as well as their progress.
What if we could redesign everything? That is the tagline of dif – the disruptive innovation festival. dif is curated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a non-profit organisation headquartered in the UK aiming to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. Five years after its inception, DIF has become a one-of-a-kind online festival that took place from November 6 to 23 this year. Their programme contained more than 100 items, including studio discussions, live streaming events, podcasts and film productions.
The last summer has demonstrated the consequences of climate change and global warming all too vividly for Germany and all of Europe. For instance, a prolonged drought has caused rivers to fall dry and is hindering national as well pan-European shipments well into December.
Plastics are an integral part of our everyday lives. Whether foil, cables or artificial leather - due to its diverse material properties, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can be used in many different ways. Measured by its production volume, PVC is now the third most important plastic in the world after polyethylene and polypropylene. Nonetheless, the so-called soft PVC, which is frequently used for cable insulators, floor coverings or hoses, is increasingly subject to criticism.
Eating insects - many people still shudder when when hearing these words, or they're thinking of Thailand or Indonesia, where fried crickets and mealworms are sold on the streets. But since the "Novel Food Regulation" was implemented at the beginning of 2018, a growing number of food items containing insects has made it into several supermarkets across the EU.
Plants have many enemies and predators against which they have to defend themselves. Therefore, they have developed defense mechanisms against many different types of attack. However, it would bind far too many resources if all these mechanisms were permanently active. Ecologists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the University of Bern have now investigated such a case of resource management in maize, wheat and other plant species.
As useful as it may be, plastic has become a household-synonym for "environmental pollution": It is based on fossil fuels and releases large amounts of CO2 when broken down, thereby contributing significantly to global warming. Biobased plastics - or bioplastics for short - are often advertised as a sustainable alternative with a neutral carbon footprint.
Large quantities of fossil fuels are still used for the production of medicines, cosmetics or even food. However, such fossil-based raw material is not only finite, but also extremely harmful to the environment. That is why a number of chemists, process engineers and engineers are working towards a more environmentally friendly production by using enzymes and biobased processes.
Jasmine plants are known and loved for their bright white flowers and their fresh scent. This fragrance is based on the phytohormone jasmonic acid. The plant hormone bears its name because it was first discovered in the jasmine plant, but is also produced by other plants when they are eaten by insects or injured mechanically. The acid then causes a defensive reaction to protect the plant. Some species even transmit this acid signal via the air, in order to warn neighbouring plants.