Agriculture sciences

Biodiversity under attack

New technologies such as field robots are already making agriculture more efficient and sustainable. New habitats for insects and other animals are being created with flower strips or mixed cultivation of crops. This contributes to the protection of biological diversity. But can all these measures halt the global loss of biodiversity? Apparently not.

Meta-analysis: higher yield, less diversity

According to the Federal Statistical Office, slightly more than half of Germany's acreage was used for agriculture in 2016. Farmers are using modern machinery and pesticides and fertilizers to increase yields. Studies confirm: More intensive farming is detrimental to the environment and above all threatens species diversity. But a meta-analysis now shows at what a cost for nature a bountiful harvest actually comes.

EU: Plant raw materials mostly imported

Whether palm oil, cotton or soy: many raw materials from plants used in Germany for the production of cosmetics, textiles, biodiesel or animal feed have to be procured from abroad. But where do the raw materials come from and what are the environmental consequences? An international study led by the Institute for Ecological Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (WU) provides answers. Researchers from the University of Bonn were also involved.

More variety for rapeseed fields

In many ways, rapeseed is a very special crop. For one thing, it is still relatively young - oilseed rape originated only about 1,000 years ago by a random cross between turnip (Chinese cabbage) and cabbage. On the other hand, with its 38 chromosomes Brassica napus has a very large and complex genome, with little of it known until a few years ago. Now, the yellow-flowering oilseed is used in many industrial areas, but there is a risk that today's rape varieties will soon no longer meet the harvest and environmental requirements.

Milk money - what is it worth?

Milk and dairy products such as cheese or yoghurt are some of the food-favorites in Germany and their sales have been steadily increasing for years. Especially so-called functional dairy products such as digestive yoghurt drinks or cholesterol-lowering spreads have conquered the market in recent years. But what do these products really contain, what exactly are the health-promoting components of milk and how can they be used specifically? And last but not least: how and why does the consumer decide to buy a product?

How climate change impacts fish species

Herring, pike-perch or salmon: fish is among the top healthy foods. The demand has been high for years. According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2018 each person in Germany consumed about 13.7 kilograms. But Myron Peck knows that climate change will dictate which fish ends up on the plate in the future.

Europe's canopies are thinning

Forests are essential for the survival of humans and nature. They are habitats for many plants and animals, CO2 and water reservoirs and oxygen producers, but also a place of recreation and a source of raw materials. But the ecosystem has changed. Using satellite data, researchers from the University of Munich and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna have for the first time produced a map that shows how European forests have changed over the past 30 years.

Rapid test for the germination capacity of seeds

For seed banks, seed breeders, but also for farmers, it is essential to know whether certain seeds can still germinate. Millions of germination tests are therefore carried out every year. Depending on the method used, the seeds are used, and the results can take weeks. A spin-off of the University of Osnabrück has now presented a new test procedure that provides a result after only four hours without damaging the seed.

A bioeconomy model farm for Brandenburg

Along with industry, agriculture is an important economic factor in the Land of Brandenburg. Almost a third of the total land area is currently used for agriculture. Huge quantities of residues are produced which can be used both materially and energetically. Establishing agricultural biomass as a raw material and making better use of it is a cornerstone of the bioeconomy. The State of Brandenburg now intends to invest almost 25 million euros in the bioeconomic future.

Training plants like athletes

Many plants die when they don't get enough water. Friederike Kögler has found a way to prevent this. She found out that plants can be trained like athletes. In her experiments she used targeted water stress to make corn plants get by with little water and still grow. In September last year, the doctoral student was awarded the Ernst Knapp Future Prize for this finding. 

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