Extreme weather conditions such as heat, drought and heavy rain are putting increasing pressure on winegrowing. Soil erosion is a major problem for winegrowers. Vineyards on slopes such as the Moselle, Rhine or Elbe are particularly affected by this. Soil is eroded or washed away by wind and rain, leaving the vines without a basis for growth.
Traditionally, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) organises the World Food Conference in Berlin at the start of the Green Week to kick off the year. This year, around 2,000 representatives from politics, business, science and civil society will once again discuss global agricultural and food policy issues in the CityCube from 15 to 18 January. The 17th edition of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) will focus on the topic of ‘Shaping a sustainable bioeconomy’.
Potting soils usually contain peat, which is formed from dead plant remains in bogs. However, peat extraction destroys the habitats of many plants and animals as well as a valuable carbon store. There are now alternative plant substrates such as coconut pulp and fibres. However, the raw materials have to be imported from India or Sri Lanka. In the TOPKO project, researchers at Oldenburg University of Applied Sciences and industrial partners now want to prove that regional raw materials are also suitable as a peat substitute for plant substrates.
Land, moor and sea are the three areas of expertise that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) can rely on for bio-based structural change. The focus is on the high-quality refinement of plant-based raw materials such as arable crops, reeds and algae. By 2030, these renewable raw materials are to be turned into products that will help the region to achieve an economic upturn and make it a model region for the bioeconomy. Peatlands play an important role in structural change. They currently make up around 13% of the total area of the federal state.
The agriculture of the future faces major challenges: Climate change, scarcity of resources and the need for sustainable production methods require innovative solutions. New technologies offer enormous opportunities, particularly in viticulture, a traditional industry that is heavily dependent on environmental conditions. Two pioneering projects at the University of Koblenz show how modern digital innovations and precise, data-driven approaches can make viticulture not only more efficient, but also more resilient to climate change.
Climate change, water and resource scarcity, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, but also population growth and food waste are putting the current food system under severe pressure across Europe. Sustainable food and nutrition security is therefore one of the major challenges of the future.
Moors are not only unique habitats for animals and plants. They bind large amounts of climate-damaging CO2 and therefore make an important contribution to climate and environmental protection.
Many fish species such as salmon and trout are now bred in aquaculture facilities to meet the increasing demand. As a rule, these fish farms are located near the coast, where breeding is impaired by shipping, tourism or buildings.
Soil is a precious and scarce resource. In Europe alone, 80 % of the land area is used for forestry, agriculture, industry and settlements.