Agriculture sciences

Permaculture: Better soils, more biodiversity

Away from monocultures, pesticides and heavy agricultural machinery, permaculture established itself worldwide in the 1970s as a near-natural farming concept as a counterpart to conventional agriculture. In Germany, this organic farming model has also been practised by some farmers for decades. On permaculture areas, for example, fields are supplemented with trees and shrubs. Mineral fertilisers and pesticides are not used and the keeping of livestock is integrated into the cultivation of crops.

Study: Redistributed nitrogen consumption increases global food security

Alongside water, nitrogen as a fertiliser is a key factor in determining plant yields and therefore people's food security. However, nitrogen consumption in agriculture is very unevenly distributed worldwide: Rich countries tend to use too much nitrogen fertiliser, which pollutes water bodies and reduces biodiversity. In the Global South, on the other hand, there is a lack of nitrogen for sufficient harvests. The imbalance in global nitrogen distribution was the focus of an international study involving the University of Göttingen.

AI makes the growth of arable plants visible

How can agriculture become more sustainable with the help of intelligent digitalisation without sacrificing yields? Researchers at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn have been working on this question for several years as part of the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence. With the development of software that can simulate the future growth of cultivated crops, the team is once again demonstrating the potential of digitalisation.

Green ERA-Hub: EU alliances for innovative plant breeding wanted

Sustainable, efficient and resilient production systems in agriculture are of fundamental importance on the way to a functioning sustainable bioeconomy. The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) "Green ERA-Hub", launched in September 2022 and funded by the European Commission, represents 15 former and still active EU initiatives from the fields of agriculture, food production and biotechnology.

Weatherproof protein-based insecticides

The use of synthetic pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides is increasing worldwide. As a result, pesticide residues are increasingly found in food and are accumulating in groundwater and drinking water. Synthetic pesticides are also criticised for reducing biodiversity and reducing soil fertility due to their non-specific effect. It is not possible to do without plant protection, but so-called biologics – i.e. bio-based active ingredients – are a sustainable alternative.

Agricultural systems of the future: the new brochure is now available

Climate change, global population growth and urbanisation: our food and agricultural systems are facing a multitude of complex challenges. New solutions are needed for sustainable, resource-efficient and adaptable agricultural production. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) wants to play an active role in shaping the transformation towards a sustainable, future-proof agricultural and food industry.

NTU (2024): Crop and landscape heterogeneity increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes

This is the conclusion reached by an international research team led by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, which analysed studies from Europe, Asia, North and South America. According to the study, numerous wild animal and plant species in agricultural fields benefit from a diverse environment.

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