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.
Agriculture sciences
“We force microalgae to excrete valuable signaling substances”
Soil is a vital resource and indispensable for ecosystems, the climate and society. However, industrial agriculture and the consequences of the climate crisis are putting increasing pressure on soils. As a result, fertile soils are becoming ever scarcer. According to studies, more than 60% of agricultural land in the EU is degraded. Omar Khalaf from the Berlin start-up Alganize wants to do something about that. "Stopping soil degradation is a matter close to our hearts," says the biotechnologist.
More legumes in Europe's fields
Legumes such as peas and soy are not only valuable sources of protein for the production of food and animal feed. They are also important helpers in making agriculture more sustainable. Their ability to bind nitrogen from the air via the roots with the help of bacteria makes legumes a natural soil conditioner. However, the cultivation of such protein crops is still a niche in Germany and the EU. This is set to change.
New strategies required in wheat cultivation
Wheat is one of the most important food crops and, after maize, provides the world's largest harvest yields. Many foods, from bread and pizza to beer, are made from this grain. However, extreme weather conditions such as droughts and floods repeatedly cause crop losses – including wheat. Farmers are already trying to supply food crops with important nutrients such as nitrogen through fertilization and to secure wheat yields.
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.