Insects have long been part of the diet in many countries. They are not only rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins. They are also relatively easy to keep and produce significantly fewer greenhouse gases than pigs or cattle.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is investing around 50 million euros in innovative plant breeding research that is open to technology and methods as part of a new funding measure. The aim is to be able to guarantee a reliable, climate-resistant supply of high-quality, healthy and safe food.
Biogas is one of the components that are to replace fossil raw materials in the energy transition. It is produced by microbial communities fermenting biomass. In principle, the processes involved are well understood, but how the microbial communities are composed has only been partially researched so far. An international research team with the participation of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg (BTU) has taken on this task – and made an important discovery.
The number of hot days with air temperatures of at least 30 degrees Celsius has been increasing in Germany for years as a result of climate change. This is documented by long-term records of the German Weather Service. In contrast, there is hardly any data on the temperature development in the ground, as the measurements are very complex. In a project coordinated by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), a team of researchers has now examined the development of ground temperature in more detail.
The European Union invests 6 million euros in a research network that aims to improve the barley cereal plant in several respects by 2028. BEST-CROP (Boosting photosynthESis To deliver novel CROPs for the circular bioeconomy) is the name of the project involving 18 European plant breeding companies, straw processing companies and academic plant research institutions. They want to adapt barley to dry climates, increase its yields and optimize the stalks for material use.
In nature, each plant competes for the best growing conditions. They are therefore confronted with diverse and changing environmental influences and usually grow in less densely packed neighborhoods than cultivated plants in the open. In addition to environmental conditions that are as uniform and stable as possible, there is also a certain amount of shading by neighboring plants due to plant density. Researchers at the IPK Leibniz Institute have now shown that a plant's selfish characteristics are often detrimental to agriculture.
The fashion industry is responsible for 5% of global CO2 emissions. Water consumption and pollution from dyeing, as well as textile waste after use, also pollute the environment. But the textile industry is changing - not least because customers increasingly value sustainably and fairly produced clothing.
Food packaging is designed to protect food so that it remains edible and reaches the consumer undamaged. Until now, petroleum-based plastics have mostly been used for this purpose. Yet the trend away from fossil raw materials also poses new challenges for the packaging industry. Sustainable alternatives are needed to conserve resources and protect the environment.
A high-load fermenter as a supplement to the established stirred tank fermenter could make biogas plants more economical. This is the conclusion reached by the Bio-Smart project of Münster University of Applied Sciences and the company PlanET Biogastechnik. This is because the high water content of residual materials such as liquid manure not only requires large fermentation tanks in conventional plants, but also a lot of heating energy.
It is the single largest investment in Bayer's crop protection business in 40 years and a clear commitment to the site in Monheim: the Leverkusen-based company plans to spend EUR 220 million to build a new research and development center here, thus strengthening its commitment to sustainable agriculture. In the presence of North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Hendrik Wüst, the construction site for the new buildings in Monheim was opened at the end of August with the traditional groundbreaking ceremony.