Agriculture and forestry

For researchers, plant characteristics such as growth height, seed size, photosynthetic performance or flower color are crucial factors in finding out how plants adapt to their environment or how they can respond to future climatic changes. However, it it is not only the appearance of a plant that is crucial for its development, but also the invisible part - the root system. So what does the appearance of the plant reveal about the roots? Is there a connection between the upper and lower features?

Not only are petroleum-based plastics ecologically problematic, but also those that don't break down well in nature - because that's where a majority of them still end up. Agricultural mulch films, for example, are even deliberately used in the environment, where they usually leave behind residues. In the future, such products are therefore to be replaced by biodegradable plastics. But what exactly happens during degradation in the soil - and will it still work under changed climatic conditions?

The new Phytotechnikum at the University of Hohenheim addresses climate research and bioeconomics: Computer-controlled climate control and automatic irrigation, fine regulation for light intensity, humidity and temperature as well as variable lighting technology enable the Stuttgart researchers to work more flexibly in a wide range of fields. Climate change, biodiversity, world nutrition, bioenergy, renewable raw materials and plant health are topics that can be studied in the glass high-tech greenhouse on a wide variety of plants, including exotic ones.

Weather extremes such as heat, drought or heavy rain have been putting pressure on agriculture for a long time and are increasingly causing crop failures. To respond to the challenges of climate change, new strategies are needed for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and cereals. One promising approach is so-called agri-photovoltaics. Here, arable land is not only used to grow important food crops, but also to generate electricity at the same time. An initial pilot plant at Lake Constance proved to be economically viable after only a short time.

With the Baltic Sea on its doorstep, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is one of Germany's most popular vacation destinations. But the north has more to offer than just the sea: Extensive fields and meadows hold enormous bioeconomic potential. In order to exploit the regional innovation potential and thus drive change in structurally weak regions, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research launched the "WIR! – Wandel durch Innovation in der Region" (Change through Innovation in the Region) funding program in 2017.

Seeds and animal feed can be attacked by pathogens just as plants can, thus reducing yields for plant breeders and farmers. One effective method of killing viruses, fungi or bacteria is electron beam treatment. The process was developed in the 1980s by physicist Manfred von Ardenne. At the Dresden Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, a team led by Andrè Weidauer has developed this proven method into a mobile seed treatment unit in recent years.

They already exist in selected supermarkets and restaurants: multi-story glass greenhouses in which herbs and lettuce grow in a nutrient solution. This means they can be offered fresh every day without the need for costly transportation. Following Edeka's lead, Rewe now also wants to test resource-saving food production as part of a pilot project in Wiesbaden.

The condition of the forests is worrying: many older trees are suffering from drought, pests and storms, and the consequences of climate change have made the forest more susceptible to fires. Furthermore, only 21% of tree crowns are still intact. The current forest condition report of the Thünen Institute for Forest Ecosystems in Eberswalde once again shows the vulnerability of the forest ecosystem and the urgent need for action.