There ia war raging in nature: to gain advantages, microorganisms permanently use chemical molecules to fight against other microorganisms. Researchers at the University of Tübingen have now identified a molecule that could be used as a potent herbicide and that is harmless to humans.
In 2017, an international long-term study provided proof for the first time of the dramatic death of insects in Germany. Data analysis showed that the number of flying insects fell by 76% between 1989 and 2016. Bees are also endangered insects. But how can natural pollinators be protected?
Last summer, heat and drought have afflicted farmers in many places and caused enormous harvest losses. The damage caused to farmers in Germany was estimated by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture at 770 million euros.
Extreme weather conditions make plants more susceptible to disease and pest infestation. This also endangers wheat production in Germany and large parts of Europe.
Trees are a natural source of CO2 and make an important contribution to climate protection. However, species diversity varies greatly from region to region and has changed dramatically over the years. In the humid tropics, for example, there are considerably more plants to be found per square metre than in Germany. But why is this so, and what factors influence the diversity of tree species? In order to find answers to these questions, the forested areas of the world would have to be thoroughly explored - truly a Sisyphean task.
New technologies such as field robots are already making agriculture more efficient and sustainable. New habitats for insects and other animals are being created with flower strips or mixed cultivation of crops. This contributes to the protection of biological diversity. But can all these measures halt the global loss of biodiversity? Apparently not.
It is at least 3,500 years old and yet so far no one knew its parents: the saffron crocus has been cultivated for a long time, especially in the Mediterranean region and in Asia. Its flower threads are the source of the valuable spice saffron, which can compete with gold at a price of up to 30,000 euros per kilo. The saffron crocus has also been appreciated for centuries as a medicinal plant and coloring agent. Despite its value, the plant has never been improved by breeding in all these years.
They are tiny and at home in many freshwaters: water fleas. The so-called daphnia are unique in that they react very sensitively to pollutants in the water. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have therefore used these small crustaceans as a yardstick to investigate the pollution of freshwater ecosystems.
Just like humans and animals, plants also have to defend against bacterial infections.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, slightly more than half of Germany's acreage was used for agriculture in 2016. Farmers are using modern machinery and pesticides and fertilizers to increase yields. Studies confirm: More intensive farming is detrimental to the environment and above all threatens species diversity. But a meta-analysis now shows at what a cost for nature a bountiful harvest actually comes.
Whether palm oil, cotton or soy: many raw materials from plants used in Germany for the production of cosmetics, textiles, biodiesel or animal feed have to be procured from abroad. But where do the raw materials come from and what are the environmental consequences? An international study led by the Institute for Ecological Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (WU) provides answers. Researchers from the University of Bonn were also involved.