News and press releases from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V.http://www.zalf.deLeibniz-Zentrum fuer Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V. Muenchebergen-enFri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT1Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have investigated how water from surface water streams can be stored in the aquifer during wet periods. The study was published in the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. Using an area in the lower Spree catchment in Brandenburg as an example, the team utilized a computer model to demonstrate: Naturally occurring small basins in the landscape could absorb excess stream water, allowing it to seep slowly into the ground and subsequently stabilize groundwater and connected surface water bodies. In the calculations, the groundwater level rose locally by up to 2 metres. Water flow in connected streams could be increased by up to 15 percent. Retaining water in the landscape Brandenburg is one of Germany’s drier regions. Prolonged periods of drought and heavy rainfall make it more difficult to maintain a consistent water supply throughout the year. In the past, many landscapes in north-eastern Germany were artificially altered by ditches and drainage systems in such a way that water runs off quickly. Whilst this often helps with the use of fields, it can become a problem in dry years. The researchers therefore investigated a method known as ‘managed aquifer recharge’. This involves temporarily available excess water from watercourses not being fully discharged during wet periods, but redirected into suitable basins. There it slowly seeps – much like rainwater in garden soil, yet planned and controlled. “Our results show that small natural basins in the landscape can help retain water in the region for longer. This is particularly important as dry years become more frequent,” says Jan Stautzebach, lead author of the study at ZALF. A computer model and 30 years of data For the study, the team used a model that depicts both surface water and groundwater together. This is important because surface water streams and groundwater function like two interconnected parts of a system: if the groundwater level drops, a stream may receive less water. If it rises, the stream’s flow can be supported during dry periods. The researchers examined an area of around 4.5 square kilometres in the catchment of the Demnitzer Mühlenfließ. The area comprises woodland, arable land and grassland. For the calculations, the team used weather and landscape data for the period 1991 to 2020. Various scenarios were used to examine how much water from the stream could be applied to nearby depressions suitable for infiltration, and how the soil, groundwater and stream would respond. What is new about the study is that it did not merely calculate whether water infiltrates the ground. The team also investigated how this water subsequently affects connected streams. Their findings showed that the additional water moves slowly through the soil and aquifer and can have an impact over distances of several hundred metres. In the calculations, the influence on the groundwater level extended over more than 900 metres. Hopes and concerns The results show that the method can be particularly useful when implemented on a decentralized basis: in other words, not with large dams or powerful pumps, but with many smaller sites where water can seep into the underground. The researchers note that large-scale installations with high energy requirements would likely be unsuitable for this region, as there is probably not enough surplus water available during prolonged dry spells. At the same time, the study makes it clear that the method must be carefully planned. If too much water is introduced, lower-lying areas may be flooded. This may be desirable in moors or wetlands but can cause problems near buildings or sensitive land areas. Plants can also be damaged if their roots remain in wet soil for too long. The results are based on model calculations. They therefore show what would be possible under the chosen assumptions. For practical application, specific sites would need to be assessed on site: How well does the water infiltrate? Which areas might be affected? What pipes or ditches would be required? Who would operate and pay for the systems? The article does not yet specify any concrete costs. With this new knowledge, authorities, water boards and land users could in future better assess where water can be retained in the landscape. A next step would be to investigate such sites in more detail and plan small-scale field trials. This would also involve assessing how much water can be abstracted from a stream without harming animals, plants or other uses. Further information: DOI link to the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103533 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text generated using artificial intelligence: Stautzebach, J., Steidl, J., Merz, C. (2026): Quantifying the effect of managed aquifer recharge on the hydrologic resilience of coupled surface-groundwater systems in northeast Germany. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 66, 103533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103533, published Open Access / published under the CC BY 4.0 licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in accordance with the AI guidelines at ZALF. Funding information This work was carried out as part of the SpreeWasser:N project and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under grant number 02WEE1633B. Project partners • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Wasser_fuer_Brandenburg.aspxLucas KämmererPress ReleaseWaterKlima16a23c28-fbab-494e-99a4-b0bcd35bb881Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMTCurrent crop models systematically underestimate the water requirements for crop irrigation—with potentially serious consequences for global food security. This is shown by a new study from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), published in the journal Nature Water. The researchers identify three key weaknesses in modeling that lead to inaccurate forecasts.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Ertragsmodelle-und-Bewaesserung.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeModellingThu, 04 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), in collaboration with other academic institutions, has published a new study on start-ups in the agricultural sector in the journal Progress in Economic Geography. In it, a research team examines how well so-called agri-start-ups are embedded in existing innovation structures in a region of Lower Saxony that is particularly strongly characterised by agriculture. A key finding: the extent to which innovations from agri-start-ups contribute to sustainability transformations in the region depends heavily on established and well-entrenched structures. For the study, the researchers conducted a total of 16 guided interviews between January and March 2025. Respondents included individuals from academia, business, public administration, funding bodies and the start-up community. In addition, the interviewees drew network maps to illustrate who is connected to whom and how these relationships function. The analysis focused on five forms of ‘proximity’ between regional actors: spatial, cognitive, social, institutional and organisational. The authors thus describe in concrete terms why the transformative potential of innovations depends not only on good ideas, but also on how their development processes are embedded within an existing environment. Between proximity and distance: the importance of trust for collaboration The case region is described in the study as a German location with a particularly intensive agricultural sector. There, many established companies have been working closely together along complex value chains for decades. This closeness builds trust and facilitates collaboration. At the same time, however, it can make it harder for knowledge from new companies to be taken on board. The study shows that agri-start-ups often rely on intermediaries to gain access to key networks in the first place. This can be helpful – but it often also influences the direction in which their ideas develop. Furthermore, farmers were only mentioned in passing during the interviews. This, too, is an important finding: for if new technology or new business models are to be used on farms later on, agricultural businesses must be involved in innovation processes as early as possible. The authors conclude that start-ups, or rather their founders, who are rooted in the region but have also gained experience outside the existing system, could play a special role. They bring new perspectives without completely losing access to regional, social and value-based relationships. Why new ideas often take effect only gradually What is particularly new about the study is its focus on the quality of relationships within a regional innovation system and an entrepreneurial ecosystem – that is, the interplay between actors, networks and institutions. The researchers not only demonstrate which connections the interviewees perceive within this innovation (eco)system, but also how these connections can either foster or limit new developments. Particularly important: close social and (informal) institutional ties among established actors can lead to the emergence of smaller improvements—such as efficiency-focused solutions—rather than fundamental changes. This is socially significant because agriculture faces major challenges—such as climate, environmental and resource protection—and requires not only more efficient solutions, but in some cases also solutions conceived in a fundamentally different way. “Our findings show that innovation in agriculture does not succeed or fail solely on the basis of good ideas. It is also crucial whether new actors gain access to existing networks—and whether there is room within them for knowledge that does not yet fit with established practices,” says Katharina Rock from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and lead author of the study. What the researchers conclude The authors see their findings as indicating that regional networks for agricultural innovation should be broadened. Universities and other research institutions could play an important role in this regard if, in their teaching and research, they not only strengthen economic and (agri)-technical topics but also incorporate environmental and social issues more strongly. However, the study also highlights its own limitations: the direct perspective of start-ups could only be incorporated to a limited extent, as many young companies did not wish to disclose their networks for competitive reasons. Therefore, future research should compare the specific conditions under which regional innovation spaces tend to facilitate minor adjustments or more profound changes in even greater detail. Further information: DOI link to the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peg.2026.100067 Funding information The authors state that this work was financially supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a ZALF grant for the completion of their PhD, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant number: 031B0751) and the German Research Foundation (DFG; grant number: 554256072). Project partners • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg • University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart • University of Applied Sciences for Social Design, Koblenz • Georg-August University of Göttingen Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text generated using artificial intelligence: Rock, K., Schlaile, M. P., Busse, M., & Zscheischler, J. (2026). Agri-startups and their regional embeddedness: A qualitative network analysis on the German ‘Silicon Valley of Agriculture’. Progress in Economic Geography, 4, 100067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peg.2026.100067, published Open Access / published under the CC BY 4.0 licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in accordance with ZALF’s AI guidelines.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Agrar-Start-Ups.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 28 May 2026 07:00:00 GMTThe title of his Dissertation is "Governing climate adaptation in violence-affected rural settings: an institutional analysis of drivers for conflict and collaboration”. The project was conducted in association with the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, one of the CGIAR centers, with funding from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Supervision from Humboldt University of Berlin and ZALF was provided by Associate Professor Dr. rer. Michelle Bonatti and Prof. Dr. rer. agr. habil. Stefan Sieber. From the CGIAR side, the supervision was provided by Senior Scientist Dr. Grazia Pacillo and Principal Scientist Dr. Jon Hellin. The dissertation defense was held on April 23rd, 2026. The examination committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mithöfer, with Prof. Dr. Robischon, Prof. Dr. Sieber, and Prof. Dr. Krüger serving as reviewers. Additional committee members included Assoc. Prof. Dr. rer. agr. Michelle Bonatti, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. rer. agr. Robert Cárcamo. Published peer-reviewed articles: • https://doi.org/10.1177/27538796231207030 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100276 • https://doi.org/10.1177/27538796251404202 • https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000280https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Leonardo_Medina_Defense.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 GMTAround 130 pupils from Müncheberg Secondary School visited ZALF on 22 April and 5 May. The visit took place as part of a field trip designed to help the pupils understand ZALF’s research into agriculture, biodiversity, climate change and data. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Schulklassen-besuchen-CDP.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 GMTFerdaous Rezgui has successfully defended her dissertation titled “Diversifying Mediterranean Cropping Systems: Performance Assessment and Stakeholders’ Perceptions” at the Faculty of Life Sciences of Humboldt University on April 13, 2026. The research was conducted at ZALF within the RCS group, in collaboration with several European and Mediterranean research institutes. The project was carried out within the framework of the Biodiversity project “Boost Ecosystem Services through Highly Biodiversity-based Mediterranean Farming Systems” and funded by the BMFTR. Supervision was provided by Dr. Moritz Reckling, Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, Dr. Fatima Lehnhardt, and Dr. Carsten Paul. The dissertation contributes to advancing research on sustainable Mediterranean agricultural systems, with a particular focus on cropping system diversification strategies (agroforestry, intercropping and diversified rotations), their agri-environmental, social and economic performance, and stakeholders’ perceptions of these systems. Our warmest congratulations! Published peer-reviewed articles: • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1161030123002800 • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479725030166 • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1161030126000195https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Ferdaous_Rezgui_Promotion_erfolgreich_abgeschlossen.aspxMoritz RecklingNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 19 May 2026 08:00:00 GMTZALF researchers working within the Leibniz Association’s consortia, Leibniz Lab “Systemic Sustainability,” co-convened a hybrid workshop on “Aligning Research on Transformation Pathways” on Wednesday, April 29, at the Leibniz Institute for Bioeconomy and Agricultural Engineering (ATB). The workshop brought together representatives of the Leibniz Lab alongside European consortia on agri-food systems and living labs, including Agricultural Systems of the Future (AdZ), the European Partnership for a Sustainable Future of Food Systems (FutureFoodS), and the Innovation Center for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT). From ZALF, Prof. Dr. Katharina Helming, Dr. Sundus Saleemi, and Dr. Joseph McPherson participated. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Workshop-zum-Thema-Abstimmung-der-Forschung-zu-Transformationspfaden-f%C3%BCr-Agrar--und-Ernaehrungssysteme.aspx​​​​Dr. ​Sundus SaleemiNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 11 May 2026 10:00:00 GMTThe EU has set ambitious goals for agriculture and food: fewer pesticides, more organic farming, and significantly lower emissions. But how can these goals be effectively implemented? Two EU research projects will provide answers at their joint closing conference on June 16, 2026, in Brussels. As part of the VISIONARY project, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) conducted research on the management of food systems, value chains for legumes, and incentive schemes to promote biodiversity in agriculture. Under the motto “From Research to Action,” the EU projects VISIONARY and ENFASYS will present the key findings from four years of research. The focus was on determining which measures are effective across the entire food chain—from production through trade to consumption—and which incentives actually promote sustainable behavior. The challenge is enormous: About one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food production—at the same time, it significantly impacts biodiversity, soils, and water resources. Despite ambitious goals, research shows that many policy instruments have had only limited impact in practice so far. Research Meets Policy Through a mix of presentations, panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions, the conference offers evidence-based recommendations for action for policymakers and the retail sector, as well as insights into concrete, EU-wide interventions by the projects—such as the design of effective CO₂ pricing, the impact of climate labels on biodiversity, or the question of how consumers can be encouraged to choose plant-based alternatives more often in supermarkets. The conference serves as a platform to bridge the gap between research and policy implementation and to provide concrete impetus for the further development of European sustainability policy. Invitation Date: June 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM Location: Vlaamse Overheid – Herman Teirlinck Building, Brussels, and online Participation in the conference is free of charge. Further information on the program and registration: https://visionary-project.eu/events/from-research-to-action-visionary-enfasys-final-conference/ Contact: Eva Schellenbeck, Global Nature Fund, schellenbeck@globalnature.org About VISIONARY VISIONARY is an EU-funded research project that has spent four years investigating how sustainable transformations can be shaped along the food chain. Twelve research institutions and NGOs from eight European countries participated. German project partners include FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture), ZALF (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research), and the Global Nature Fund. ZALF in the VISIONARY Project Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed expertise in the areas of systems approaches, behavioral and experimental economics, and policy analysis for the governance of food systems to the VISIONARY project. In particular, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed its expertise on institutional barriers and levers in legume value chains to VISIONARY (see study by Rønn et al., 2026). In addition, ZALF researchers investigated how a labeling approach could be institutionally designed to make biodiversity services in agriculture more visible. A label could create incentives for farmers to participate in nature conservation measures. About ENFASYS ENFASYS is an EU-funded research project aimed at transforming food systems toward greater sustainability. The focus is on developing and evaluating policy measures that promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. The goal is to provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and to accelerate the implementation of sustainable food systems in Europe. More information: Rønn, T. H., Schulze, C., Czajkowski, M., Matzdorf, B., Moreno-Pérez, O. M., Olsen, S. B., … & Zawadzki, W. (2026). Weak pulse: A Q-methodology study of stakeholder viewpoints on barriers in European food legume value chains. Food Policy, 139, 103033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103033 VISIONARY website: https://visionary-project.eu/ Project partners: • Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España U de Coop Sociedad Cooperativa (CCAE), Spain • Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark • Global Nature Fund (GNF), Germany • Highclere Consulting (HCC), Romania • Institute of Agricultural Economics (Agrárközgazdasági Intézet, AKI), Hungary • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) • Research Institute for Organic Agriculture (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL), Germany • Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain (Coordinator) • University of Aberdeen (UNIABDN), UK • University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark • University of Exeter (UNEXE), UK • University of Trento (UniTrento), Italy • University of Warsaw (UW/ UNIWARSAW), Poland Funding: Funded by the European Union under GA no. 101060538.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Visionary_EU-Konferenz_nachhaltige_Lebensmittelsysteme.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousWed, 29 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMTResearchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), in collaboration with partner institutions, have shown that radar satellites, specifically European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-1 mission, can be used to reliably determine the growth phases of maize and wheat in Germany –independent of weather conditions. The study, led by ZALF, was published in the journal GIScience & Remote Sensing and provides new insights for sustainable and data-driven agriculture of the future. Radar signals and plant growth The phenometric analysis made in this study on winter wheat and maize, is based on the open access multi-temporal dataset of European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-1 satellite, and is an active microwave system that records its own emitted signal, which makes acquisition possible throughout the entire season, regardless of weather or time of day. The radar backscatter showed changes systematically as crop canopy structure and moisture conditions develop. The team examined the seasonal progression of the backscatter and showed that distinct growth stages, such as stem elongation, heading, and flowering in cereals can be detected reproducibly in both wheat and maize. These findings confirm that Sentinel-1 data contain sufficient phenological information to map major development phases at regional scale. How well does this work – and how else can it be done? Until now, these growth stages were typically recorded through manual field observations, which are labor-intensive, or estimated from optical satellite data using band-based vegetation indices such as NDVI. However, optical systems frequently contain long data gaps during cloudy periods because rely on sunlight. The big advantage of the method is that Sentinel-1 provides collection of data every six days in the analyzed period– regardless of clouds or light. For most development stages, the results agreed well with both reference datasets, with average deviations of only a few days. Mid-season phases showed the strongest correspondence, while early development stages were more variable The results were compare with phenometrics obtained by the Copernicus High-Resolution Vegetation Phenology and Productivity (HR-VPP) product based on optical data and the data collected for German Weather Service (DWD) on local ground based observations. The study showed that the phenometrics obtained based on Sentinel-1 data provides comparable values and, in some phases, even better resolution. Such information could help agriculture to plan better: • Farmers could fertilize or irrigate in a more targeted manner, • advisory services could predict seasonal developments more accurately, • politicians and administrators would have up-to-date data on the vegetation status of entire regions, • and research could better model growth processes. Because Sentinel-1 data are freely available through the Copernicus Programme, the approach can be applied broadly and adapted to other crops. For more information and access to the data via https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/ Conclusion and outlook The study led by ZALF shows that radar satellites such as Sentinel-1 are a powerful tool for observing agriculture objectively and comprehensively, regardless of weather conditions. In this way, they contribute to digitalization, climate adaptation, and resource conservation in agriculture. Project partners • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg • University of Potsdam • Humboldt University of Berlin • University of Concepción, Chile • National Open and Distance University (UNAD), Colombia Further information: https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2025.2531593 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Flores, L., Nendel, C., Bookhagen, B., Oviedo Reyes, J. A., Smith, T., & Ghazaryan, G. (2025). The potential of Sentinel-1 time series for large-scale assessment of maize and wheat phenology across Germany. GIScience & Remote Sensing, 62(1), 2531593. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2025.2531593, published open access under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in accordance with the AI regulations at ZALF. Funding information This project was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR) under grant number 16DKWN089, the HORIZON EUROPE SWITCH project under grant number 101060483, and the DFG project STRIVE under grant number SM 710/2-1.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Phaenometrische_Erfassung_mittels_SAR.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMTA study indicates that people in Germany are willing to voluntarily invest in soil health and biodiversity improvements in agriculture. The research findings were published in the journal Land Use Policy. The study was led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The principle behind nature conservation certificates is simple: anyone who purchases such a certificate supports a specific environmental project – for example, the preservation of species-rich agricultural landscapes or erosion resilient arable land. In return, the buyer receives a certificate or digital confirmation proving that a defined environmental goal is being achieved on a clearly specified area – for instance, 100 m² of agricultural land. Similar concepts already exist in the nature conservation field. For example, in so-called "flower sponsorships", private individuals fund the sowing of wildflowers on farmland, creating habitats for bees and butterflies. Likewise, the "eco-account" system allows for environmental compensation measures in response to construction projects – another model of targeted, certificate-based conservation. This study focused on a new type of certificate: one aimed at promoting soil health and biodiversity in agriculture simultaneously. The special aspect: such certificates could be offered via an online marketplace like AgoraNatura, which already enables the funding of nature conservation projects in Germany. Certificates are met with interest – especially when soil health and biodiversity are bundled and co-financed by the public The survey of 1,627 respondents showed that private individuals in Germany recognise the value of healthy soils and species-rich landscapes and would be willing to pay between 22 and 80 euros per 100 m² of one year of protected land. Projects that combine multiple environmental services were particularly popular – for example erosion control, pest control, and soil-carbon storage. Public co-funding – through so called "trigger funding" – also increased people’s willingness to contribute. Bundled improvements appeal to more people The study found that "bundled certificates", combining various soil health and biodiversity improvements in one certificate, were more attractive than certificates offering single environmental improvements. “Bundling may help to showcase people the links between soil health and biodiversity. For example, soil protection and insect protection often go hand in hand,” says Ferdinand Lang, lead author of the study from ZALF. Another insight: when projects are co-financed by public funds, the volume of the funding must be carefully considered to not drive out private funding – a phenomenon known as "crowding out". The so-called "blended finance" approach, mixing private and public funding, may become a key element for more resilient farming systems in the future. Why this matters: protecting soil health and biodiversity secures our future Fertile soils and biodiversity are fundamental to our survival – but according to the European Commission, about 60 to 70 percent of soils in Europe are in an unhealthy condition. At the same time, vital habitats for plants and animals are being lost. This study offers concrete suggestions for how private individuals can actively support the protection of these essential resources. What’s next? The study provides important insights for policymakers, farmers and the development of online marketplaces for nature conservation certificates. Nature conservation certificates could be a way to make society’s engagement in nature and soil protection more visible while creating new sources of income for farmers. However, challenges remain: certificate schemes must be easy to understand, transparently structured and have clear framework conditions. Further research is required to investigate farmer preferences for supplying certificates, test such models in practice and avoid risks like sunk investments or greenwashing. Further information: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107846 Note on this text: This is a summary generated with the help of artificial intelligence based on the original publication: Lang, F., Chen, C., Alemu, M. H., Lundhede, T., Olsen, S. B., & Matzdorf, B. (2025). Private funding for soil health: Private individuals’ preferences for ecosystem services and biodiversity certificates. Land Use Policy, 160, 107846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107846 Published open access under the CC BY 4.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in line with ZALF's AI communication guideline. Project partners: • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) • University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics • Leibniz University Hannover, Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences Funding statement: This work was supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program within the project NOVASOIL (Grant agreement no 101091268). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Zertifikate_Bodengesundheit_Artenvielfalt.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeEcosystem ServicesThu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMTResearchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed to the Sino-German Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agriculture, held on 27–28 March 2026 in Chengdu, China, reinforcing ZALF’s role in international agricultural research and cooperation. The symposium, jointly organized by the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ), the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS), brought together experts from science, policy, and practice to address the challenges of climate change for agricultural systems. Dr. Cheng Chen (ZALF) delivered a keynote on agricultural system transformation for climate resilience, highlighting the role of Living Labs and co-developed innovation networks in bridging science, practice, and policy. The presentation connects closely to ZALF’s activities within the Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT). Key topics included climate-resilient crop systems, digital agriculture, and sustainability assessment. Field visits and interactive sessions supported the development of concrete ideas for future cooperation. A joint roadmap is expected to guide further Sino-German collaboration in areas such as diversification, digital solutions, and sustainable agricultural transformation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Zusammenarbeit_klimaresiliente_Landwirtschaft_China.aspxCheng ChenNoticeClimate ChangeKlima06d6eb35-f03b-4f1b-938e-99ae6e0acb02Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:00:00 GMTOn April 8, ZALF welcomed Dr. Shauna Ní Fhlaithearta from Wageningen University & Research for a guest lecture on Data Stewards.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Einbettung-von-Datenmanagement-zur-Foerderung-exzellenter-Forschung.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMTWhat research and innovation can be done in Germany to achieve healthy soils?​​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/In--house-Workshop---Soils-for-.aspxDr. Shaswati ChowdhuryNoticeSoilTue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMTFrom the Field to the Archive: ZALF and ZB MED Establish a Joint Workflow for the Long-Term Preservation of Agricultural Research Datahttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Langzeitarchivierung-ZALF-und-ZB-MED.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMTThe German Research Foundation (DFG) brought together an interdisciplinary group of scientists from Germany and Central Asia to discuss current research developments in the area of soil health in Central Asia. The event took place during 3–5 March 2026 in Uzbekistan. ​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/DFG-organisierte-einen-Workshop-in-Zentralasien.aspx​​Prof. Dr. Ahmad HamidovNoticeSoilMon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMTThis week, we continue our series with Seyed-Ali Hosseini-Yekani, Work Package 4 Leader and Senior Scientist in Agriculture & Farm Economics & Ecosystem Services at Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). In this interview, Ali shares how GREENCOOP is developing Sustainable Business Models that support strategic planning and empower Rural Communities to make economically and environmentally viable decisions. Watch the video to explore the innovative models we're implementing and the impact they aim to achieve. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/greencoop-eu_discoveringgreencoop-sustainablebusinessmodels-activity-7442112412981567488-5MmH?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAvXcJkBy3rshvAuFRQxFO-7Ro2qdDUTsL4https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Greencoop.aspxSeyed-Ali Hosseini-YekaniNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMTOn March 11, 2026, the official starting signal for the EIP-Agri project "DÜNGEcht" was given at ZALF in Müncheberg. Over the next three years, ZALF will work together with partners from science, software development, and agricultural practice to develop an innovative, digital decision-support system for nitrogen fertilization.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Digitales-Stickstoffmanagement-f%C3%BCr-Brandenburg-Projekt-DUENGEcht.aspxIqra Nowshari NoticeSoilThu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe Science Innovation Germany and Mexico Alliance (SIGM) project continues to advance with its second workshop, held from March 9 to 11. This event brought together researchers, early-career scientists, and institutional representatives from Germany and Mexico to foster knowledge exchange and strengthen bilateral collaboration in chemistry and biotechnology. International collaboration is essential for addressing complex scientific challenges. In this context, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), through its interdisciplinary approaches, recognizes the importance of initiatives that connect science, innovation, and global knowledge networks. In this regard, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to all those who made this event possible. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Biotechnology Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for their outstanding hospitality, especially Prof. Dr. Palamores, Daniel Barreto Cabrera, and their excellent team, as well as for the valuable support provided by UNAM Germany. We are also deeply grateful to our German colleagues—Hannes Keiling, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Seibel, and Dr. Maria Elena Ortiz Soto—for their dedication in coordinating and supporting this initiative. This event was organized under the coordination of the SIGM-Alliance project by Assoc. Prof. Michelle Bonatti and Prof. Dr. Robert Carcamo Mallen. We look forward to the continued outcomes of this collaborative effort. Further information about the workshop outcomes is available at the following link: https://www.sigm-alliance.de/workshopvchhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Bilaterale_Zusammenarbeit_Deutschland-Mexiko.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMTThe sister projects ENFASYS & VISIONARY are nearing completion. ZALF coordinates the work package 3 – “Experiments in the context of agri-environmental policy” in the VISIONARY project – “Food Provision through sustainable farming systems and value chains”. On June 16, 2026, the projects will celebrate their farewell in Brussels. The celebration will mainly take place on site, but there will also be the option of participating in the plenary sessions in a hybrid format. The projects aim to investigate how combining system-level approaches with behavioural research, alongside social, policy, and economic instruments, can accelerate the transition toward more sustainable food and farming systems in Europe.  On June 16, 2026, the projects will conclude by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from politics, interest groups from the agricultural and food sector, and researchers to present their findings. This will take place in a mix of plenary sessions, panel discussions, smaller interactive breakout sessions, and special project stands. Questions such as the following will be addressed: What is preventing us from transitioning to more sustainable food systems? How can these obstacles be overcome? Join us and experience how new social, political, and economic instruments could bring sustainability to agriculture and food systems in Europe. Date: June 16, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Location: Vlaamse Overheid – Herman Teirlinck Building, Brussels and online Target audience: Stakeholders from politics, agriculture, the food industry, and research Registration for the event will open in April 2026. Further details will be announced on the VISIONARY website: https://visionary-project.eu/events/from-research-to-action-visionary-enfasys-final-conference/https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/VISIONARY-Projekt.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT​Teams from CDP and IMA have recently published a study in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture introducing the Long-term field experiments (LTE)-Map, an interactive open-access metadata platform supporting data reuse and collaboration in the European and global contexts (Dönmez et al., 2026).​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Neues-Papier-veroffentlicht-Long-Term-Field-Experiments-Overview-Map.aspxProf. Dr. Cenk DönmezNoticeSoilThu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMTMore than 100 participants gathered at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt am Main on March 5–6, 2026, for the 2nd FAIRagro Community Summit. The focus was on showcasing the growing number of FAIRagro services designed to simplify the work of agricultural scientists in managing research data.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Zweites-FAIRagro-Community-Summit.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMTGeodata as well as a site description of the Teaching and Research Station (LFS) in Thyrow are now publicly available (https://doi.org/10.20387/BONARES-VCTH-3A25) in the BonaRes Repository.https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/CDP/Standortbeschreibung-Thyrow-publiziert.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMTThe Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is focusing on the topic “Woman Farmer 2026 to accelerate gender equality and women's empowerment in agrifood systems” in 2026 (1). In line with this, we are launching a series on research into women and gender relations in agriculture on International Women's Day. The FAO draws attention to the multifaceted role of women in agriculture and points out that they continue to face patriarchal structures in the agricultural sector. At the same time, it is impossible to do without them: according to the FAO report “The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems,” women account for a large proportion of the global agricultural workforce, at 36%. In comparison, 38% of working men are employed in the agricultural and food system. In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of women in agriculture is higher: 66% of women work in this sector, compared to 60% of men (2). But if women are so central to agricultural production, what recognition do they receive and under what conditions do they work? https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Start-Serie-FAO-Women-Farmer-2026.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima357fe0f4-4f0e-41bf-b599-fb00e64e7b92Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMTNew research shows that the temperature at which extreme heat begins to cause evident yield loss in maize and soybean is not a simple universal number. Using decades of subnational yield records across major breadbaskets, the study derives data-driven critical heat thresholds that vary strongly by region—helping explain why “one-size-fits-all” heat metrics can misjudge both historical and future crop risk.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Neue-Schwellenwerte-entdeckt-Extreme-Hitze-beeintraechtigt-Mais-und-Sojabohnen-.aspxChenzhi Wang; Katrin C. MeierNoticeClimate ChangeWed, 04 Mar 2026 17:00:00 GMTZALF supports “Peat4People” with low-cost measurement technology and technical expertisehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Asadhu.aspxDr. Mathias HoffmannNoticeFood SecurityWed, 04 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMTThe first “German Higher Education and Science Forum Central Asia” took place from 23-25 February 2026 at the headquarters of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in Halle (Saale). The Forum offered a platform for exchange on current developments, challenges and perspectives in scientific cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. Prof. Hamidov (IMA) attended the event and gave an “Impulsevortrag (Inspiration Speech)” entitled “Long-standing cooperation in agricultural research and promoting early-career researchers: Experiences from cooperation between Germany and Central Asia”. In his speech, he emphasized ZALF’s extensive experience in agricultural research in Central Asia, which began in 2012.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/IMA-Vertreter-beim-Deutschen-Hochschul--und-Wissenschaftsforum-Zentralasien.aspxAhmad HamidovNoticeWaterWed, 04 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V. has been a member of LeibnizData since January 2026. Through this membership, the institute strengthens its activities in research data management and in the development of sustainable data infrastructures.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Leibniz-Forschungsnetzwerk-LeibnizData.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMTJust in time for the start of the International Year of Pastoral Landscapes and Livestock Farmers 2026, ZALF has completed a survey of 80 sheep, goat, and suckler cow farmers in Brandenburg as part of the European “CoCo” project. The survey focused primarily on the characterisation of the respective pastoralist system and how the farmers perceive and deal with large carnivores, in Brandenburg particularly the wolf.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/CoCo-Projekt-startet-in-das-Internationale-Jahr-2026-.aspxAlma ThiesmeierNoticeWaterThu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:00 GMTFrom 21-23 January 2026, the IMA members participated in an international Water Research Workshop, hosted by the System Dynamics Group at the University of Bergen (UiB)’s Department of Geography. The main aim of the workshop was to explore collaborative approaches to pressing water challenges in semi-arid regions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Zusammenarbeit-mit-der-Universitaet-Bergen.aspxAhmad HamidovNoticeWaterThu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMTOn February 24–25, ZALF officially launched the Science Innovation Germany–Mexico Alliance project (SIGM-Alliance) at the GEMEX-NAT Symposium and Workshop – Germany–Mexico Natural Product Alliance, held at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The GEMEX-NAT Symposium concluded with outstanding scientific discussions, strong participation, and a clear commitment from all partners to strengthen collaboration between Germany and Mexico further. The symposium and workshop reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in advancing natural products research and in developing innovative approaches to address infectious diseases. It was truly inspiring to see researchers, students, and institutional representatives come together with such dedication and enthusiasm. The workshop sessions focused on defining concrete research priorities, identifying funding opportunities, and building sustainable joint initiatives within GEMEX-NAT and the broader SIGM Alliance project. We are deeply grateful to all speakers, organizers, and participants. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the GEMEX-NAT team: Nicolas Castillo, Dr. Connor Smieja, and Alexander Kinner; our partners at the Faculty of Chemistry at UNAM, Dr. Mario Figueroa and Dr. Rebekka Wamser; as well as the valuable support of UNAM Germany through Dr. Yolanda Chirino and Lucero Oropeza. This event was organized by the coordination SIGM-Alliance project, Assoc. Prof. Michelle Bonatti, and Prof. Dr. Robert Carcamo Mallen. We look forward to a productive second day. You can learn more about the outcomes at the following link: https://www.sigm-alliance.de/gemex-nat-eventshttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/SIGM-Alliance.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 26 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMTOn February 11, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) had the privilege of hosting a guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Pablo Tittonell, one of the world's leading voices in agroecology. In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Tittonell explored the critical intersection of agroecology and transdisciplinarity — making a compelling case for why integrating diverse knowledge systems is not just beneficial, but essential for the systemic transformation of our food systems. Drawing on decades of field-based research across the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, he offered rich insights into the outscaling of agroecological approaches. His central argument: for agroecology to move beyond niche applications and achieve true landscape-scale impact, research must transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries — merging ecological rigor with socio-economic strategies that center local producers and their realities. The lecture drew a full-capacity audience of ZALF scientists and external experts, sparking lively discussion and new ideas for collaboration. This event was organized by Working Group "Development-oriented international agriculture research" (DIA).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Guest_lecture_Tittonell.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Feb 2026 14:00:00 GMTThe Call for Abstracts for the XXVI International Grassland Congress (IGC) 2027 is now open. Researchers are invited to submit their scientific contributions for oral and poster presentations. Two submission deadlines are available: abstracts submitted under the first call must be received by October 2026, while a second submission opportunity will be open until February 2027. Further information on thematic areas and submission guidelines is available at www.igc2027.org. From 13 to 18 June 2027, the IGC will be held in Leipzig, Germany, under the motto “100 Years of Grassland Research – Pathways to the Future.” The congress is hosted by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), and the Thünen Institute (TI). The congress provides an international forum for the exchange of the latest research on natural and managed grasslands, forage crops, and sustainable agricultural production, fostering dialogue between science, practice, advisory services, and industry. In 2027, the IGC will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Leipzig.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Call_for_Abstracts_IGC2027_gestartet.aspxFinn-Elias DriesenerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMTThe first Annual General Meeting of the EU Horizon project BUTTERFLY took place from 28 to 30 January 2026 in Aarhus, Denmark. The BUTTERFLY project aims to strengthen pollinator stewardship in response to the ecological, societal, and economic impacts of pollinator decline.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Erste-Jahreshauptversammlung-des-Projekts-BUTTERFLY.aspxDr. Seyed Ali Hosseini YekaniNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMTResearchers from the PB3 CSA group at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) participated in the 3rd International Crop Modelling Symposium (iCROPM2026) conference, themed “Crop Modelling for Agriculture and Food Security under Global Change.” The conference was held in Florence, Italy, from 2 to 4 February 2026.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-PB3-CSA-auf-der-iCROPM2026.aspxProf. Dr. Heidi ​​Webber​​​NoticeFood SecurityThu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMTToday, the Horizon Europe project BENCHMARKS conducted a policy dialogue at the European Committee of the Regions to discuss soil related EU policies with representatives of the European Directorates-General (DG ENV, DG AGRI, DG CLIMA), coordinators of national soil monitoring networks, public authorities, farmers, value chain representatives and NGOs. Dr. Carsten Paul, Dr. Camille Imbert, and Sambit Shome from the working group “Impact Assessment of Land Use Changes” at the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) were involved in organizing and conducting the full-day workshop. About 50 persons participated on-sited while another 150 persons joined on-line.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/EU-Politikdialog-zum-Thema-Boden-.aspxCarsten PaulNoticeSoilFri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMTDer Titel ihrer Dissertation lautet „Kollektives Handeln und institutioneller Wandel in aquatischen Lebensmittelsystemen: Erkenntnisse aus Bolivien und Kambodscha”. Das Projekt wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit der Arbeitsgruppe „Entwicklungsorientierte internationale Landwirtschaft” und in Zusammenarbeit mit dem WorldFish Centre in Kambodscha, dem IWMI in Sri Lanka und der Comunidad de Estudios JAINA in Bolivien durchgeführt und von der ATSAF Academy finanziert. Die Betreuung durch die Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin und das ZALF erfolgte durch Associate Professor Dr. rer. Michelle Bonatti und Prof. Dr. rer. agr. habil. Stefan Sieber. Seitens der CGIAR erfolgte die Betreuung durch den leitenden regionalen Forscher Sanjiv De Silva und Dr. Mark Dubois vom IWMI. Die Verteidigung der Dissertation fand am 7. Juli 2025 statt. Den Vorsitz der Prüfungskommission hatte Prof. Dr. Ulrichs inne, als Gutachter fungierten Prof. Dr. Robischon, Prof. Dr. Sieber und Prof. Dr. Bultmann. Weitere Mitglieder der Kommission waren Dr. Stöber, Assoc. Prof. Dr. rer. agr. Bonatti, Dr. Eufemia und Dr. Coral.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PhD_successfully_completed.aspxCarla Rene Baldivieso SorucoNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMTGrasslands as a methane sink? No short-term recovery from intensive land use https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Gruenland_Methansenke.aspxNils VollesNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMTAs part of her doctoral research at ZALF, Mahlet Degefu Awoke successfully defended her PhD dissertation, “Evaluating climate-smart agriculture strategies: adoption, sustainability, and equitable livelihoods in semi-arid Tanzania,” at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on 17 December 2025. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, the research examines the adoption and impacts of climate-smart agriculture among smallholder farmers, with a focus on sustainability, gender, and food security. The findings show that CSA adoption is a dynamic process shaped by resource availability, social norms, and institutional conditions, and that integrated CSA approaches provide pathways toward more resilient agriculture. The research was funded by the ATSAF e.V. Academy and supported by CIFOR-ICRAF Tanzania.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Mahlet.aspxMahlet Degefu AwokeNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMTSub-project of the DFG Research Unit “A Social-Ecological Systems Approach to Inform Ecosystem Restoration in Rural Africa”, kicked-off the Living Lab in Rutsiro District, western Rwanda on February 25th, 2025. The workshops aimed to establish a roundtable and define two governance models for the Living Lab. The workshop participants have been selected after a stakeholder network analysis, which was conducted in 2024, to identify restoration players in the region. 42 participants from academia, various governmental and non-governmental institutions and local communities, including farmers, carpenters, traditional healers, beekeepers, discussed opportunities and challenges for the current, mid-term and long-term restoration in Rutsiro. The stakeholder workshop took place in the Gihango District where the Living Lab experiments are to be conducted on farmland in Teba and Shyembe administrative cells and was followed by field visits to the Living Lab sites. Individual visits were also arranged to see how some smallholder farmers have integrated food plants such as Chayote, Passion fruit, Avocado, Pineapple and Cucumber into agroforestry systems. The ongoing process covers the co-design of field trials, definition of impact areas, delineation and registration of demonstration sites and the development of social-ecological success indicators.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kick-off_Living_Lab_Rwanda.aspxApollinaire WilliamNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMTShibire Bekele Eshetu has successfully completed her PhD on 17 December 2025 at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. She was hosted at Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), working group Development-oriented International Agricultural Research (DIA), formerly Sustainable Land use In Developing Countries (SusLAND). Her PhD title is “Modelling land use transformation in Ethiopia: Developing a multi-stakeholder decision-support framework at the landscape level”. Her research aimed to better understand land-use dynamics and decision-making processes by integrating economic, environmental, and social dimensions, with the goal of supporting more inclusive, evidence-based, and sustainable landscape-level planning in Ethiopia. The research is conducted in the frame of an accompanying research project to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Forests4Future project, funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Four scientific articles are integral parts of the PhD topic whereby three of them are published in peer-reviewed journals.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Verteidigung_Shibire.aspxShibire EshetuNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMTProf. Stefan Sieber was elected to the board of directors ATSAF e.V. - Council for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research. ATSAF is a scientific society for internationally oriented agricultural and ecosystem research in Germany. This association brings together scientists and development experts from the fields of agricultural sciences, ecology, veterinary medicine, nutrition, forestry, fisheries and other basic disciplines with a focus on development-oriented research for countries in the tropics, subtropics and transition regions. ATSAF informs, promotes multidisciplinary research, networks members with cooperation partners, increases public awareness, intensifies communication, takes a stand and creates identity for all those interested in these issues, especially students and young scientists. Beyond, the organisation actively supports the yearly conference Tropentag (www.tropentag.de), supports students interested in science journalism, awards congress travel grants, initiates expert discussions, and forms competence teams. At the same time Prof. Eike Ludeling from the Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn was elected as director and as well Prof. Sandra Schmöckel from the University Hohenheim was appointed to the board of ATSAF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Sieber_ATSAF.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMTAs part of his PhD research at ZALF, Hamza Moluh Njoya successfully defended his dissertation titled "Advancing Forest Landscape Restoration Efforts at the Local Level: Unpacking the Contributions of Smallholder Farmers and Institutions in Central Togo" on November 7, 2025, at Humboldt University of Berlin. His work combined household surveys and focus group discussions to explore landscape restoration practices, socioeconomic drivers, and institutional dynamics. The findings highlight the need for locally adapted inclusive strategies that integrate ecological objectives with livelihood needs. The research was conducted within the TREES project — accompanying research to forest landscape restoration and good governance in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Togo, Benin, and Cameroon — under the Forests4Future (F4F) program of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Hamza_Promotion.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMTA publication from the FOODCITYBOOST research project supports local authorities and leaders in urban agriculture with recommendations and best practice examples for urban agriculture policy and governance. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research lead the development of this catalog of measures.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/FOODCITYBOOST-Ma%C3%9Fnahmenkatalog.aspxAnton ParisiNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMTThe FraxForFuture 2 (FraxRecovery) project got off to a successful start with a two-day kick-off meeting at the Northwest German Forest Research Institute (NW-FVA)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/FraxForFuture2.aspxProf. S. KolbNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 13 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMTZALF actively contributes to advancing the societal impact of research through projects such as LeNa Shape and FONA Impact, internal initiatives like ZALF Impact Pathways, and recent engagement in initiatives such as the GTPF and CoARA working groups on societal impact. The latter activities in the GTPF and CoARA have resulted in two working papers addressing how societal impact can be integrated across different levels of the research system. Within GTPF, the guideline developed by the product group “Impact-Oriented Research Management”—co-coordinated by ZALF researchers Lena Pfeifer and Emilia Nagy—provides accessible support for impact-oriented research management of projects and organizations. In parallel, the CoARA White Paper offers an in-depth analysis and overview of available methods for impact orientation, including ZALF’s expertise and methodologies. Further Information Materials developed at or in collaboration with ZALF on research impact are available via Handbooks & Study Material – ZALF: https://www.zalf.de/en/forschung_lehre/publikationen/Pages/weitere_publikationen.aspx CoARA Working Group “Towards Transformation– Societal Impacts”: WG Towards Transformations: Transdisciplinarity, Applied/Practice-Based Research, and Impacts – CoARA (https://www.coara.org/working-groups/wg-towards-transformations-transdisciplinarity-applied-practice-based-research-and-impacts/ ) GTPF Working Group „Impact“ (German): AG Wirkung | GTPF (https://www.gtpf.science/arbeitsgruppen/ag-wirkung.html ) Contact: Lena Pfeifer (PB3, IMA – contribution to CoARA White paper and GTPF- Guideline); Emilia Nagy (PB2, CCI – contribution to GTPF- Guideline)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Integrating_societal_impact.aspxKatharina HelmingNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 17 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMTOn December 8th, Josepha Schiller successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled “Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Understanding Cross-Scale Diversification in Agricultural Landscapes” at BTU Cottbus.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Erfolgreiche-Promotionsverteidigung-josepha-schiller.aspxMasahiro RyoNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 15 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMTOn Tuesday, 9 December 2025, we celebrated the successful defence of Jing Yu‘s dissertation in the seminar room of Potsdam’s Botanical Garden. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Erfolgreiche-Promotionsverteidigung-jing-yu.aspxClaas NendelNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 12 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMTAgricultural production is increasingly challenged by intensifying droughts, heat waves, pests and diseases driven by a changing climate. EOAgriTwin, part of ESA’s Digital Twin Earth initiative, is developing a Digital Twin Component for agriculture that brings together satellite Earth Observation, climate reanalysis datasets, IoT-based measurements and field-level observations. Its aim is to improve understanding of how crops respond to multiple stressors and to support more resilient and sustainable food production, including the exploration of “what-if” scenarios to assess potential future conditions and management options.https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CssXAxpIS6-zrJxe8DExzw#/registrationSibylle KrickelNoticeModellingKlimabfb291e2-2942-4e67-b3f7-86eab697fb23Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:00:00 GMTOn Friday, 28 November 2025, the call for sessions will open for the IGC 2027: researchers are invited to submit proposals for conference sessions. Further information about the conference and submission deadlines can be found on the conference website: www.igc2027.org. From 13 to 18 June 2027, the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) and the Thünen Institute (TI) will host the XXVI International Grassland Congress (IGC) in Leipzig. The topic of IGC 2027 will be "100 years of grassland research – ways to the future". The congress will present diverse aspects of natural grasslands and those managed at varying intensities, including the cultivation and use of other forage crops. Sustainable development of on-farm food production will be discussed, as well as the benefits of grassland management for society as a whole, especially for the environment and the preservation of biodiversity. The IGC offers scientists, students and representatives from industry, extension services and farms the opportunity to exchange the latest research findings and experiences on grassland every three to five years at different locations around the world. In 2027, the congress will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Leipzig. Further Information: Conference website: www.igc2027.org https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/igc-2027/Pages/default.aspxhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Call_for_Sessions_IGC_2027.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimafea70c76-f81e-4c97-bf9b-c83477397d75Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMTOn Nov 20th, Karoline Hemminger successfully defended her doctoral thesis on integrating species conservation and agriculture using cranes as a case study. Supported by the LandSTRAT project led by Hannes König, the work was praised by the examination committee for its clarity and integrative approach. In four articles, K.H. analyzed the impact of agricultural land use on cranes worldwide, the importance of traditional rice fields in the Republic of Korea, and farmers’ attitudes toward wildlife damage in Sweden and Germany. The findings highlight the need to extend conservation and wildlife management beyond protected areas into surrounding agricultural landscapes. Hemminger, K. et al. (2022): Winners and losers of land use change: A systematic review of interactions between the world's crane species (Gruidae) and the agricultural sector. In: Ecology and evolution 12 (3), e8719. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8719. Hemminger, K. et al. (2023): Strong call to safeguard traditional agriculture as habitat for threatened crane species. In: Conservat Sci and Prac 5 (6), Artikel e12925. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12925. Hemminger, K. et al. (2025): Farmers' tolerance for crop damage caused by wildlife: the role of compensation. In: Wildlife Biology 13, Artikel e01243, S. 129. DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01243. Jin, H. S.; Hemminger, K et al. (2021): Revealing stakeholders' motivation and influence in crane conservation in the Republic of Korea: Net-Map as a tool. In: Conservat Sci and Prac 3 (3). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.384.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Hemminger.aspxKaroline HemmingerNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMTWhat is the value of nature? For many people, nature means forests, meadows, biodiversity – but how is it represented in policy? A new study published in People and Nature analyzed how different values of nature are reflected in the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The study, conducted by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), found that economic perspectives dominate, while other views such as nature as a habitat or cultural identity are underrepresented. This could undermine the effectiveness of agricultural policy. The researchers analyzed key policy documents from both the EU and Germany and examined which types of nature values are represented. These include instrumental values (nature as a resource), intrinsic values (nature as valuable in itself) and relational values (nature as part of cultural identity or human–nature relationships). The study categorized these into four narrative pathways: Green Economy, Nature Protection, Earth Stewardship and Degrowth. The EU documents showed a clear preference for the Green Economy approach, which links environmental goals with economic growth. German policy documents, however, reflected stronger elements of Nature Protection and Earth Stewardship. “Our study shows that the EU focuses primarily on economic arguments, while additional, equally important human–nature connections are often overlooked,” says Iven Froese, lead author of the study from ZALF. “This is problematic, because many farmers feel a close bond with nature and see themselves as stewards of the land, helping to preserve the natural basis for their work, such as biodiversity or soil health. Policy should reflect that.” While all four narrative pathways were present in the policy documents, the EU’s approach clearly prioritizes economic values. In contrast, German strategy papers more often reflect ethical and relationship-based perspectives. The study concludes that policies will be more legitimate and effective if they recognize the diversity of nature values. Regional policymaking – like in Germany – can offer opportunities to emphasize these alternative values. Such a shift may lead to more equitable and effective environmental action. Funding: This study was funded by the biodiversa+ project ‘BridgingVALUES’, which is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, Grant #03LW0330. Further information: DOI link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70186 Text disclaimer: This is a summary created with the help of artificial intelligence based on the original publication: Froese, I. & Loft, L. (2025). Unravelling nature’s values in EU agricultural policy: A critical discourse analysis. People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70186 Published Open Access under the license CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text was carefully reviewed and edited according to ZALF’s AI guideline.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Studie_Agrarpolitik.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeTue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMTHow can an entire region be made sustainable when the energy transition is bringing about so many changes – such as new wind turbines and hydrogen technologies? This is the question being addressed by the new junior research group “KoReGio100,” which has now begun its work in the so-called “Clean Energy Valley” in Schleswig-Holstein. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is one of the three project partners. The junior research group is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) for five years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2025_11_21_KoReGio.aspxHendrik Schneider NoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:00 GMT Why do many people in Tanzania still cook with firewood or charcoal, even when electricity or gas is available? A new study published in the journal Energy for Sustainable Development provides answers. Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed significantly to this work. The findings clearly show: higher household income does not automatically lead to a switch to modern cooking fuels. Instead, many households continue to use a mix of traditional and modern fuels – even when cleaner alternatives are accessible. A new study shows that simply making electricity or gas available is not enough. What matters most is whether households can afford these energy sources, whether supply is reliable – and whether the fuels are culturally accepted. Using nationally representative survey data from Tanzania, the researchers found that households often combine multiple fuels rather than replacing traditional ones completely.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Tanzania-Cooking.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousKlima4f252543-306c-4f31-b284-7f430106d435Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMTA new study published in People and Nature by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Landscape Conservation Association Northwest Saxony shows: Whether farmers participate in EU-funded measures for biodiversity conservation strongly depends on their personal contacts. The researchers interviewed 70 farms in Northwest Saxony – about one quarter of all farms in the region. The results indicate that financial incentives alone are not decisive. Instead, peer-to-peer exchange and advice from non-profit organizations play a central role. Farmers who feel supported within their networks and receive guidance from Non-profit organizations are much more likely to engage in biodiversity-friendly practices – shedding light on why existing programs have often had limited impact so far.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Studie-Sachsen-EU-Gelder-Umwelt-Naturschutz.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeBiodiversityKlima1b00f61b-ac1a-4cc4-8656-76e00009f881Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:00 GMTDuring the Berlin Science Week 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michelle Bonatti from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) took part as a speaker in two international events. On 4 November, she participated in the Mexican Science Day “Science Connects: Mexico & Germany – Beyond Now”, organized by the Embassy of Mexico in Germany and the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Together with researchers and policymakers from both countries, she discussed technology, the role of artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and international cooperation in science and research. On 6 November, Bonatti spoke at the conference “Food Systems: Innovation and Resilience in a Changing World” held at the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin. She contributed to the debate on the role of science, the prevention of climate change and biodiversity loss and international collaboration in building sustainable and resilient food systems. Both events demonstrated how research across countries and disciplines – through science diplomacy and interdisciplinary collaboration, can help address global challenges together. Michelle Bonatti is an agronomic engineer and Deputy Head of the Sustainable Land Use Systems (SusLand) group at ZALF. Her research focuses on co-creation of innovations and social learning for sustainable development and land use. She also teaches Environmental Sociology at the Humboldt University of Berlin and is an Associate Professor at the Universidade Vila Velha (Brazil). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Berlin_Science_Week_2025.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima7dac621b-9a7b-485b-9f9f-a184e899781dWed, 19 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMTHow can trees on farmland help make agriculture across Europe more sustainable and resilient to climate change? This question is at the heart of the final conference of the EU project AF4EU (“Agroforestry for Europe”) in Brussels – with active participation of the working group “Farm Economics and Ecosystem Services” from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The EU Parliamentary session was part of the final conference of the EU project AF4EU ‘Think Agroforestry: Enhancing Business Models and Advisory Services’. Dr. Seyed-Ali Hosseini-Yekani, a senior researcher at ZALF and leader of the subgroup “Model-based analysis of global-local interactions to increase ecosystem services”, presented new business models that help agroforestry farms become both economically viable and ecologically beneficial – a key requirement for making agroforestry more widespread in Europe. “Agroforestry offers many ecological advantages – such as erosion control, biodiversity and climate resilience – but it will only succeed in practice if it also makes economic sense,” explains Dr. Hosseini-Yekani. Together with his team and two PhD candidates, he is working on innovative modelling approaches to link farm-level decisions with macroeconomic impacts, using coupled simulation tools like MODAM and CGE. This integrated perspective is currently unique in European agroforestry research. Project partners in AF4EU include: • Universidade de Santiago de Compostela • Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega (FEUGA) • Teagasc (Ireland) • Agricultural University of Athens • EU4Advice • COREnet • ZALF – Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research Funding information: The project is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe. More information: • Program of the final conference of the EU project AF4EU (https://af4eu.eu/archivos/3237) • AF4EU Parliamentary Session: ‘Integrating Agroforestry Innovations into EU Policy’ • Watch the video on the MODAM-CGE economic model developed in SUS-SOIL • https://af4eu.eu/archivos/3776 • https://af4eu.eu/archivos/3758https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Think_Agroforestry.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeAgricultural LandscapeKlima9c181d86-9adc-4ccb-8667-70844df0990bMon, 17 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMTFraxRecovery: Research on the Common Ash Continueshttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/FraxRecovery.aspxProf. S. KolbNoticeBiodiversityMon, 17 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is participating with two contributions in a side event at COP30 – one of the most important global conferences on climate and sustainability policy, which will take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém (Brazil). The conference sessions will be broadcasted online in a livestream. As part of a side event at COP30, international researchers will gather at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) from November 13 to 14, 2025, for a scientific conference entitled “Sustainability transformations and social-ecological dynamics of Amazonia and of other regions.” The focus will be on the topic of “systemic sustainability”: How can food, agriculture, climate adaptation, and biodiversity protection be considered holistically? The event is being co-organized and designed by the Leibniz Lab “Systemic Sustainability” (LL-SYSTAIN), several institutions of the Leibniz Association, and international partners. ZALF contributes expertise to conference on systemic sustainability On November 13, 2025, ZALF scientist Sundus Saleemi will give a presentation on how Brandenburg's experiences in climate and biodiversity protection can be linked to findings from the Amazon region. The aim is to promote cross-border exchange on challenges at the interface of agriculture, climate, and food. Livestream of this session: 13 November 2025, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Brasília-Time (GMT-3) / 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Central European Time (CET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knX9jA7IEQs The second session with ZALF participation will follow on November 14, moderated by Sundus Saleemi from ZALF and Bruna Almeida from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The discussion will focus on how local initiatives from the Global South are incorporated into global transformation processes. ZALF scientist Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti will present research on agroecological approaches and climate adaptation initiatives in the Global South. She will show how regional solutions can be scaled up to the global level. Livestream of this session: 14 November 2025, 8:30 -10:30 a.m., Brasília-Time (GMT-3) / 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxR8BFviw2I Art, indigenous knowledge, and science – new paths for global climate protection Prior to this, an official Blue Zone event involving various institutions of the Leibniz Association will take place on November 11, 2025, in the COP30 conference zone. Under the title “Integrating art, indigenous knowledge, and science for climate protection,” international experts will discuss how creative approaches, traditional knowledge, and scientific findings can work together to promote climate protection, health, biodiversity, and social participation. The COP30 Blue Zone is a closed area for official negotiations and the representation of participating nations. More information: https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/about-us/whats-new/news/forschungsnachrichten-single/newsdetails/leibniz-institute-bei-der-cop30-in-belem Konferenzprogramm of the side-event „Sustainability transformations and social-ecological dynamics of Amazonia and of other regions“: https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Bilder_und_Downloads/Neues/Veranstaltungen/COP30.pdf Conference website: https://cop30.naea.website/evento/leveraging-sustainability-transformations-of-regional-amazonian-social-ecological-dynamics-within-planetary-boundaries-with-special-emphasis-to-blue-carbon-ecosystems/https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/COP30.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimab20658f7-65c0-4427-bcaf-3c9b4de7c104Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMTClimate change affects everyone – but not equally. A new international study with participation from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows that in rural regions of the Indian Himalayas, climate adaptation strategies of smallholder households vary significantly depending on income, education, caste and gender. The researchers conclude that political and development programs aimed at climate adaptation are more effective when these factors are taken into account. The results have been published in the journal Discover Sustainability. The study examined 298 farming households in Almora district, Uttarakhand. Using statistical methods, the team analyzed how social characteristics influence the choice of adaptation strategies in response to droughts, heavy rainfall or crop failures. The main insight: adaptation is not just a technical or individual decision – it is strongly shaped by social context. Ecological Knowledge and Tech Access: How Economic Power Structures Resource Use Low-income households, especially those headed by women, are more likely to rely on ecosystem-based and community-driven strategies: they organize collectively, harvest water using traditional methods, or grow locally adapted crops such as millet or buckwheat. These strategies are often affordable, locally accessible and based on generational knowledge. In contrast, wealthier households – both male- and female-headed – are more likely to use technological and institutional solutions, such as irrigation pumps, weather apps or government support programs. The study also notes that male-headed households are more common in higher income groups, whereas female-headed households are disproportionately found in lower social strata. “People living in disadvantaged conditions like limited land, education or income – especially women – simply can’t afford technologies or insurance,” says Assoc. Prof. Michelle Bonatti from ZALF. “The climate crisis hits them harder, so they need different forms of support. But, they also conserve important local knowledge about adaptation that must be recognized and considered while planning support measures.” Why This Matters for Society Many climate adaptation policies are designed in a gender-neutral way. But if they fail to address unequal starting points, they often miss their target. This study highlights the need for an intersectional approach – one that simultaneously considers gender, caste, income and education. The findings offer important insights for the development of socially just adaptation strategies – not just in India, but also in other regions where smallholder farming and social inequality are closely linked. Policymakers could learn how to make adaptation more effective and fair – especially for communities that have so far been underrepresented. Project partners: • Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India • G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, India • Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany Funding Open access funding provided by Projekt DEAL. This research has not received any funding. Note on the text: This is a summary of the original publication generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence: Choudhary, A., Bonatti, M., Sieber, S., Pandey, D. T., & Joshi, P. K. (2025). Intersectional perspectives on gendered adaptation and social hierarchies in agricultural communities of the Indian Himalaya. Discover Sustainability, 6:676. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01451-y. The text has been carefully reviewed and edited in accordance with the AI guidelines of ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Ungleichheiten_in_der_indischen_Landwirtschaft.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeClimate ChangeKlimabf57181d-480a-4ec8-a874-764b285e20abTue, 11 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMTOn 7th October 2025, a full-day data workshop titled “How to properly manage socio economic agricultural data” took place at ZALF, organized by the Research Data Management team.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Datenworkshop-am-ZALF.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:00 GMTWe are pleased to announce that PhD researcher Sergio Bolívar-Santamaría from the SusLAND group of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has been awarded the "Best Poster" prize at the international Living Data Conference: Unified information driving transformation. The conference was held in Bogotá, Colombia, from October 21-24, 2025. His winning poster, titled “The role of protected areas in conserving lowland grassland and savannah ecosystems in Latin America,” was selected for its scientific excellence, outstanding visual communication, and its significant relevance to the fields of open data and collaborative science. Sergio Bolívar-Santamaría research underscores the need for data-driven science to directly support conservation efforts for the vital grassland and savannah ecosystems of Latin America. This research is a key component of the SULU project “Safeguarding overlooked ecosystems: protect, manage and restore grasslands and savannahs in Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay”, funded by the Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative (IKI), where ZALF leads the scientific component (Output 5). The project is a collaborative consortium with WWF Argentina, WWF Colombia, Vida Silvestre Argentina, and WWF Germany. About the Living Data Conference The Living Data Conference 2025 (hosted by Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute in Bogotá) brings together the global biodiversity information community to advance the development of standards and tools for sharing and using biodiversity data to address critical environmental challenges. Poster DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14028.48009 Project details: https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/project/safeguarding-overlooked-ecosystems-protect-manage-and-restore-grasslands-and-savannahs-in-argentina-colombia-and-paraguay-23-iv-113-latin-america-a-grasslands-and-savannahs/ https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Poster-Preis_Sergio.aspxCarla-Rene Baldivieso SorucoNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMTCrop models are key means for anticipating the effects of climate change on food production. They calculate how yields will develop in the future, assuming certain factors such as the climate. But they may be significantly underestimating how much drought can affect wheat yields. A new international study led by researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) now shows that wheat models frequently underestimate evapotranspiration – the combined water loss from soil and plants – in semi-arid and Mediterranean regions. The authors call for improvements in future crop models to better capture wheat water use. The study was published in the journal Field Crops Research in October 2025. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Weizenmodelle-unterschaetzen-Ertragsverluste.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeModellingKlima2f8416cb-293a-48a7-88ac-67a01834425fTue, 28 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMTHistorical wheat cultivar brings more carbon into soilshttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Historische-Weizensorte-bringt-mehr-Kohlenstoff-in-die-B%C3%B6den.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeSoilMon, 27 Oct 2025 14:00:00 GMTErosion changes the nitrogen cycle - New study shows consequences for agriculture and climatehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Erosion-ver%C3%A4ndert-den-Stickstoffkreislauf-.aspxJulia SchoofNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 27 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTAs part of the EU project FarmBioNet, a farm visit and workshop took place on 8 October. ZALF is part of the project consortium and organised the event together with FiBL and Biohof Betula. The lively exchange between practitioners, scientists and advisors offered many new suggestions and strengthened FarmBioNet's joint approach to visibly and effectively promote biodiversity on farms. What insights could be gained? Different breeds of sheep, cows and horses are used by the Biohof Betula and the Döbritzer Heide-Galloways farm in the varied landscapes with heath, dry grassland, rewetted moor grass and wet meadows for the maintenance of the biotopes. The farming practices are hence adapted to the specific biotopes. Many funding instruments such as agri-environment-climate measures and contractual nature conservation are used for financing in cooperation with numerous organizations. Various biodiversity measures were discussed in a lively manner. In the case of various measures, such as the planting of hedges and trees along the contour lines to reduce erosion and water runoff (keyline design), the most important factors for implementation are the specific farm, the ownership structure and the conditions of the fields. Curious? You can register for the Germany-wide network here and find out about other events via the newsletter: https://survey.fibl.org/index.php/226264 https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Biohof_Betula.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeBiodiversityFri, 24 Oct 2025 08:00:00 GMTA new study conducted in collaboration with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows When farmers combine alfalfa with ribwort plantain, the forage yield can be doubled compared to conventional mixtures. At the same time, less nitrate enters the groundwater. The results were published in the international Agronomy Journal. The researchers investigated how different plant mixtures affect yields and nitrogen distribution in the soil under dry conditions in organic farming. Mixtures of alfalfa and ribwort plantain were particularly successful. This combination not only led to a significant increase in yields, but also measurably reduced the amount of nitrate in the soil at depths from which nitrate can easily leach into the groundwater. What are nitrate losses - and why are they a problem? Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that plants need to grow. However, when plants are rotated in the fall - such as alfalfa - the succeeding crop cannot absorb enough nitrogen from the soil to prevent nitrate leaching. Rainfall can wash this nitrate out of the soil into deeper layers, where it is no longer available to the plants. These so-called nitrate losses are not only an economic disadvantage for agriculture, but also an environmental problem: if too much nitrate gets into the groundwater, this can endanger the quality of drinking water. It is therefore particularly important to avoid such losses in ecologically sensitive areas, such as water protection areas. Twice as much feed - significantly less nitrate in the soil The field trials took place in the organically managed Canitz water protection area near Leipzig. Alfalfa in a mixture with ribwort plantain provided twice as much forage mass compared to traditional alfalfa-grass mixtures, such as with meadow fescue. "Especially in the fall, when the plants absorb less nitrogen, the risk of nitrate leaching increases. Our results show that ribwort plantain not only increases the amount of feed, but also actively contributes to the protection of groundwater," says Tsvetelina Krachunova, head of the study and scientist at ZALF. Ribwort plantain contains natural substances that slow down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate in the soil. This means that more nitrogen is retained in a form that plants can use, but which is not so easily washed out. This is particularly important in times when there is a lot of rain and little plant growth. New knowledge for climate-adapted agriculture The researchers recommend sowing ribwort plantain selectively and in appropriate quantities to avoid overgrowth of alfalfa. A sowing rate of around one hundred germinable seeds per square meter proved to be optimal. The results are particularly relevant for regions with water shortages or for use in water protection areas. The study provides new insights for the further development of ecological cultivation systems under the conditions of climate change. With the combination of higher yield and lower environmental impact potential, it offers a practical approach for farmers. Project partners:  Dresden University of Applied Sciences, Chair of Organic Farming  Wassergut Canitz GmbH  Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research ZALF Funding reference: Funded by the European Innovation Program for Agriculture and Rural Development in the period 2014 to 2020 for operational groups under Article 56 of Regulation 1305 of 2013 Funding reference: 332018001101LWC Further information: To the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70098 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Krachunova, Tsvetelina; Bellingrath-Kimura, Sonoko; Schmidtke, Knut (2025): Annual ribwort plantain and alfalfa mixtures enhance forage accumulation and reduce nitrate. In: Agronomy Journal. Volume 117, Issue 3, Article number e70098; published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70098. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised under the aspects of AI regulations at ZALF. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Spitzwegerich_und_Luzerne.aspxTsvetelina Krachunova Press ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeTue, 21 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMTOn 30 September and 1 October 2025, the third FAIRagro annual plenary took place at the Julius Kühn Institute in Berlin-Dahlem, with more than 80 representatives of the participating institutions in attendance.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/FAIRagro-Jahrestreffen-2025.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMTOn October 9, 2025, the first of three workshops within the RegBio2B project took place to develop future scenarios for the four participating food companies: Märkisch Landbrot, Biogärtnerei Watzkendorf, Wukantina, and Brandenburger Bio-Ei. Representatives of the companies’ executive board were encouraged to brainstorm about their own company’s vision for 2040 with the support of the research partners Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau Berlin Brandenburg e.V., the Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects, the FU Berlin, and the ZALF. These visions will serve as a base for the upcoming workshops in which the roadmap, how to reach these visions will be crafted. The workshop concluded with fresh bread from Märkisch Landbrot and a tour of their production facilities.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/RegBio2B-Workshop-mit-vier-lokalen-Lebensmittelbetrieben-.aspxBenedikt HoppeNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 17 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMTRethinking agriculture together: researchers propose new structure for faster changehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Agroflux.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeAgricultural LandscapeKlimaTue, 14 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTOn October 10, 2025, Professor Birgit Kopainsky, director of the System Dynamics Group at the University of Bergen, Norway, delivered an insightful guest lecture at ZALF on using System Dynamics to study food system challenges in an ever-changing world.​​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Gastvortrag-von-Prof-Dr-Birgit-Kopainsky.aspxLukas BayerNoticeFood SecurityTue, 14 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTDuring a field visit to the HumusKlimaNetz demonstration farm ‘Agrargenossenschaft Groß Machnow eG’, representatives from politics, associations and research get informed about the newly developed carbon farming plough. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/CF_Pflug_Machnow.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeSoilFri, 10 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMTVisitors explored innovative measurement technologies at ECOhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Besuchergruppen-informierten-sich-%C3%BCber-innovative-Messtechnik-bei-ECO.aspxMathias HoffmannNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 07 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMTAnnual conference of soil specialists from the federal states (VDLUFA working group) https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Jahrestagung-der-Bodenspezialisten-der-Bundesl%C3%A4nder.aspxDr. Michael MaerkerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 07 Oct 2025 08:00:00 GMTThe 4th September took place the Field day Lietzen 2025, day of exchanges with stakeholders working on agriculture i.e. farmers, scientists, representatives of companies etc. Katharina Helming moderated a talk between Frank Ewert and Felix Gerlach (Komturei Lietzen) about soil challenges in Brandenburg. The IMA team presented the European projects SOLO and BENCHMARKS, the latter including soil sampling on Lietzen experimental site.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/IMA-Team-beim-Feldtag-Lietzen-2025.aspxCamille Imbert; Katrin C. MeierNoticeSoilThu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMTAt the ESA Living Planet Symposium 2025, the world’s largest Earth Observation (EO) conference, the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) presented a wide array of contributions. Held in Vienna from 23 to 27 June 2025 and attended by around 7,000 participants, the event provided an important platform for ZALF researchers to share recent advances from their research on Earth observation-based monitoring, modelling, and decision support for agriculture and land management.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/ESA-Living-Planet-Symposium-2025.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeModellingKlima6a4d2c33-0aeb-4bb3-a166-befe8cba954aMon, 29 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMTSmart traps in action: New technology automatically detects insect pests in the field. Fruit flies (Bactrocera spp.) in fruit cultivation and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize fields cause considerable crop damage every year. An international research team, including scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), has now developed a system that can automatically detect these insect pests in real time using smart traps. The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports. Smart traps are a new technology equipped with cameras, sensors, a solar power supply and artificial intelligence. The traps combine pheromones as lures with real-time image recognition: once an insect is caught, a photo is taken and transmitted to a server for analysis. A specially trained AI model ('Yolo-pest') identifies the species of insect with 94 percent accuracy. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Intelligente-Fallen.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeModellingMon, 29 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMTAt EUROSOIL 2025 in Seville-Spain, the Long-Term Field Experiments (LTE) Overview Map (LTE-Map) (https://tools.bonares.de/ltfe/)​ was presented by Dr. Cenk Dönmez to the international soil science community. The congress, organized by the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS), welcomed more than 1,000 registered participants from research, policy, and practice (eurosoil2025.eu).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Die-LTE-Karte-wurde-auf-der-EUROSOIL2025-vorgestellt.aspxDr. Cenk DömnezNoticeSoilFri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMTOn 10 September 2025, a workshop on the multimodal integration of remote sensing data and AI methods was held as part of the multidisciplinary KIKompAg (Artificial Intelligence Competence in Agriculture) project to strengthen data competence in agricultural research.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Remote-Sensing-Data-AI-Methods.aspxGohar GhazaryanNoticeModellingKlimaad863272-e0df-444b-995d-9814cf2669d6Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:00:00 GMTResearchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) played a major role at the Tropentag 2025 conference (September 10-12), hosted by the University of Bonn and the Center for Development Research (ZEF). The ZALF's participation in the scientific program was extensive, with 27 accepted contributions and 2 panels. The submissions included a series of oral presentations, workshops and poster displays, and several members of the group also acted as session chairs during the event. The research presented by the team was aligned with the central themes of the conference, focusing on topics such as food security, sustainable land management, and rural development. The scope of the presentations covered a range of interdisciplinary subjects, including analyses of climate change adaptation strategies and the socio-economic dimensions of agricultural value chains. The conference provided a formal setting for the dissemination of recent research findings from the group to an international audience. The event also served as a platform for scientific exchange with researchers from other institutions and allowed for discussion regarding potential future research collaborations.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Tropentag_2025.aspxCarla Rene Baldivieso SorucoNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 15 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMTThe European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) has honored ZALF researchers Christoph Schulze and Bettina Matzdorf with the award for Best Publication. Their winning article, published in the EAAE’s Q Open journal, explores how stakeholder perspectives on agri-environmental contract design can inform more effective policymaking. The study’s findings have important implications for the effectiveness of agri-environmental and climate measures (AECM) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The award was presented at the EAAE Congress in Bonn on August 29, 2025. The research investigates how farmers, administrators, and advisors evaluate the design of AECMs—an important financial instrument of the CAP that supports farmers in adopting climate- and environmentally friendly practices. Based on 25 in-depth interviews conducted in the German state of Brandenburg, the study identified three common viewpoints among stakeholders: planners, cooperators, and individualists. The results highlight that environmental programs are most successful when they consider the diverse needs of these groups, thereby increasing both participation and effectiveness. The publication is part of Christoph Schulze’s dissertation work. At ZALF, he conducts research in the working group “Governance of Ecosystem Services”, which focuses on agricultural and environmental issues - particularly the analysis of nature conservation contracts from farmers’ perspectives and the costs of implementation. This year, the award for the best publication was presented at the EAAE Congress in Bonn, which also marked the association's 50th anniversary. More than 1,000 international experts discussed how agricultural economics can contribute to urgently needed transformations in food systems and achieving global sustainability goals. Further information: Schulze, C., & Matzdorf, B. (2023). "The Institutional Design of Agri-Environmental Contracts: How Stakeholder Attitudes Can Inform Policymaking." Q Open, 3(1), qoad001. https://doi.org/10.1093/qopen/qoad001 Funding: This work was carried out as part of the AgoraNatura project and was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, grant number 01LC1315A) and the European Research Council (ERC) as part of the EU's Horizon 2020 program in the project Contracts2.0 (grant agreement no. 818190).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Auszeichnung-_EAAE.aspxChristoph SchulzeNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 09 Sep 2025 15:00:00 GMTOn August 19, 2025, Mohamed Ramadan Abdelfadil successfully defended his dissertation at Humboldt University in Berlin. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Abdelfadil.aspxProf. Dr. S. KolbNoticeBiodiversityThu, 04 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) combine traditional fieldwork with modern data collection.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Studierende-publizieren-eigene-Gelaendedaten.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 28 Aug 2025 10:00:00 GMTOn August 19, 2025, Tatiana Rodríguez Torres successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin. Her dissertation, titled “Rethinking Agroforestry Scaling: A Complexity-Based Perspective on Actor Networks and Knowledge Systems in Conflict-Affected Colombia,” was evaluated by a doctoral committee comprising Prof. Dr. Marcel Robischon, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Bartosz Bartkowski, Prof. Dr. Stefan Sieber, Assoc. Prof. Dr. habil. Michelle Bonatti, Dr. Heidi Wittmer, and Dr. Claudia Coral, and was chaired by Prof. Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura. The cumulative dissertation brings together four peer-reviewed articles published in interdisciplinary journals. Tatiana’s research applies a complexity-based approach to critically examine and enhance agroforestry scaling in Colombia’s conflict-affected regions. It explores the dynamics of regional actor networks, scientific, technical, and local knowledge systems, and farmers’ mental models shaping agroforestry dissemination and management. The study identifies systemic and cognitive barriers for agroforestry scaling, including structural land inequities, weak social organization, non-reciprocal and centralized actor networks that limit knowledge exchange, dominant rationalist paradigms that disregard situated and relational knowledge, and hierarchical, linear mental models that constrain farmers’ adaptive decision-making. Her findings suggest that efforts for scaling sustainability transformation in agriculture will not succeed if they focus only on the geographical dissemination of sustainable practices through technical adjustments. Scaling sustainable agriculture requires addressing the quality attributes of interventions, such as reciprocity and mutuality among actors and knowledge systems, that enable diverse, dynamic and locally adapted expressions of sustainable agriculture to emerge. Links to published peer-reviewed articles: • "Understanding systemic land use dynamics in conflict-affected territories: the cases of Cesar and Caquetá" in PLoS ONE (2022): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269088 • "Analyzing influencing factors to scale up agroforestry systems in Colombia: A comparative ex-ante assessment of cacao farming and cattle ranching in two regions" in Agroforestry Systems (2022): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-022-00730-1 • "Upscaling agroforestry in the tropics through actor-networks: a comparative case study of cacao farming systems in two regions of Colombia" in Sustainability Science (2023): https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01303-6 • “Rethinking knowledge systems for agroforestry: Insights from the mental models of cacao farmers in Colombia” in Ambio (2025): https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02189-7https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Erfolgreiche_Verteidigung_Rodriguez_HUB.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 26 Aug 2025 08:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) combine traditional fieldwork with modern data collection.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/Studierende-publizieren-eigene-Gelaendedaten.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 25 Aug 2025 13:00:00 GMTOn May 21st, 2025, Benito Schöpke successfully defended his dissertation on the topic of "Ecological boundaries between crop fields & dry grasslands: Small-scale patterns of plant diversity" in the scientific discipline of Plant Ecology at the University of Potsdam. The research was carried out under the main supervision of Prof. Monika Wulf, who led the former ZALF research group “Biotic Interactions between Forest and Agricultural Land (IFA)”. His study examined how plant species composition changes along the transition from intensively farmed fields to species-rich dry grasslands in two German regions. He found that agricultural practices can influence plant diversity deep into neighbouring grasslands, with organic fields generally supporting higher species richness than conventional ones. Moreover, the boundary zones themselves proved to be hotspots of biodiversity, containing unique combinations of species that contribute significantly to the overall diversity of the landscape. Congratulations on this achievement!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Verteidigung_Benito_Schoepke.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 06 Aug 2025 08:00:00 GMTPB2 plenary meeting with field tour - Shaping the future together The PB2 plenary meeting was special in many ways: in addition to the technical exchange and reports from the working groups, we were able to see the ongoing field trials for ourselves on a tour of the site. The focus was on new crops such as chickpeas, lentils and soybeans, which should make an important contribution to adapting to the increasing drought. Special thanks go to all the members of the Resource-Efficient Cropping Systems working group for the clear presentation of the various trial areas and the explanation of technical soil cultivation. A big thank you also to all colleagues from program area 2 who spontaneously took the time to help with the weeding. It was great to see how valuable the exchange was possible across the working groups and how important it is for all PB2 employees to get to know each other personally. Many thanks to everyone involved for your commitment and dedication! Together we will continue to move our projects forward. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2025_07_10_PB2-Vollversammlung.aspxMary WunderNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 22 Jul 2025 08:00:00 GMTThis KiKompAg workshop aims to build comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in applying remote sensing (RS), machine learning (ML), and AI for agricultural monitoring and decision-making.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB4/Multi-Source-Remote-Sensing.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 21 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMTA research team with the involvement of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has investigated how the transition to a so-called bioeconomy — an economic system based on renewable instead of fossil resources — can be made fair and sustainable. Their perspective article was published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. The article was developed as part of the Leibniz Network Working Group "Bioeconomy" of the Section "Earth and Society." The authors examine the ecological, economic, and social challenges and propose ways to better address trade-offs between climate protection, biodiversity, and social justice.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Dubbert.aspxDr. M. DubbertNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 15 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMTThe Ecophysiology of Water and Matter Cycling group (ECO) at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has launched an open-source handbook for low-cost, DIY environmental sensor development. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Open-Source-Handbuch.aspxDr. Mathias HoffmannNoticeUrban AgricultureWed, 09 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V. strengthens international research cooperation with its fellowship program. The aim is to involve excellent scientists in strategic subject areas - including biodiversity, climate change and sustainable food systems.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Internationale-Zusammenarbeit-fuer-nachhaltige-Agrarsysteme-ZALF-Fellowship-mit-Prof--Dr--Vivian-Valencia.aspxMaria L. KerneckerNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 07 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMTThe latest 'Narrative 5' colloquium hosted a vital discussion with Jon Hellin and Maja Clausen, sparking a critical debate on agricultural research in the Global South. Held on Thursday, 26 June 2025 at ZALF, the event brought together experts to explore the complex challenges and future directions of agricultural transformation. Jon Hellin reflected on innovative research structures in agricultural settings, while Maja Clausen emphasised the importance of creating funding mechanisms for sustainable food systems. The colloquium featured a robust exchange of ideas, questioning conventional top-down models and debating the ethical implications of research ownership and the influence of external funding. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of the multifaceted issues in Global South agriculture, as the 'Narrative 5' series continues to foster essential dialogue.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Narrative_5-Kolloquium.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMTHow can our food supply be made not only sustainable but also crisis-proof in the future? Researchers from the Leibniz Research Network “Green Nutrition - Healthy Society” answer this question in a joint position paper recently published in the journal Sustainable Development. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) also played a key role in the publication. The paper is intended as a scientific impetus to rethink food systems holistically. Currently, many of our eating habits are harmful not only to our health, but also to the environment and climate: around one third of global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, while millions of people go hungry or eat unhealthily. The “SARAS” concept – short for “Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems” – offers a new basis for this. It combines a healthy, predominantly plant-based diet with environmental protection and the ability of agricultural and food systems to remain stable even under stress and in global crisis situations, such as pandemics or extreme weather. Five pillars for a new food system What makes the concept special is its holistic view: it combines ecological, economic, political, social, and global-local aspects. One priority is on measures in wealthy countries, as this is where the greatest need for action lies. The focus is on transforming the entire system – from cultivation and production to trade and consumption of food. "With SARAS, we not only want to make food more sustainable, but also more resilient to crises. To achieve this, it is necessary to establish spatially and functionally diversified food production systems so that the system can meet different product needs and provide ecological services. New cultivation models and technologies can contribute to efficient agriculture that yields good returns while protecting nature, biodiversity, and the climate," says Prof. Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura from ZALF, one of the co-authors of the study. ZALF researcher Dr. Annette Piorr, also a co-author of the study, emphasizes: “Sustainable and shock-resistant food systems include promoting regional value chains for food, creating more socially equitable structures, and gaining political support for these measures. Everyone should have the opportunity to choose a healthy and sustainable diet.” Concrete measures and open research needs The position paper offers suggestions for change, for example in policy-making and food production. At the same time, it points to open questions: How can sustainable measures be implemented on a large scale? Which policy instruments are most effective? And how can the financing of this transformation be ensured? These questions highlight areas where further research is needed. The researchers emphasize that the results must be shared with policymakers, agricultural businesses, and consumers, as systemic change can only succeed if all stakeholders work together. Project partners: The position paper was developed in collaboration with 19 researchers from the Leibniz Research Network “Green Nutrition - Healthy Society.” The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is part of the network. The network consists of 10 research institutions and is coordinated by the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE). Leibniz Research Network Green Nutrition – Healthy Society: https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/research/leibniz-research-networks/green-nutrition-healthy-society Further information Position paper: Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems (SARAS). A Leibniz Position: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3468 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Hunecke, C., Thom, F., Vogt, J. H.-M., Bellingrath-Kimura, S. D., Brück, T., Gaupp, F., et al. (2025). Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems (SARAS): A Leibniz Position. Sustainable Development, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3468, published Open Access under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in accordance with AI regulations at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Positionspapier_Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 01 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMTWhat can be done when a village is divided into two camps over the construction of a biogas plant? In the latest issue of the journal People and Nature, a new study by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows how conflicts over land use escalate – and how this escalation can be prevented. These findings are particularly important given that such conflicts are becoming increasingly relevant in times of energy transition and land scarcity. They help communities, planning authorities, and project developers to respond to potential conflicts early on and in an appropriate manner – and to prevent them from escalating in the first place. An example from Brandenburg: The planned expansion of a biogas plant in a small village not only led to heated debates, but ultimately ended up in court. What went wrong? What steps could the operators or the administration have taken to moderate the emerging conflict and prevent it from escalating? ZALF researcher Dr. Meike Fienitz examined this case in detail and identified five steps that turned a difference of opinion into a full-blown dispute. Escalation is not a coincidence In the case study, the author describes how the escalation surrounding the expansion of the biogas plant began with a lack of communication at the outset of the conflict. This led to a lack of understanding of the other side's point of view. When key players cannot imagine what a compromise might look like, they eventually become unwilling to seek a solution. Ultimately, going to court seems more attractive than joint discussions. Specifically, the case examined concerned the planned expansion of a biogas plant. Local residents expressed concerns about increased noise, odor, traffic, and potential safety risks such as gas explosions. Although the operator offered a compromise, opponents felt they had been ignored. The residents formed a citizens' initiative and mobilized an environmental group. They started a petition, invited the media, designed protest posters, and filed objections to the approval process. Ultimately, they decided to take legal action in the hope of making their voices heard. “We were able to show that conflicts do not just happen, but that certain thought processes and framework conditions lead to their escalation,” says the author of the study, Dr. Meike Fienitz from ZALF. “It was particularly interesting that it was the initially weaker parties who eventually resorted to escalation – because they saw no other option.” Identifying and defusing conflicts at an early stage The study is based on process tracing, a method used in political science to conduct case studies. This method makes it possible to reconstruct step by step how a development—in this case, escalation—comes about. To this end, the author conducted interviews with all parties involved and evaluated documents from the planning process. The study thus builds on earlier work that had already identified key conditions for escalation, such as a high degree of emotional involvement, problematic framework conditions, and sufficient resources to resolve the conflict. What to do with this new knowledge? The results suggest that targeted dialogue formats should be introduced at the very beginning of a project in order to reduce misunderstandings and develop joint solutions. This also involves realistically identifying the respective expectations and making cooperation more attractive than conflict. In addition to those directly involved in the conflict, planning authorities, local administrations, and political decision-makers also play a key role here. They can provide the necessary resources and formats and thus make a decisive contribution to preventing a conflict from escalating in the first place by creating suitable framework conditions. In the next step, ZALF will work with partner institutions to develop practical tools and formats for better conflict management, tailored to regional conditions and the groups of actors involved. Project partners • Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) • Humboldt University of Berlin Further information DOI link to the original publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70038 The study ties in with the following paper from 2023: Fienitz, M., & Siebert, R. (2023). Latent, collaborative, or escalated conflict? Determining causal pathways for land use conflicts. Land Use Policy, 134, 106918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106918, published Open Access under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Fienitz, M. (2025). How do land use conflicts escalate? Identifying causal mechanisms in a conflict over a biogas plant in Brandenburg, Germany. People and Nature, 00:1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70038, published open access under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in accordance with AI regulations at ZALF. Funding information: This work was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grant number: 033L205A). Open access was made possible and organized by Project DEAL.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Eskalation_Landnutzungskonflikte.aspxMeike FienitzNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 30 Jun 2025 11:00:00 GMTThe BonaRes Repository at ZALF has been awarded the CoreTrustSeal, certifying it as a trustworthy data repository. CoreTrustSeal is an international non-profit organization that promotes standards for sustainable data infrastructures.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/CoreTrustSeal-f%C3%BCr-das-BonaRes-Repositorium.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 23 Jun 2025 08:00:00 GMTThe internationally staffed Community Advisory Board (CAB) advises the FAIRagro consortium of the National Research Data Infrastructure, coordinated by ZALF and led by Frank Ewert as spokesperson. At the second physical CAB meeting on June 2-3 in Berlin, the FAIRagro Steering Committee informed the board about the project progress.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/FAIRagro-Meeting-CAB-und-SC.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMTOn June 24, 2025, at 5 p.m., the exhibition “Productive Region” will open in the Classroom of the Future pavilion (Alice-Salomon-Platz, Berlin-Hellersdorf). It is part of the pilot project “Zwischenräume. Belebung von Campus und Stadtteil” (Interstitial Spaces: Revitalizing Campus and Neighborhood) by the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH). The exhibition invites visitors to discover new ways of dealing with soil, water, and food in a fictional region between Berlin-Kreuzberg and East Brandenburg. Researchers from the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), artists, school gardens, and neighbors will present ideas they have developed together for sustainable agriculture in the middle of the city. The ZALF's landscape laboratory patchCROP (patchCROP - Homepage) is also participating. At the opening, Juliana Oliveira will present the performance “Wieder Gut” (Good Again) with the ASH Media Workshop. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to talk with the participants. Exhibition period: June 24 – September 13, 2025 Opening hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2–6 p.m. Admission: free Participating institutions: Alice Salomon University Berlin, nGbK Berlin, ZALF, Prinzessinnengarten collective, and many more. Come by, bring your friends, and help shape the “Productive Region”!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Produktive_Region.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 19 Jun 2025 08:00:00 GMTOn 4 June 2025, Giovanna Chavez Miguel successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt University of Berlin. The title of her PhD project was "Farmer-Based Mechanisms Strengthening Agroecology in the Andes: Voices from Social Movements and Family Farmers in Colombia and Peru". It was presented before her doctoral committee consisting of Prof. Dr. Marcel Robischon, Prof. Dr. Stefan Sieber, Prof. Dr. Marcos Lana, Dr. Conny Almekinders and Dr. Claudia Coral. Colleagues, friends, and family also attended the defense, marking the culmination of years of engaged, interdisciplinary research. The dissertation brings together four peer-reviewed scientific articles, published on high-impact journals, which examine how family farmers and indigenous communities in Colombia and Peru organise and act collectively to sustain and promote agroecological practices and agrobiodiversity. By systematising was she terms farmer-based mechanisms — from the farm to the regional level — Giovanna’s work highlights the role of social movements and everyday rural practices in shaping sustainable food systems. Her findings emphasise the transformative potential of family agriculture as a strategy for promoting agroecology across the Andean region. As part of her methodology, Giovanna also produced a documentary film titled The Potato Guardians, which can be watched online via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdveRImGqH8 Links to published peer-reviewed articles: https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.1.9 https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2022.2092577 https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2024.2341987https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Chavez.aspxGiovanna ChavezNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 18 Jun 2025 14:00:00 GMTRené Méité successfully completed his doctorate at Humboldt University (HU) Berlin on June 12, 2025 with the topic “Environmental performance and trade-offs of manure-based adaptation options in livestock farming”.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Ren%C3%A9-M%C3%A9it%C3%A9-hat-seine-Dissertation-verteidigt.aspxKatrin MEier NoticeMiscellaneousWed, 18 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Institutes based in Brandenburg are researching the challenges of climate change in the region and working together with local stakeholders on sustainable and locally adapted solutions. To this end, a consortium of these institutes is establishing a long-term dialogue between science and social stakeholders in order to jointly create knowledge and ensure that research is geared towards real needs and supports well-founded decisions. This consortium is called Leibniz-Lab Systemic Sustainability.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Webinar-und-Dialog.aspxDr. Sundus SaleemiNoticeClimate ChangeTue, 10 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMTThe inaugural meeting of the embedded Data Stewards (eDS) took place at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/CDP/embedded-Data-Stewards.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 04 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMTHow Drought Research Is Changing: A Data-Driven Look at Global Trends and Topics Droughts pose an increasing threat to agriculture and water supply systems worldwide. A new study reveals how the field of drought research has evolved over the past 120 years. The systematic review, led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), was published in the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. The research team analyzed over 130,000 scientific publications using natural language processing and topic modeling. They discovered that drought forecasting and drought-tolerant crop research are growing rapidly while topics such as water resource management, ecology, and forest ecosystems have become less important. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Duerreforschung.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeClimate ChangeKlima5191a9f3-41e7-4813-93a7-90a6ec05dc0aTue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 GMTMichelle Chevelev-Bonatti has successfully completed her habilitation at Humboldt University Berlin. The public lecture, the final component of the habilitation process, took place on April 30, 2025, and focused on the compelling topic of "Gendered Dynamics and Intersectionality in Agricultural Change". In her presentation, Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti explored the intricate ways in which gender and other intersecting social factors shape and influence agricultural transformation processes. Her analysis shed light on crucial dynamics often overlooked in traditional approaches to agricultural development. The successful public lecture follows the submission and acceptance of Dr. Chevelev-Bonatti's habilitation thesis, titled "Social Learning for Sustainable Natural Resources Management in the Global South" . Her work is poised to make a substantial contribution to the field of social learning by bridging critical gaps in the current understanding of how learning systems and pedagogical models can be effectively applied to address the complex resource management challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Global South.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Habilitation_Michelle_Bonatti-.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 26 May 2025 08:00:00 GMTRoot-Benefit Symposium at ZALF is dedicated to the question: How does knowledge about the interaction of microorganisms with plant roots find its way into practice?https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/pages/PB1/Root_Benefit.aspxMarion TauschkeNoticeSoilFri, 23 May 2025 08:00:00 GMTOn May 19th, the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg hosted the first Agri-Photovoltaics Field Day. Researchers, farmers and representatives from industry, politics and associations came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of combining crop production with solar energy generation on agricultural land. In the introductory presentations, Prof. Dr. Klaus Müller (ZALF) outlined how Agri-PV can help to solve land use conflicts between agriculture and energy production. Jürgen Zimmer (DLR Rheinland-Pfalz) gave practical insights into the application of Agri-PV in fruit cultivation. A panel discussion followed, addressing practical questions around Agri-PV: How can farmers implement their own PV projects? Which land types and crops are suitable for combined use? What trade-offs are required to produce electricity and crops at the same time - and what additional costs might be involved? What legal issues are currently facing communities, developers and farms? The panel consisted of Theresa Kärtner (German Farmers' Association), Ronald Knoche (REM TEC GmbH), Jürgen Zimmer (DLR Rheinland-Pfalz) and Jens Vollprecht (Becker Büttner Held law firm) and was moderated by Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura (ZALF). At the information desks, participants gained insights into ongoing research projects, including SynAgri-PV, different types of Agri-PV systems, and public acceptance studies. Fraunhofer ISE presented its database of existing Agri-PV installations. Interactive elements such as a survey and a digital Agri-PV simulator - based on the popular video game "Farming Simulator" - invited visitors to experience different system configurations first hand. A highlight of the event was a guided tour of the new ZALF experimental site in Müncheberg. The experimental setup includes two tracking systems: a single-axis (2D) and a dual-axis (3D) Agri-PV system. With a total of 832 solar modules, the installation covers about 44 percent of the power requirements of the ZALF campus. The bifacial modules are capable of converting sunlight from both the front and back surfaces into electricity. In addition to power generation, the ZALF research facility will focus on key scientific questions related to Agri-PV. Research teams will study the system's impact on microclimate conditions under the modules, soil quality, biodiversity, social acceptance, and economic viability. A digital twin of the facility will be developed to simulate light use and yield potential under different scenarios. ZALF would like to thank all participants for the open dialogue and constructive discussions. Funding: ZALF's Agri-PV system was funded by the State of Brandenburg as part of the "Energy Resilience for Non-University Research Institutions" program and with funds from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Text disclaimer: This text was created with the help of artificial intelligence. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised according to the AI regulations at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2025_05_20_Agri-PV-Feldtag.aspxAnnika Grabau / ZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeKlima12835c36-c6f9-4312-82f9-c703f677002eWed, 21 May 2025 15:00:00 GMTTwo ZALF researchers at the Leibniz Association's “Book a Scientist” event Two researchers present their topics at Book a Scientist ​On June 3, 2025, the Leibniz Association will once again be hosting its digital event “Book a Scientist.” Anyone interested, whether general public​​ or experts, can book a 25-minute conversation with researchers on various topics. The conversation will take place online via video call. Dr. Toni Klemm and Josepha Schiller from the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are offering their topics in the category “People, Nature & Ecosystems”.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Book-a-Scientist-Juni-2025.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimaWed, 21 May 2025 14:00:00 GMT ZALF researcher Dr. Maren Dubbert teaches ecophysiology and water and material cycles at the University of Bonn https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Maren_Dubbert-_Lehre.aspxDr. Maren DubbertNoticeSoilWed, 21 May 2025 10:00:00 GMTIn the face of intensifying climate extremes, agriculture urgently needs more robust tools to assess risks to crop production. In a new Nature Food commentary, an international research team, led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), outlines key research gaps that limit our ability to quantify the impacts of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and other extreme events on cropping systems and project their associated risks on crops, farmers incomes, food security and the environment. The authors see solutions in the use of machine learning and close cooperation between the community of researchers and with farmers.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Bewertung-Klimarisiken-Commentary-Nature-Food.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeModellingKlima7cf60194-0234-4f42-884e-081afa0317f1Thu, 15 May 2025 16:00:00 GMTNew research shows that large-scale climate oscillations like El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) not only cause local weather variable but also drive migratory pest outbreaks. These pests originate in Mainland Southeast Asia and ride ENSO-altered wind patterns into China, where they inflict additional rice crop losses. The study urges international cooperation to combat this twin threat to food security.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/New-Mechanism-Uncovered-El-Nino-Drives-Crop-Losses-through-Increasing-Pest-Occurrence.aspxDr. Chenzhi WangNoticeFood SecurityTue, 13 May 2025 11:00:00 GMTOn 22 April 2025, a cooperation agreement in the research field of “Climate smart irrigated agriculture” was signed at the highest institutional level between the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University (“TIIAME” NRU, Uzbekistan). The purpose of the agreement is to formalize the cooperation between the “TIIAME” NRU and ZALF, which has been ongoing since 2013. ​​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Kooperationsvertrag-ZALF-und-TIIAME-NRU-.aspxProf. Dr. Ahmad HamidovNoticeSoilTue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 GMTMichelle Chevelev-Bonatti has successfully completed her habilitation at Humboldt University Berlin. The public lecture, the final component of the habilitation process, took place on April 30, 2025, and focused on the compelling topic of "Gendered Dynamics and Intersectionality in Agricultural Change". In her presentation, Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti explored the intricate ways in which gender and other intersecting social factors shape and influence agricultural transformation processes. Her analysis shed light on crucial dynamics often overlooked in traditional approaches to agricultural development. The successful public lecture follows the submission and acceptance of Dr. Chevelev-Bonatti's habilitation thesis, titled "Social Learning for Sustainable Natural Resources Management in the Global South" . Her work is poised to make a substantial contribution to the field of social learning by bridging critical gaps in the current understanding of how learning systems and pedagogical models can be effectively applied to address the complex resource management challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Global South.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Habilitation_Michelle_Bonatti-.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 06 May 2025 08:00:00 GMTEuropean Research Project EOAgriTwin Underway: A Digital Twin for Agriculture under multiple stressors Müncheberg, [Date] – The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is leading the new European research project EOAgriTwin: Earth Observation based Digital Twin for Resilient Agriculture under Multiple Stressors. The project aims to develop a digital twin for agriculture capable of functioning under multiple stressors, delivering actionable insights and data-driven decision support to promote sustainable food production and strengthen global food security. Funded by the European Space Agency, EOAgriTwin brings together leading research institutions and companies from across Europe and beyond. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/EOAgriTwin-Projektstart.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeModellingKlima0d1a1783-ebe0-467c-9064-0dd6b3485de0Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:00:00 GMTLow-cost plant monitoring: ZALF introduces automated NDVI sensor for researchhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Macagga.aspxDr. Mathias HoffmannNoticeFood SecurityMon, 28 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMTData repositories that adhere to the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles are crucial for maximizing the value and efficiency of research data. A recent paper published in the European Journal of Soil Science (https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ejss.70103?af=R) presents how specialized research data infrastructures advance agricultural soil research. The open access study showcases the BonaRes Repository, which implements the FAIR principles to enable effective data sharing and reuse:https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Foerderung-der-effektiven-Nachnutzung-landwirtschaftlicher-Bodenforschungsdaten-Das-BonaRes-Repositorium.aspxDr. Susanne LachmuthNoticeSoilMon, 28 Apr 2025 11:00:00 GMTFrom now on the geometries of the research station Müncheberg are available in the BonaRes Repository (https://maps.bonares.de/mapapps/resources/apps/bonares) and therefore citable.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Geometrien-der-Forschungsstation-Muencheberg-publiziert.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMTMüncheberg, 03 March 2025 – An international research team including the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has found that targeted diversification of cultivation can improve the income situation of cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire, the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Households that use other sources of income on separate land in addition to cocoa earned an income that is more than two and a half times higher than the lowest measured income. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems . Diversification as the key to economic success Cocoa producers in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire are facing major challenges: volatile prices, crop yields threatened by the effects of climate change, and lack of access to finance. The study examined which forms of cultivation are particularly successful and can sustainably increase the income of households. "Our analysis shows that cocoa producers who also rely on sources of income outside of pure cocoa cultivation are in a better economic position," explains Bonna Antoinette Tokou, lead author of the study from ZALF. "Above all, farms that grow high-yielding, perennial plants on additional land in addition to cocoa achieve a significantly higher household income than those that only manage cocoa plantations." Four cultivation systems in comparison The researchers examined 303 households in five different regions of the country. They identified four different forms of cultivation: 1. Pure cocoa cultivation – monoculture without additional plants 2. Cocoa with mixed crops – combining cocoa with other plants on the same area 3. Cocoa plus additional acreage – Cocoa cultivation combined with separate acreage for additional sources of income 4. Cocoa and food cultivation – combination of cocoa and crops for self-sufficiency The results show that cocoa cultivation combined with additional acreage is the most widespread and leads to the highest incomes, as high-yielding, perennial plants are grown on additional land. Cocoa cultivation in mixed cropping systems on the other hand, achieves the highest quantities of cocoa per hectare. Women and migrants rely on other strategies Another focus of the study was on the question of which groups prefer which forms of cultivation. It turned out that women are more likely to combine cocoa with food for their own consumption. Migrant producers, on the other hand, use particularly high-yield forms of cocoa cultivation and achieve above-average incomes through diversification. But there is a problem: only seven percent of those surveyed have access to financing options to develop new forms of cultivation or additional land. "Without loans, many companies are denied the opportunity to diversify," says Tokou. Sustainable cocoa production needs more support The study results underline that targeted diversification not only stabilizes income, but also strengthens the long-term sustainability of cocoa cultivation. Nevertheless, there is a lack of financial and political framework conditions to promote these strategies across the board. "Our results clearly show that policymakers should take action to help cocoa producers diversify," Tokou points out. "This includes not only financing offers, but also training and advice to make better use of the potential of alternative sources of income." Background: The PRO-PLANTEURS project The data collection for the study took place as part of the PRO-PLANTEURS project. Since 2015, this project has been supporting cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire in improving their agricultural practices, increasing their incomes and establishing more sustainable farming methods. A special focus is on the promotion of women and young people. The participants of the project receive training in good agricultural practice, diversified production and business management. Methodology of the study The study was based on a household survey of 303 cocoa farmers in five regions of Côte d'Ivoire. The surveys were conducted in June and July 2022 and focused on agricultural practices, income, production costs, and training received. The Kobo Toolbox, an open-source platform for digital surveys, was used to collect data. The analysis was carried out using descriptive analyses, analyses of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate regression analysis to identify associations between diversification strategies and income. Further information: DOI link to the original publication Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Tokou BA, Coral C, Montiel FI, Adou Yao CY, Sieber S and Löhr K (2025) Diversification strategies to improve cocoa farmers' household income: the case of Côte d'Ivoire. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 9:1524997. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1524997, released under the CC BY 4.0 license. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised from the point of view of the AI regulations at ZALF. Partners: • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V. • University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire Funding information: This research was carried out as part of the PRO-PLANTEURS research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The results and conclusions expressed in this study do not necessarily reflect the positions or guidelines of BMZ.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kakao_Anbaustrategien.aspxBonna Antoinette TokouNoticeFood SecurityKlimab3a78752-986a-49a2-8b57-9156620c0d2bThu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMTGrowing grain legumes can pose significant risks to farmers in terms of yield and quality variability. Integrating grain legumes into complex crop rotations, especially in organic farming systems with a high proportion of grain legumes, can also prove difficult due to high pathogen and pest pressure. In addition, regional value chains with low processing intensity largely lack market outlets for grain legumes for human consumption. The project participants want to change this and increase the resilience of spring grain peas through genetic diversity. The LegumeMix research project was launched earlier this year to work with farmers to find solutions to these challenges. "We are pleased to be able to contribute to breeding research in grain legumes for human nutrition and to promote genetic diversity in agriculture with 'LegumeMix'," says Dr. Carl Vollenweider, one of the initiators of the project. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) as part of the BMEL's strategy for protein crops. Numerous project partners are involved, including the Peter Kunz Cereal Breeding Institute, the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the University of Kassel, the Atelier Ernährungswende and the Dottenfelderhof Research and Breeding Institute. Specific objectives and implementation Using the example of summer grain peas, the project will systematically investigate innovative breeding strategies to exploit genetic diversity with the aim of increasing yield stability and resilience. Studies have already shown that the combined cultivation of pea varieties with different leaf shapes can achieve significantly higher positive mixed effects than is known from, for example, cereals. The project focuses on the so-called Ecologically Heterogeneous Material in the sense of the new EU Eco-regulation and the related approach of variety mixtures. With regard to their development, there are significant gaps in our knowledge of breeding methodology and selection criteria, which will be filled on the basis of multi-site and multi-year field trials. An important focus of the project will be on resistance and tolerance traits of peas to foot and root diseases, which are particularly prevalent in organic farming in complex crop rotations. Some of the trials will be intercropped with spring barley to further increase diversity in the cropping system. With regard to the use of grain peas in human nutrition in regional value chains, milling and baking trials with grain peas will be carried out in three bakery categories: wheat bread with peas, wheat biscuits with peas and spelt mixed bread with peas. The practical transfer of the project results will be carried out through a close involvement of the Legume Network (LeguNet) and together with agricultural companies as well as through baking workshops. Project partner:  Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)  Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL)  University of Kassel  gzpk – Biodynamische Pflanzenzüchtung  Forschung und Züchtung Dottenfelderhof  Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH)  Atelier Ernährungswende  Gut Mönchhof KG  Demeterhof Schwalmtal  LWG Dottenfelderhof KG Funding: The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) as part of the BMEL's strategy for protein crops.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Sommerkoernererbse.aspxAnna JendroNoticeLegumesWed, 09 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMTResearchers warn: Is another drought on the way? Current climate model projections for Eastern Europe show an unusual trend. The climate service Clim4Cast reports an exceptionally strong anomaly in soil moisture compared to long-term averages over large parts of Eastern Europe. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are sounding the alarm: An extremely dry winter failed to restore moisture to soils that had already dried out during the previous summer. Regions in Poland, Belarus and Ukraine are particularly affected. The likelihood of a drought year in these regions is high. Farmers are advised to monitor the situation closely and adjust their planting schedules accordingly. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/DWD_Trockenheit-in-Sicht.aspxAnnika GrabauPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlima87e5e8b3-50c5-485c-8e0c-beea3aed0ea1Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMTLandslides pose a significant threat to people and the environment worldwide. Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), together with international partners, have developed a new framework that significantly improves landslide prediction using machine learning methods. The model can analyze data and create precise maps highlighting landslide-prone zones. It achieves an impressive 95.6% accuracy in predicting landslide risks. The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Vorhersage-von-Erdrutschrisiken.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseModellingKlima2184f4a5-c210-45c6-8e49-ac502a1f3c02Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMTFAIRagro FAIRness and Openness Commitment – Sign Now & Let’s Move Together Towards a FAIR Data Future in Agriculture and Beyondhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/FAIRagro-FAIRness-and-Openness-Commitment.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 28 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMTA new study shows that the transmission of livestock disease pathogens by biting midges of the genus Culicoides may also occur in winter. These tiny blood-feeding insects are considered to be the main vectors of bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus, which can be dangerous for ruminants such as cattle and sheep. Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) have investigated the winter activity of these insects on farms in Germany. The findings were published in the journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology. They shed new light on the concept of a so-called vector-free period, during which the vectors are considered inactive, and the possibility of virus transmission is considered unlikely. It is assumed that there is a period in Central Europe in winter when Culicoides biting midges are not active and, therefore, no transmission of the bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus can occur. There are threshold values in the EU for determining a vector-free period. These are based on how many active, formerly blood-sucked biting midges were caught per night and trap. If this number exceeds the threshold value, there is no vector-free period. Therefore, transmission of the virus can no longer be ruled out, and trade restrictions come into force accordingly. Epidemiological data had already indicated that the bluetongue virus was able to persist in the winter and reappeared the following year in the infested regions. The current study provides further evidence that biting midges are active even in the coldest months, particularly in livestock buildings. They could, therefore, contribute to continuous virus transmission. This calls into question the previous assumption of a pronounced vector-free period. Researchers´ approach and the results For the study, the researchers investigated the activity of biting midges in two winter periods (October to April 2019/2020 and 2020/2021) on 16 farms in Germany. The biting midges were caught with UV-light traps, a common trapping method, both outside and inside the stables. Over 32,000 Culicoides biting midges were caught in 960 trapping events, of which over 60% were caught in stables. It was particularly striking that even in the coldest months of January and February, specimens were detected in the stables while they nearly disappeared outside. The researchers were able to prove that around 2000 of the Culicoides biting midges caught had ingested blood - almost 95% of which were caught in the stables. "Our results show that Culicoides are also active in stables in winter. The viruses they transmit could, therefore, also persist there. As biting midges can take a blood-meal in winter, the transmission of viruses is also possible at this time of year," explains Sarah Groschupp from ZALF, first author of the study. Temperature as a Key Factor The researchers found that the biting midge activity strongly depends on the temperature. Some species of biting midges, which are considered vectors of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses, were caught at an average temperature of 7.4°C, with a minimum of only 0.3°C. Temperatures inside the stables were higher than outside for longer periods, favoring the biting midge winter activity. "Our data show that a vector-free period in stables may not exist or may only exist for a short time," emphasizes co-author Dr. Doreen Werner from ZALF. "This could mean that the current measures for trade in livestock and their products in outbreak areas in winter need to be reconsidered. The locations where the biting midges are caught, i.e. whether inside or outside the stables, also play an essential role in defining a vector-free period." Further investigations should now clarify the extent to which the winter activity of Culicoides biting midges influences actual virus transmission. Further Information: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12756 Note on the Text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of AI: Groschupp, S., Kampen, H., & Werner, D. (2024). Winter activity of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) inside and outside stables in Germany. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 38(4), 552–565. DOI: 10.1111/mve.12756, published under the https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ license. Funding Information: The study was funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), grant numbers 281B101816 and 281B101916. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. Project Partners: • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) • Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Winteraktive_Gnitzen.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMosquitoesKlima9add6e12-55b7-455e-87a5-ababe77a4bb2Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMTHow does soil water storage respond to different climatic conditions? A new study published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences has analyzed soil water storage of two similar soils over a period of eight years at two climatically different locations in Germany. The results show how the soil water storage adapts to a change in precipitation and evapotranspiration. After prolonged drought periods, the soil water storage could not be restored for several years. Thus, not all water that is usually stored in those soils is available in spring. This suggests that such drought periods can have not only short-term but also long-term effects on plant growth and crop yields. At the warmer study site, researchers observed that the impact of an earlier onset of the vegetation period affected soil water storage. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Wasserspeicherung-von-Boeden.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeSoilKlima8ad31d81-c7f2-4fd7-88b6-a0944b217945Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMTA new study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment shows that pests such as the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and grubs (Holotrichia serrata) could have a significant impact on maize cultivation in Nigeria in the coming decades. Researchers, including those from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), used agro-ecosystem modeling to comprehensively depict, for the first time, how pest risks evolve under different climatic conditions and to provide economic estimates of yield losses. The simulations for the period 2021 to 2100 are based on climate projections, the MONICA yield model developed at ZALF, and environmental factors such as temperature and soil moisture. The results represent the first spatial estimation of pest impacts in sub-Saharan Africa and provide a critical foundation for targeted management strategies and the development of early warning systems.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Maisanbau-Nigeria-Modell.aspxAnnika GrabauPress ReleaseModellingKlima52df2d85-df6a-4316-9dda-2facb58f16ceThu, 20 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMTA brief introduction round quickly revealed that the >_Coding Circle isn’t just for software developers. Many scientists from diverse backgrounds, who develop scripts for data analysis in their work, are interested in the >_Coding Circle and are warmly welcome.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Der-Coding-Circle-stellt-sich-vor.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 19 Mar 2025 11:00:00 GMTMüller-Motzfeld Prize for outstanding work in the field of applied carabidology for Nadja Heitmannhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Heitmann.aspxDr. Marina MüllerNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 12 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMTA new study by the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows that the combined cultivation of winter wheat and soybean in Germany could be a sustainable alternative to conventional cultivation. By adjusting the sowing time, both yield and protein content of the crop can be increased. With mixed cropping, protein-rich soybeans for animal feed could be produced regionally. The researchers modelled yield development under different climate scenarios based on results from field trials with soy and wheat in relay intercropping systems. The results have been published in the journal Field Crops Research.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Mischanbau-Modellierung.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeModellingTue, 11 Mar 2025 14:00:00 GMTThe EU project FarmBioNet held its kick-off meeting in Dublin, bringing together representatives from 19 partner organisations across Europe. Discussions focused on the work packages and strategies to promote knowledge exchange among key actors in agriculture. The project is coordinated by Teagasc in Ireland and runs from January 2025 to December 2027.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/FarmBioNet-Auftakt.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeBiodiversityFri, 07 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMTEvery year on March 8, International Women’s Day raises awareness of gender inequalities, discrimination, and violence against women, while also recognizing the achievements of women in society, politics, science, and the economy. The key issues highlighted on this day are also reflected in Germany’s Fourth Gender Equality Report, which was published on March 3. The report focuses on equality in socio-ecological transformation. Dr. Felix Zoll and Anton Parisi from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed an expert study on alternative food networks (AFNs) in Germany, analyzing their role in gender equality and social justice.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Gleichstellungsbericht-alternative-Ernaehrungsnetzwerke.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeFood SecurityFri, 07 Mar 2025 14:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has signed the Mission Soil Manifesto of the European Commission. With this, ZALF reaffirms its commitment to the protection and sustainable use of soils.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Mission-Soil-Manifesto.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeSoilThu, 06 Mar 2025 14:00:00 GMTCurrently, few agricultural operations have access to high-resolution commercial satellite imagery. Researchers are calling for this data to be made more accessible to advance both research on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and agricultural practices. More precise Earth observation data could not only improve scientific analysis, but also help farmers better assess climate risks and manage their fields more efficiently. In a recent publication in PNAS, researchers explain that smallholder farmers in particular could benefit from access to more accurate data. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed to the study.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Open-Access_Satellitendaten.aspxAnnika GrabauPress ReleaseAgriculture 4.0Klima335f9e35-8d1d-4e6d-b97c-efa67933a27cTue, 04 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMTThe FORTUNA research project examines the measures needed to achieve the goals of the EU’s Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity strategies. These include reducing the use of synthetic chemical pesticides in agriculture by 50% by 2030. The project analyzes technical, economic, and environmental challenges as well as solutions to develop practical strategies for the agricultural sector. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is a project partner. Your practical knowledge is essential: What obstacles stand in the way of reducing pesticide use? What promising approaches already exist? We invite everyone involved in agriculture, trade, or policy related to pesticide use to participate in our survey. We especially encourage farmers to share their expertise. The survey is available in English and can be completed until March 17, 2025, at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdc7y9THnBSgF3jL-xzsoPdaIvWrWyNX82_9pdT7pnmtLUA7w/viewform Thank you for your participation—please feel free to share the survey within your networks. For more information about FORTUNA and regular project updates, visit: https://horizon-fortuna.eu/https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Umfrage_Reduzierung_PSM.aspxKathrin GrahmannNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 03 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMTReactive silicate as key to healthy soils – New study shows early warning signs of soil degradationhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Effects-of-reactive-silica.aspxDr. Jörg SchallerNoticeSoilThu, 27 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMTInsect-friendly agriculture requires teamwork: Successful collaboration for insect conservation. How can farmers, through their active participation, make insect conservation more effective? A research team is developing and testing measures to promote insect diversity in three agricultural regions of Germany in collaboration with practitioners. First results show that farmers actively contribute their own ideas and engage in the sustainable transformation of their landscapes. ​Many measures, such as perennial flower strips, more diverse crop rotation, planting hedges and strip cultivation, could only be implemented and realize their potential ecological impact in the landscape through this cooperative partnership. Many measures, such as perennial flower strips, more diverse crop rotation, planting hedges and strip cultivation, could only be implemented and realise their potential ecological impact in the landscape through this cooperative partnership. The Journal of Innovation Management has published a paper led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research on the importance of working with farmers in the joint design and implementation process, and the lessons learned from the insect conservation project in Germany.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Final_Reallabore_Insektenschutz.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeBiodiversityWed, 26 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMTLong-term field trials (LTE) are a central basis for agricultural research, as they provide valuable data for sustainable land management over decades. Their systematic collection makes it possible to analyze long-term developments and make well-founded agronomic decisions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Langzeitfeldversuch-LTE-Rostock-Phosphorduengungsstrategien-Datensatz-jetzt-abrufbar.aspxKatrin JürgensNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMTThis dataset contains more than 20 years (2000 – 2023) of data on the effect of soil tillage, crop rotation and irrigation. It is characterized by several experimental cycles with different cropping system comparisons. Soil tillage is the consistent factor.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Dauerfeldversuch-zu-Bodenbearbeitung-Fruchtfolge-und-Bewaesserung-V4.aspxKaNoticeSoilMon, 24 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMTTogether with the community, we have developed a data schema to ensure that data can be analyzed comprehensively across LTE. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Das-BonaRes-LTE-Schema.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 24 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMTA narrow earthen ridge on sloping farmland can help protect fields from soil erosion – if placed correctly. These so-called beetle banks are about half a metre high and are typically planted with native wildflowers and grasses. In addition to slowing surface water runoff, they provide habitat for beneficial insects such as ground beetles. However, their effectiveness depends on precise placement within the landscape. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have now developed a digital planning tool that identifies locations where beetle banks provide the greatest benefits. The model-based results are now set to be implemented in practice for the first time: Beetle banks will be installed on a test site in Bavaria this year, where their effectiveness will be evaluated. Beetle banks are placed perpendicular to the slope to retain water, reduce erosion, and create habitats for insects. The research findings show that their effectiveness strongly depends on placement. If positioned incorrectly, they may even accelerate erosion. The new digital tool was developed as part of the Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS) project. It not only analyzes terrain conditions but also considers machinery track planning and operational constraints. The tool introduces two key innovations for agricultural practice One major advancement is the integration of track planning with a detailed terrain model. Until now, farm management software has primarily optimized machinery tracks based on field shape and boundaries to save time and fuel. However, slope inclination is often ignored, even though machinery tracks running parallel to a slope can increase erosion. The new model incorporates high-resolution digital elevation data (1-meter resolution) and suggests contour-aligned tracks where practical farming requirements allow. Additionally, the method enables the targeted integration of beetle banks as a conservation measure. Existing models typically place agri-environmental features, such as wildflower or erosion control strips, only along field edges. However, beetle banks need to be located within the field, which can create obstacles for machinery. The model calculates how beetle banks can be integrated into track planning, ensuring they can be bypassed while effectively reducing runoff. A topographic profile analysis identifies locations where beetle banks can retain water without causing unwanted waterlogging or erosion risks. Researchers hope this approach will also provide wider benefits for landscape-scale water management. “During heavy rainfall, water should remain on the fields longer and later be available to crops. This could reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff into water bodies and help protect settlements from flooding,” explains Marvin Melzer, lead author of the study at ZALF and researcher in the DAKIS project. Simulated water runoff – placement is critical to success The study modeled how different beetle bank heights (40 cm and 50 cm) influence water runoff in the landscape. The simulation confirmed that well-planned beetle banks effectively redirect runoff, protecting downslope arable land from erosion. “The new method could be integrated into track planning software used by major agricultural machinery manufacturers. This would give farmers a tool that combines track planning, erosion control, and biodiversity conservation—without adding significant management effort,” says Marvin Melzer. Next step: Practical implementation So far, the study results are based on simulations, but practical implementation is now planned. During the second funding phase of the DAKIS project (DAKIS2), the digital method will be tested on real farmland for the first time. In Bavaria, in collaboration with the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) and local farmers, beetle banks will be installed at locations determined by the model calculations. The researchers will investigate whether digital planning achieves the expected benefits for water retention and erosion control, as well as how these measures can be integrated into long-term farm management practices. Funding opportunities for farmers The digital tool could help link agricultural subsidies more closely to ecologically effective measures. Currently, many agri-environmental programs reward conservation efforts primarily based on area size, without fully considering their actual ecological impact. While beetle banks are already eligible for agri-environmental and climate measures (AECM) in some regions, such as Bavaria, funding policies in Germany vary by federal state. Some programs support erosion control measures or the promotion of beneficial insects, but there is currently no dedicated subsidy for beetle banks. The new model identifies where beetle banks have the greatest impact on erosion control, water retention, and biodiversity. This could help ensure that future subsidies are allocated to measurably effective conservation measures, providing targeted support for farmers implementing sustainable practices. Project partner:  Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)  Bavarian State Research Centre for Agriculture (LfL) Funding: This work was carried out as part of the Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS, funding code: FKZ 031B0729A) project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Olivia Spykman's contribution was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism (grant number A/21/17). Text disclaimer: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Melzer, M., Spykman, O., Bellingrath-Kimura, S. (2025). Beetle bank-positioning on sloped farmland to promote water retention and biodiversity in farm management information systems for agri-environmental schemes. Biological Conservation, 302, 110999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.110999, published Open Access under the license CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in the light of AI regulations at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Insektenwaelle.aspxMarvin MelzerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 21 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMTWorkshop on Artificial Intelligence in Remote Sensing for Agriculturehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Deep-learning-approches.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMTHow can agriculture in West Africa adapt to climate change: New insights from modeling Smallholder farmers in West Africa are increasingly challenged by climate change. Researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and international partners have developed a model that shows not only how climate change will affect crop yields and grass biomass in the region, but also how mixed crop-livestock systems can adapt. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, highlights the challenges posed by climate change and suggests ways to promote more sustainable agriculture. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Westafrika-Klimamodellierung-Landwirtschaft.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeClimate ChangeKlima1fb6dcef-bba4-4dbd-812b-e3655bd1646dTue, 18 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMTThe delegation from Ghana consisted of 23 representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and program managers at regional level. The visitors under the umbrella of the Market-Oriented Agriculture Program (MOAP NW) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) discussed 10th of February 2025 together with representatives of ZALF on science related to the most pressuring challenges in agriculture. Important topics were the energy supply at ZALF with particular reference to the new wood chip plant, which, according to Bettina Schoch-Liebe, can save up to 90% in emissions, as well as the new AGRI-PV system, which also serves research purposes. After a discussion on the ZALF test fields about agroecological management practices, the delegation was able to have a very lively discussion with the ZALF employees. Important topics discussed were research structure, dissemination of research results as well as crop production comparisons between Germany and Ghana with regard to climate adaptation measures.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Delegation_aus_Ghana.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMTClimate change poses major challenges for agriculture in the Global South. A recent scientific study in The Gambia highlights the vulnerability of small farms, which depend on rainfall, are suffering from increasing droughts, flooding and extreme weather events. The study investigated how farms respond to these risks and identifies the key factors influencing thier adaptation measures. Notably, female farmers are less likely than their male counterparts to implement adaptation strategies due to limited access to critical resources and support. The research was conducted with the participation of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and has been published in the journal Springer Nature Discover Sustainability.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Klimaresiliente-Landwirtschaft-in-Gambia.aspxFathima LehnhardNoticeFood SecurityFri, 14 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMTWater data from 30 years analyzed: Water balance between natural processes and human influences - a look at Lusatia Efficient water management in human-dominated landscapes such as the mining region of Lower Lusatia requires a comprehensive understanding of the regional water balance. In a recent study published in the journal Hydrological Processes, scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have developed a data-based method that makes spatial and temporal changes in water resources visible. The research shows how natural influences such as seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and evapotranspiration as well as human interventions such as lignite mining and land use affect the region's water balance. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Wasserhaushalt-Lausitz.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseWaterWed, 05 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMTLess greenhouse gases from the fields with siliconhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Schaller.aspxApl. Prof. J. SchallerNoticeSustainable Land UseMon, 03 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMTA recent study conducted by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) demonstrates how modern artificial intelligence (AI) can drive digitalization and sustainability in agriculture. The study focused on making AI tools accessible for everyday agricultural tasks, such as counting coffee cherries from images, an important step for yield estimation. The tools could also help to monitor pests and diseases in crops and support the reduction of pesticide use. It is therefore important to assess how well they can fulfill these tasks. The results were published in the journal Smart Agricultural Technology.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/KI-Tool-Kaffeekirschen.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMTEfficient nitrogen (N) use is essential for sustainable farming and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Urease (UI) and nitrification inhibitors (NI) influence N transformations but their impact on carbon (C) and water cycles is less studied. In a winter wheat field, we found inhibitors reduced N₂O emissions by 34.1–48.8%, improved carbon (CUE) and water use efficiency (AWUE), and maintained or increased biomass. The double inhibitor (UI+NI) also enhanced agronomical N use efficiency (ANUE) and reduced global warming potential (GWP). This underscores the environmental benefits of using UI and NI in agriculture.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Erster-publizierter-Datensatz-im-Jahr-2025.aspxKatrin JürgensNoticeSoilMon, 20 Jan 2025 22:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will be present at the international agricultural fair Grüne Woche in Berlin from 17 to 26 January 2025. Visitors can find out more about agrivoltaics, sustainable peatland use and the monitoring of mosquitoes and biting midges. You will find us in Hall 23a: "Good Food. Strong country. Sustainable Agriculture" from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Gruene-Woche-2025.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 10 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMTSpatial planning determines whether an area is designated as industrial, residential or agricultural land. So far, however, this has hardly been adapted to future agriculture. Soil values and weather assessments from recent years are often the only basis for designating agricultural land. But what happens when the climate changes? ZALF researchers have developed a new method for Brandenburg, so that climate models and yield forecasts can provide better and more sustainable support for such decisions in the future. One of the results are maps that show where agriculture will be profitable in the future under the influence of climate changehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Neue-Karten-f%C3%BCr-Brandenburgs-Agrarlandschaften.aspxHannah Charlotte von Czettritz und NeuhausNoticeClimate ChangeWed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMTIn a two-year field study, scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) investigated the extent to which alternative cropping systems (strip, relay and patch intercropping) in wheat and soya favor beneficial insects. The targeted promotion of beneficial insects such as ground beetles or spiders is a promising alternative to the use of pesticides. They protect field crops by eating plant pests such as aphids. Using pesticides is problematic because they not only reduce pest populations, but also those of other insects. This is not only a conservation issue, but also has implications for agriculture itself, for example if there are fewer pollinating insects. The idea behind alternating and combining different crop species on a field is to create habitats for natural enemies, thereby enhancing pest control without relying on pesticides. In this study researchers compared three alternative cropping systems - strip, relay and patch intercropping - against conventional sole crops to determine their ability to promote natural pest control while maintaining high yields of wheat and soybean. Field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 on sites in eastern Brandenburg. The researchers monitored the abundance and diversity of natural enemies such as beetles and spiders, as well as the number of aphids on the crops. Aphids are common insects in cropping systems that can significantly damage plants by feeding on their sap and transmitting plant diseases. Wheat and soybean yield data were collected each year as a measure of the productivity of the systems. What happened when crops were arranged differently? The cropping systems involved more diverse spatial arrangements of crops within the field: • Strip Intercropping: Different crops, such as soybean and wheat, are grown in parallel strips that are 12 or 24 m wide. The study found that this method was particularly effective at supporting higher abundances of natural enemies of pests. Results: Aphid predation rates were up to 51% higher compared to other systems, and yields were often comparable to or even higher than those of conventional sole crops. • Relay Intercropping: Crops are sown sequentially in alternating rows in the same field, with one crop harvested while the other is still growing. Although this system has potential, it failed in both years of the study due to drought, which hindered the development of the second crop. This highlights the importance of site-specific adaptations for the success of such systems. • Patch Intercropping: Small fields are arranged in a mosaic pattern within a larger field to make better use of soil variability. This system was tested on the experimental site of the ZALF patchCROP project at the Komturei Lietzen. During the experiment, the researchers observed lower abundances of natural enemies. However, the specific reasons for this outcome remain unclear and require further investigation. Practical Implications and outlook The study provides initial insights into how crop diversity could reduce the need for chemical pesticides without compromising yields. Strip intercropping emerged as the most promising system in this context. The results suggest that cropping systems promoting natural pest regulation have the potential to serve as an alternative to chemical pesticides. This would be a crucial step towards achieving the EU's target of reducing chemical pesticide use by 50% by 2030. The results, however, were derived from experiments conducted on a single farm for only two years. Although these findings are promising, they represent a first step and require further validation under a range of environmental conditions and farming practices. Project partners:  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin  Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences  University of Bonn Funding: This research was supported by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) through the integrated priority project “Cropping system diversification to increase the resilience of farming systems (divCROP)” 2021–2024 and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the Junior Research Group SoilRob, project ID 031B1391. Further Information: Link to the original publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880924004420?via%3Dihub Text disclaimer: This summary was created with the help of artificial intelligence based on the original publication: Thompson, J. B., et al. (2024). Spatial arrangement of intercropping impacts natural enemy abundance and aphid predation in an intensive farming system. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 378, 109324. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109324. Published Open Access under the CC BY 4.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text was carefully reviewed and edited in accordance with ZALF's AI regulations.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Vielfalt_auf_dem_Feld.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 08 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMTOn December 13, 2024, Frauke Geppert successfully completed her doctorate titled “Implementation and Evaluation of Nature Conservation Measures by Digital Farming Tools” at Humboldt University of Berlin. In her research, conducted in collaboration with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), she explored how digital technologies can contribute to promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. At ZALF, Frauke Geppert was supervised by Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura. At ZALF and HU Berlin, Frauke Geppert was supervised by Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura. Prof. Ioanna Mouratiadou (ZALF and ISARA) was her second supervisor. In her dissertation, Geppert examined the potentials and challenges of digital technologies in agriculture, focusing particularly on their contributions to biodiversity conservation. Her comprehensive analysis included a literature review, a stakeholder survey, and the evaluation of a digital tool. As a case study, Geppert analyzed the NatApp. The NatApp is designed to help agricultural enterprises integrate biodiversity-promoting measures more easily into their daily operations and document them in a legally compliant manner. The application was developed by ZALF, the Thünen Institute, the German Farmers' Association, Harz University of Applied Sciences, Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, and the FLYer Communications Company (Flynet). Geppert’s analysis revealed that digital technologies, like the NatApp, are fundamentally suitable for integrating biodiversity-promoting measures into agricultural practices. However, structural and technical barriers remain to be addressed. One key conclusion she draws is that these digital tools could reach their full potential if the existing knowledge about them were consolidated and made more accessible to practitioners. She emphasizes the role of legislators in establishing legal frameworks for standardized access to these technologies and the knowledge associated with them.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Frauke_Geppert.aspxFrauke GeppertNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 06 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMTOn 12 December, the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) officially opened an experimental agri-photovoltaic plant on its premises in Müncheberg. The system, with a nominal output of 582.4 kWp and 832 PV modules, is designed to generate around 650 MWh of electricity per year. This corresponds to about 40 per cent of ZALF's electricity requirements at the Müncheberg site. Special features are the 2D and 3D rotatable modules, which flexibly adjust to the position of the sun. The construction was funded by the state of Brandenburg with €2.27 million to strengthen the energy security and research activities of non-university research institutions. At the same time, the plant will serve as a test field for scientists to investigate fundamental research questions relating to cultivation in a combined land use with arable farming and photovoltaics. Agri-Photovoltaics (Agri-PV) is the simultaneous use of agricultural land to produce crops or livestock and to generate solar electricity. It differs from the already widespread open-field systems, where no agricultural use is possible between the solar modules. The spread of Agri-PV in Germany is still in its first stages, but is being driven forward by pilot projects, technical developments and the adaptation of the legal framework. At ZALF, the SynAgri-PV project [https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/research-projects/synagri-pv.html] is already working intensively on this. The Agri-PV system can cover up to almost half of the energy consumption at the ZALF campus and will help the research facility to improve its independence from external electricity suppliers. ZALF successfully applied for funding from a support program of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg (MWFK) with the plans for this system. Agri-PV research in dialogue The new agrivoltaic system at ZALF will be used to address research questions that are being developed together with stakeholders from agriculture, politics and society as part of the Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT). Possible topics that could be investigated with the agrivoltaic system include the effects of the modules on the microclimate of the air and soil and their potential influence on plant growth. Issues such as protecting crops from extreme weather conditions, adapting crop rotations or the impact on biodiversity and economic viability could also be explored. In the long term, the data will be fed into models to optimise shade, energy and yield. Field day in spring The experimental plant marks the beginning of intensive research. ZALF would like to use this opportunity to initiate new collaborations and give interested parties an insight into the results. A public field day is planned for spring 2025. ZALF will provide information about this event in due time. Project partners:  PV-Service GmbH  REM TEC GmbH  Omexom GmbH Funding: Grant from the State of Brandenburg under the "Directive of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg to Strengthen Energy Resilience and to Secure the Research Activities of Non-University Research Institutions (3/23-12/24)". Text disclaimer: This text was created using artificial intelligence. The text has been carefully reviewed and edited in accordance with ZALF's AI guidelines.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2024_12_12_Agri-PV-Anlage.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 12 Dec 2024 13:00:00 GMTIn a recent publication in the journal Discover Soil, scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) examined the challenges and barriers to the widespread adoption of sustainable soil management in Germany. For the study, 76 farmers were asked about their experiences, opinions and challenges in relation to sustainable soil management methods.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Boeden-nachhaltig-bewirtschaften-Landwirtinnen-und-Landwirte-brauchen-politische-Unterstuetzung-und-finanzielle-Anreize.aspxDr. Mona AghabeygiNoticeSoilTue, 10 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMTIn a new study published in the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture Research, researchers led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) investigated the potential of so-called reactive silicon, which can be quickly absorbed by plants, for more sustainable agriculture. The results show that an agriculture based on optimal silicon supply could be better adapted to global change and climate change: In a system with sufficient levels of amorphous silicon in the soil, less phosphorus fertilizer and pesticides are needed and water retention in the soil is improved. The silicon absorbed by plants also protects them from harmful fungi and insects.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Nachhaltige-Landwirtschaft-durch-Silizium.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeSoilKlima12949936-bb7e-4b1b-a390-a192dffcd8d3Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMTTo mark the International Soil Day on December 5, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is publishing the brochure "Soil as a Resource - Research and Sustainable Use for the Bioeconomy". It presents the joint project "Soil as a sustainable resource for the bioeconomy - BonaRes" in detail, as well as the individual research activities that are being carried out in the network from 2015 to 2025.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/BonaRes-joint-research-project-featured-in-new-BMBF-brochure-on-soil-research.aspxKatharina Helming NoticeSoilThu, 05 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT New Innovation Center for Agricultural Systems Transformation approved: ZALF looks toward living laboratories for the future of agriculture ​​​​​​​​​25.11.2024 ​​Press Release ZALF from above​ The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has received approval for its Extraordinary Item of Expenditure: the "Innovation Center for Agricultural Systems Transformation" (IAT). With the IAT, ZALF will work even more closely with Justus Liebig University Giessen, the University of Kassel and Geisenheim University to expand practice-oriented agricultural research. To this end, the new IAT will open in 2026 and will be comprised of current ZALF locations in Brandenburg as well as three new locations in Hesse. The IAT will form the organizational framework for the development of five regional living laboratories in Hesse and Brandenburg. In addition, several new working groups with up to nine professorships will be established and there are plans to increase the number of permanent staff by around 70. At its autumn meeting on 22 November 2024, the Joint Science Conference (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz - GWK) approved funding for this strategic expansion in the amount of 9.5 million Euros per year. On 22 November 2024, ZALF received the GWK's positive decision to establish the "Innovation Center for Agricultural Systems Transformation" (IAT). The new structure will be established as a permanent strategic expansion of ZALF in cooperation with Justus Liebig University Giessen, the University of Kassel and Geisenheim University. The aim of the expansion is to conduct joint long-term, systematic research with non-scientific stakeholders on the transformation of agricultural systems in living laboratory regions. Together with its cooperation partners in Hesse, ZALF will expand its research areas to include other topics such as integrated animal-plant systems, intensified organic farming and climate-resilient viticulture and develop important infrastructures for joint research. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/IAT-Bewilligung.aspxHendrik Schneider Press ReleaseMiscellaneousMon, 25 Nov 2024 10:00:00 GMTA current research paper in the European Journal of Agronomy highlights the most important research priorities that are necessary in order to use digital technologies more efficiently for sustainable crop production in the future. With the participation of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), an international research team investigated how smart technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and sensor technology can make agriculture more sustainable as part of the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence. Agriculture is faced with the challenge of meeting the growing demand for food and raw materials with limited resources while at the same time reducing the environmental impact. Digital technologies offer great potential for mastering this balancing act. Research determines which priorities should be set in the future in order to maximize the impact of such technologies in practice and increase acceptance among farmers. In particular, ZALF contributes to the development of new field arrangements and corresponding models and decision-making tools that optimize production processes and enable targeted cultivation recommendations. "Our research shows that the use of smart digital technologies can fundamentally change crop production. Through improved and combined sensor technology, data collection and use, and modeling, we can make agricultural decisions more precise and resource-efficient," explains Prof. Dr. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF. "In this way, we are not only contributing to productivity, but also to environmental protection." Four central fields of research In order to unlock the potential of smart technologies for agriculture, the researchers identified four key areas in which further research is needed: 1. Multi-sensor monitoring: Digital technologies should use multi-sensor systems to record the condition of plants and soil precisely and in real time. Optical methods such as hyperspectral imaging or laser scanning detect the smallest changes and signs of disease at an early stage and enable detailed monitoring down to plant level. Another goal is the development of new sensors for the non-invasive detection of root systems and their distribution in the field. 2. Combination of data and process models: The combination of data-based and process-driven models is crucial to develop accurate and scalable agricultural system models. This allows detailed predictions to be made about plant development and nutrient requirements under specific environmental conditions. With the help of AI and machine learning, models should also be linked in such a way that they better support concrete management decisions, such as the use of fertilizers. 3. Improving decision-making and intervention: Smart technologies are helping to increasingly automate decisions in plant production. For example, research is investigating autonomous systems for targeted weed control or precise fertilization of individual planting areas. Simulation tools could optimize the use of resources in order to use cultivation areas more efficiently while minimizing environmental impact. 4. Modeling acceptance conditions and effects: A central aspect is research into the acceptance of technologies in practice. Technological innovations are often accepted only hesitantly, which is why acceptance models are to be developed that take regional and socio-economic conditions into account. Incentive systems and training programs should also promote the introduction of new technologies at company level. Example project: PhenoRob A concrete example of the implementation of these research approaches is the "PhenoRob" project, in which the concept of a "Digital Agricultural Avatar" is being developed - a digital platform that uses remote sensing and sensor data to monitor the nitrogen content of plants in real time, for example. As a result, farmers should receive decision-making support for more precise fertilization, new field arrangements or more precise crop protection. The results of the work offer valuable clues as to how data-driven, digital agriculture can be realized. Smart technologies could be used in the future in the form of autonomous agricultural machinery and sensor networks in fields in order to increase the environmental compatibility and efficiency of agriculture. Future prospects The research agenda underlines the need for close cooperation between agricultural sciences, computer science and social sciences in order to develop digital solutions for agriculture. A central step will be the creation of practice-oriented applications that meet the challenges of climate change and the needs of farmers. Project and cooperation partners:  University of Bonn  Research Center Jülich GmbH  Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence  Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS)  Institute for Sugar Beet Research (IfZ)  Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Funding information: This work was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments - EXC 2070-390732324. Further information: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01021-7 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Storm, H., et al, "Research priorities to leverage smart digital technologies for sustainable crop production," European Journal of Agronomy, Vol. 156, 2024, DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2024.127178, published under license CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in the light of the AI regulations at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Digitale_Landwirtschaft.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeAgriculture 4.0Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMTA recent study, published in the journal Agroforestry Systems, sheds light on the economic potential of agroforestry systems that integrate rows of poplars on arable land and compares them with conventional arable farming in Brandenburg. In their study, scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) show the conditions under which these so-called "alley cropping" systems can be economically viable and how targeted political support measures play a decisive role in their implementation. The concept of alley cropping combines poplar strips with conventional arable farming and thus offers not only economic but also ecological benefits. Particularly in Brandenburg, where the soil is often dry and low-yielding, this form of cultivation can help to stabilize soil fertility and promote biodiversity. The study compares the profitability of these agroforestry systems with conventional arable farming through detailed modeling of various influencing factors. These include: 1. Poplar harvest cycles: Both short (every 4 years) and medium (every 8 years) rotations were investigated to find out which harvest intervals have the greatest impact on liquidity. 2. Market prices for wood chips: The researchers analyzed how different price levels for poplar wood affect the profitability of the systems. Short rotations in particular prove to be economically stable at high wood prices, while medium rotations are difficult to compete at lower wood prices without financial support. 3. Width of the field strips (alley): Depending on the width of the cropland between the poplar strips (24, 48 or 96 meters), the proportion of timber and field crop yield varies. Narrower spacing could improve wind protection and thus stabilize yields, while wider alley spacing requires less tree area on arable land, which could be attractive for farmers who want to minimize the proportion of trees. "Our analyses show that short rotations of alley cropping with poplars in particular can be economically attractive even without subsidies if the prices for wood chips are high," explains Alma Thiesmeier from ZALF. "For medium rotations or lower wood prices, on the other hand, additional financial support is required to be competitive." Modeling different scenarios for Brandenburg To analyze the economic viability of these agroforestry systems, the research team used the "Agroforestry Calculator" modeling tool, which calculates the net present value of agroforestry systems under various framework conditions. The focus was on scenarios that compare different woodchip prices and subsidies. The study shows that current subsidies under eco-scheme 3 are not sufficient to incentivize the implementation of agroforestry systems on better soils and with fluctuating prices. A perspective for sustainable agriculture According to ZALF, agroforestry systems offer great potential for sustainable agriculture. They could help farmers to maintain soil quality and biodiversity in the long term while remaining economically viable. Nevertheless, the economic attractiveness of these systems often remains dependent on state support programs. The research team therefore recommends an expansion of funding to make the introduction of these cultivation systems more attractive and thus contribute to more sustainable agriculture. "Alley cropping systems can play a decisive role in making agriculture more future-proof and environmentally friendly," says Thiesmeier. "We hope that the results of our study will encourage politicians to provide suitable funding to promote the introduction of this cultivation method." Project partner:  Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Funding information: Open Access funding made possible and organized by Project DEAL. Further information: To original publication: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01021-7 Note on the text: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Alma Thiesmeier et al. (2024): Comparing the economic performance of poplar-based alley cropping systems with arable farming in Brandenburg under varying site conditions and policy scenarios, published in Agroforestry Systems. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01021-7, published Open Access under the license CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text has been carefully reviewed and revised in the light of the AI regulations at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Alley_cropping.aspxAlma Irma Maria ThiesmeierPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeTue, 19 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMTNew findings on nutrient uptake by plants and visions for the future of agriculture in Eastern Brandenburg: Müncheberg Research Award 2024 presented Two winners received the Müncheberg Research Award for the year 2024 on the 14th November, 2024. Gunvor Colind Helweg-Larsen was honored for her master's thesis on ideas for more inclusive food production and Karla Marie Barfuss wrote her master's thesis on the influence of mycorrhizal fungi on the nutrient uptake of plants and the development of plant roots. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Forderpreis-Muencheberg-2024.aspx?RenditionID=2Sibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 18 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMTLong-term field experiments (LTEs) provide a valuable foundation for scientific research due to their enduring structure and continuous data collection over several decades.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Veroeffentlichung-des-LTE-Gro%C3%9Fbeeren.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 13 Nov 2024 11:00:00 GMTBonaRes Repository successfully presented "Key Elements in Selecting a Research Data Repository: Use Case BonaRes Repository" on October 15, 2024. Academics learnt how to choose a data repository during the session.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Erfolgreicher-Workshop.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMTIn the lead-up to COP 16 in Cali, Colombia, a crucial conference to address global biodiversity, Ambassador of Colombia to Germany, H.E. Yadir Salazar - Mejía, met with Prof. Dr. Stefan Sieber, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti, Mr Sergio Bolivar Santamaria, and Ms Adriana Martin from the SusLAND group of the Leibniz Center for Agriculture Landscape Research (ZALF) to discuss groundbreaking opportunities for research and collaboration in the fields of nature conservation and agriculture. The dialogue highlighted the critical interconnection between these two sectors, emphasising the transformative potential of joint efforts to build a more sustainable future in both countries. Key points of the discussion included: - Integrating science into the cooperation agenda: Integrating science into the cooperation agenda is imperative to achieving tangible outcomes in nature conservation and climate protection. ZALF's extensive presence in Colombia, working in partnership with local organizations, has pioneered an integrative model that integrates science to develop evidence-based policies and strategies for sustainable land use. For example, the novel project to protect, manage, and restore Grasslands and Savannahs in South America, funded by the IKI programme of the BMUV. By combining scientific research with implementation on the territories, ZALF contributes to transforming practices rooted in evidence and local knowledge. - The nexus between Peace, Nature, and Agriculture: In response to the country's need for peacebuilding for a thriving Colombian society, pace with nature, ZALF and the Embassy highlight the potential role of ZALF in examining the critical role of nature conservation and sustainable agriculture in fostering peace and stability, particularly in regions affected by conflict or environmental degradation. - Scientific Diplomacy and Cooperation: Strengthening scientific infrastructures in Colombia and Germany through collaborative research projects, collaboration with the diaspora's scientific community and networks, such as BioGeCo and Menzypol, and capacity-building initiatives, including the support and promotion of German PhD researchers in Colombian universities, and increasing education and scientific mobility also from Germany to Colombia. This meeting marks a significant step forward in addressing the entangled challenges of biodiversity loss, peace, climate change and agricultural production. The Embassy of Colombia and ZALF are committed to strengthening the bilateral collaboration and develop high impact scientific projects to promoting sustainable development for both nations. The dialogue lays the groundwork for future collaboration. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Zusammenarbeit_Kolumbien-ZALF.aspxMichelle Chevelev-BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 24 Oct 2024 15:00:00 GMTOn 26 September, ZALF hosted its annual PhD Day, which focused on potential careers for PhD students. The day started with a workshop on skills assessment and understanding career preferences. The workshop was followed by a panel discussion with four experts from different sectors: academia, industry, NGOs and start-ups. This was followed by PhD student presentations, including quizzes, research pitches and demonstrations of field methods. At the end of the day, the PhD students enjoyed a social barbecue and potluck.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/PhD-Day-2024.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 24 Oct 2024 14:00:00 GMTA new study by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), published in the journal Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, analyses the current status and future options for transforming Europe's drained peatlands. The analysis shows the expected trends for drained peatlands: There are clear signs of a transition from drained arable land to grassland or wetland use. However, establishing economically viable business models for these land uses remains a challenge. The study highlights trends in land use, existing and future management practices and policy options. Peatlands play a crucial role in climate change mitigation because they store large amounts of carbon. Although they cover only 3% of the world's land area, they absorb almost twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined. However, especially in Europe, peatlands are being drained and used for agriculture. In the process, they release the stored carbon in the form of CO₂ and thus contribute significantly to global warming. Rewetting the land can halt this process. For the study, the researchers conducted an online survey of 60 experts from eight European countries, asking about current and potential uses of rewetted peatlands and current trends. This was followed by workshops in Germany, the Netherlands and Finland with practitioners and researchers. The aim was to identify ways to expand the climate-neutral use of drained peatland soils in the future. From this, the researchers derived policy options at EU level. Current use of peatlands, potentials and trends In some countries, land use on drained peatlands is already shifting: moving away from arable farming towards wetland or grassland use. This shift is largely due to the increasing availability of economic options for utilizing these rewetted areas. The land can be used for grazing and hay production. In addition, paludiculture allows the cultivation of plants that thrive in wet conditions. This can provide sustainable raw materials such as reeds and peat moss for use in construction, insulation and energy production. Moreover, wetlands support biodiversity, provide recreational spaces for people, and offer essential ecosystem services such as water regulation. However, these uses are less economically attractive, making the transition more difficult - especially where current practices generate high profits. Policy implications and the role of the EU The workshop participants emphasized the need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions from peatlands. However, this requires broad public support and economic incentives. EU policy plays a crucial role in developing measures to promote and support the transition in the long term. The interests of the various stakeholders must be reconciled. "It is also important to provide economic incentives for the sustainable transformation of drained peatlands. Without the support of the agricultural sector and the public, such a transformation will be difficult to achieve," says Dr. Cheng Chen, one of the lead researchers of the study. "Currently, paludiculture products have a very small market share. Value chains need to be significantly expanded. This requires industry partnerships for material processing and the expansion of the consumer framework to support the adoption and utilization of the new material", he adds. Results and outlook The study underlines that a successful transformation of peatland landscapes requires a differentiated approach, considering both the geoclimatic conditions and the interests of land users. A mix of economic incentives and adapted land-use models could support the transition to more sustainable practices, while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Project partner:  Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany.  Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University of Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany.  Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam, Germany.  Landesamt für Umwelt Brandenburg - Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection (MLUK), Brandenburg, Germany.  Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Eberswalde, Deutschland.  Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam, Deutschland. Funding: The WetNetBB project (Management and Biomass Utilization of Wet Fens: Network of Model and Demonstration Projects in Peatland Regions of Brandenburg) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Climate and Transformation Fund. This research was made possible in part through funding by the PEATWISE project under the FACCE ERA-GAS Research Programme (under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation Programme, grant agreement no. 696356).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Wiedervernaessung_Moore.aspxAnnika GrabauPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlima982c1a40-3048-43b6-8333-c9a7e963eb75Thu, 24 Oct 2024 09:00:00 GMTIt depends - Climate change alters crop yields differently based on species and regionhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Der-Klimawandel-veraendert-die-Ernteertraege.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 17 Oct 2024 17:00:00 GMTA recent study with the participation of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has investigated the extent to which the spatial diversification of arable land at the district level influences the yield fluctuations of important field crops in Germany. The results of the study, published in Environmental Research Letters, show that diversification alone is not enough to significantly reduce yield volatility. Between 1977 and 2018, the yields of winter wheat, winter barley, silage maize and winter oilseed rape were analyzed at the district level. The aim was to assess the stability of combined yields with different land use. “Our analysis shows that an optimized distribution of cropland could reduce yield fluctuations by an average of 24%, but it also went hand in hand with a decline in biodiversity,” explains Prof. Frank Ewert, co-author of the study and Scientific Director at ZALF. What does spatial diversification mean? The term spatial diversification refers to the practice of growing different crops in different regions or in different fields within a district. The idea behind it is that spreading the acreage over several plant species reduces the risk of extreme weather events or other environmental factors endangering the entire harvest in one year. For example, if a county grows not only a single crop such as wheat, but also barley, corn and canola, it is hoped that the overall crop will be more stable because the plants respond differently to weather or soil conditions. Diversity not always the key to stability The researchers found that stable yields were more likely to be achieved by growing robust individual crops such as winter wheat and winter barley, rather than by relying on the diversity between different crops. This is an interesting finding, as diversification is often seen as a way to minimize risk. Portfolio theory, originally from the world of finance, was used to optimally distribute the acreage and minimize yield volatility. Social relevance and future prospects The study provides important insights for agriculture, which is increasingly having to adapt to climate change. Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods make reliable yield planning more difficult. However, the results show that choosing stable crop varieties could be an effective strategy for minimizing yield losses. Prof. Ewert emphasizes: “Future research should focus on optimizing cropping systems to find a balance between species diversity and yield stability.” Prof. Heidi Webber, co-author of the study at ZALF, explains: ”Our research makes it clear that not every diversification measure has an equally positive effect on yield stability. We need to develop differentiated strategies that take into account both ecological and economic factors.” Further research needed In further studies, the model of diversification is to be refined and expanded to include additional plant species. Investigating the long-term effects on soil fertility and crop yields also remains a key research objective. Funding reference: The study has emerged from the work of the DFG-funded Young Investigators Academy Agroecosystem Research at ZALF and is also financed by ZALF's budgetary funds. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Studie_Diversifizierung-.aspxHeidi WebberNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 17 Oct 2024 13:00:00 GMTFrom September 18th-24th, the international, transdisciplinary Agroecology4Climate project team held their kick-off meeting both at ZALF and at the University of Hohenheim. Researchers and farmer representatives from four case study regions in Brazil, Canada, Germany and India met to agree on project goals, shared values and understandings of the central concepts and methods used in the project. The workshop included farm tours in eastern Brandenburg, a lively day at ZALF, workshopping on the joint train ride to Stuttgart, and then two more days in Hohenheim to pin down the diverse qualitative and quantitative methods that will be applied in each of the case studies. Agroecology4Climate builds on transdisciplinary research on agroecological transitions with vulnerable farming communities in Canada, Germany, India, and Brazil. We are examining the influence of agroecological networks (farming organizations, institutional actors, and consumer groups) in promoting the perennialization of agriculture to support climate adaptation (improving resilience in livelihoods and food security) and mitigation (increasing carbon sequestration). Diversified perennialization (often referred to as agroforestry) involves integrating annual and perennial crops and trees into the same farming system. Compared to annual cropping systems that currently dominate global agriculture and markets, perennial crops show great promise for climate adaptation and mitigation because of their contributions to carbon sequestration in tree biomass and soil organic carbon, as well as reduced chemical fertilizer and pesticide use and their buffering effects against soil degradation, drought, and other forms of extreme weather and climate variability. This project works directly with farming communities, social movements, and policy makers to improve evidence-based decision-making to assess the potential of agroecological transitions for climate adaptation and mitigation. At ZALF, Julia Fritzsche and Maria Kernecker are leading the Brandenburg case study together with Julia Bar Tal from the AbL. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Kick-off_Agroecology4Climate-.aspxMaria KerneckerNoticeMiscellaneousKlima07c8df49-30be-43fd-a39b-49d250ec44e6Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:00:00 GMTLong-term field trials (LTE) provide an irreplaceable source of data for science with their static design and lifespan of more than 20 years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/20-Jahre-kontinuierliche-Daten-LTE-Westerfeld.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMTSocial learning processes can play a crucial role in the sustainable management of natural resources, according to a new global study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) coordinated the analysis, which reviewed 137 case studies from five continents. The researchers identified two primary types of social learning: endogenous and exogenous. The study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, revealing why endogenous learning is particularly effective in certain contexts. Social learning describes how groups build knowledge and develop solutions together. Endogenous learning originates within communities and is grounded in local rationalities and experiences. Exogenous learning, on the other hand, is driven by external actors such as experts or organizations. Both approaches have their merits, but the study demonstrates that endogenous learning holds particular promise in addressing challenges in Global South regions. Endogenous Learning: Sustainable Change from Within Endogenous learning fosters deep, long-lasting change by drawing on local knowledge and traditions. In case studies mostly from the Global South, communities that relied on their own experiences were more likely to develop sustainable resource management solutions. This approach enhances the capacity of marginalized territories to respond to multifaceted crises. “Endogenous learning works particularly well when communities can act autonomously,” explains Prof. Michelle Bonatti, lead author of the study and researcher at ZALF. “It’s based on shared experiences and leads to solutions that are locally adapted and sustainable in the long term.” Exogenous Learning: Benefits and Challenges of External Expertise Exogenous learning brings valuable external knowledge and innovations that can complement local practices. However, it can face resistance when outside solutions do not align with local conditions. The study found that in Global South regions, exogenous learning is often hindered by power imbalances, as external actors may not fully understand or respect the community’s social and cultural context. “Exogenous learning offers new perspectives but can struggle when local communities feel their experiences are overlooked,” says Prof. Dr. Bonatti. “Close collaboration with local actors is crucial to fostering trust and enhancing the learning process.” Why Endogenous Learning Succeeds The study highlights that endogenous learning is particularly beneficial in marginalized communities in the Global South, where external actors often face skepticism. Endogenous learning strengthens community-based approaches that rely on collective action and participatory decision-making. It becomes a catalyst for social justice and sustainable development by leveraging local resources and knowledge rather than undermining them. Looking Ahead: The Role of Social Learning in Sustainable Resource Management The study underscores the importance of further research into social learning processes. Future projects should focus on understanding the long-term impacts of endogenous learning on sustainable resource management and developing methods to support these processes. There is also a need to critically assess the role of external actors in social learning and to explore how endogenous and exogenous learning can be effectively combined. “Our analysis shows that social learning processes not only share knowledge but also foster trust and cooperation within communities. This is crucial for developing sustainable solutions, especially in rural regions of the Global South,” emphasizes Prof. Michelle Bonatti. This is a summary created with the help of artificial intelligence: Bonatti, M., Lana, M., Medina, L. et al. (2024). Global analysis of social learning’s archetypes in natural resource management: understanding pathways of co-creation of knowledge. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Soziale_Lernprozesse.aspxMichelle Chevelev-BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 15 Oct 2024 11:00:00 GMTThe BonaRes Repository and the FAIRagro Consortium hosted the workshop "Data Quality Tools and Use Cases in Agricultural Sciences" at ZALF on September 24th and 25th 2024.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Workshop-zu-Datenqualitaet-in-der-Agrarwissenschaft.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 14 Oct 2024 15:00:00 GMTIn the course of the SOILAssist project, RTK GPS recordings of field cultivation driving activities are continuously performed. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/SOILAssist-GPS-Aufzeichnungen-von-Fahraktivi%C3%A4ten.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 14 Oct 2024 13:00:00 GMTA new study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology shows that the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from Arctic soils is significantly reduced by calcium. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) led the study, which demonstrates the potential of calcium to bind CO2 in mineral structures. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Calzium.aspxDr. Jörg SchallerNoticeSoilSat, 12 Oct 2024 08:00:00 GMTNew process increases barley yields and reduces fertilizer use in Kenya https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/2024_10_08_Meldung_Schaller_Kenia_final_en.aspxDr. Jörg SchallerNoticeFood SecurityFri, 11 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMTHave you ever wondered what research data management is all about? Why is it so important? What is special about managing data from agrosystem research? Then we at FAIRagro and de.nbi have created the perfect interactive training for you – a mix of presentations and interactive exercises!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Workshop-Maximizing-the-Potential-of-Agricultural-Research-Data.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 02 Oct 2024 11:00:00 GMTFrom September 16 to 22, researchers of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning (CAEP), Zhejiang University and Hohai University traveled to Germany as part of the SinoPES project. The SinoPES project is a joint project of ZALF and IGSNRR, aiming at developing coordinated, efficient and sustainable governance and financing mechanisms for ecosystem services in the context of Europe and China. The program encompassed elements from the Landscape conference. A session (3.7 Innovative governance of ecosystem services: collaborative and hierarchical models) in the Landscape conference is organized by the SinoPES project. The session enable exchange with international scientists on the latest developments in the field of ecosystem service valorization and governance. During the visit, the Chinese delegation engaged with German partners to refine research ideas previously developed through meetings in China in May 2024. In addition, several field trips were organized to allow the delegation to explore agroecosystem transformation case study in Germany, including landscape laboratory ‘patchCROP’ and UNESCO Spreewald Biosphere Reserve. The project is currently leading a special issue (SI) in Ecosystem Service: Innovative governance of ecosystem services: from hierarchical to collaborative models and from single instrument to “blended” approaches. The SI is already online.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Besuch_SinoPES.aspxCheng ChenNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 02 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMTPollinating insects such as bumblebees play a crucial role in plant reproduction, not only by enabling seed production but also by facilitating the exchange of genetic information. This is particularly important in agricultural landscapes, where plant populations are often spatially separated by settlements, fields and roads. Researchers, including those from the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), have investigated how different landscape elements influence the foraging routes of bumblebees in such agricultural landscapes and how this affects the genetic diversity of the wild plant populations. Their findings were recently published in the journal “Ecology and Evolution”https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2024_09_27_ZALF-NEWS_Hummeln.aspxSibylle Krickel, Viola Kranich / ZALFNoticeBiodiversityMon, 30 Sep 2024 11:00:00 GMTThe workshop is designed for researchers in agro-hydrological studies and practitioners who are interested in gaining a practical introduction to Machine Learning and exploring its potential applications in groundwater modeling.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Data-Driven-Hydrology.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 27 Sep 2024 13:00:00 GMTIn a recent study, an international research team involving the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has investigated the performance of co-designed diverse crop rotations in comparison to continuous cereal cropping in the mediterranean region. The results of the published study in the European Journal of Agronomy show single legume integration improved agronomic and economic performance while rapeseed or multiple legume integrations had diverging impacts. Among the first studies in the region to combine participatory approaches and modelling methods, this study emphasizes the importance of involving a diverse panel of stakeholders in the design and assessment of cropping systems as well as modelling approaches to inform about practical options available to farmers in their quest for sustainable and resilient farming.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2024_09_26_PM_ZALF_Co-Design_Diversifizierung_Mittelmeerraum.aspxSibylle Krickel, Viola Kranich / ZALFNoticeSoilFri, 27 Sep 2024 11:00:00 GMTResearchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shared their latest research on the resilience of community -supported agriculture (CSA) with the Apfeltraum market garden in Eggersdorf near Müncheberg. The gardeners made their farm available to the researchers as a case study and provided detailed insights into their operations. The study, published in the journal Agricultural Systems, shows how CSA farms can strengthen their resilience to market and environmental changes through community and diversity.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Solawi-zukunftsfaehiges-Betriebsmodell.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeFood SecurityWed, 25 Sep 2024 16:00:00 GMTOn 03.09.2024, Harison Kipkulei successfully defended his PhD project with the title, “Maize condition monitoring and yield prediction in Kenyan agricultural landscapes: A remote sensing and crop modelling integration approach.” The doctoral committee was headed by Prof Dr. Dr. Christian Ulrichs (Professor of Urban Plant Ecophysiology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). During his PhD, Mr. Kipkulei was supervised by Prof. Dr. rer. agr. Stefan Sieber (Head of the working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” at ZALF), Prof. Dr. rer. agr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura (Professor of Land Use Systems at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Co-Head of Research Area 2 “Land use and governance” at ZALF), Assoc. Prof. Marcos Lana (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden), and Dr. Mark Kipkurwa Boitt (Senior Lecturer & director at the Institute of Geomatics, GIS & Remote Sensing at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya). The PhD project focused on the development of an integration approach that combines crop modelling and remote sensing to assess maize crop conditions and quantify production in Kenyan agricultural landscapes. The project integrated datasets from on-farm experiments, remote sensing, climate modelling, GIS and remote sensing analysis to develop innovative approaches for addressing data limitations in data-scarce environments. He conducted process-based model calibration and evaluation using multi-season data and conducted muti-year yield simulations to assess yield stability at spatial explicit levels. The doctoral project also assessed the yield response of various agronomic measures at agroecological levels to promote optimal targeting of measures for enhanced production. The project further tested the performance of remote sensing and crop modelling integration at the field and regional scales by driving crop model simulations using remotely sensed data. In the cumulative work published in five peer-reviewed articles, Mr. Kipkulei demonstrated that crop modelling and remote sensing integration offered promising avenues for the evaluation of crop conditions and development in data-scarce landscapes. The spatial-explicit assessment of agronomic practices revealed significant influences of agronomic measures, with their potential to enhance production by adopting approaches such as shifting sowing dates and a specific cultivar. The doctoral committee rated the PhD with an overall grade of magna cum laude. We congratulate Mr Kipkulei!!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Verteidigung_HKipkulei.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 11 Sep 2024 15:00:00 GMTZALF PhD student wins best oral award at ESA Congress The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was well represented at this year's European Society for Agronomy (ESA) Congress in Rennes, France, from August 26 to 30. ZALF PhD student Jennifer Thompson gave a convincing presentation on mixed cultivation of soy and wheat in Germany and received the Best Oral Award with the maximum score of 100 points.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/pages/FPD/Vortragspreis-ZALF-Doktorandin-ESA-Kongress.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 06 Sep 2024 18:00:00 GMTThe dataset comprises spatial rasters of the sand, silt and clay content throughout Germany (agricultural soils) from 0 to 100 cm depth. It has a raster resolution of 100 m and comprises depth slices of 1 cm.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Raeumliche-Raster-der-Bodentextur.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 26 Aug 2024 10:00:00 GMTOn Thursday, August 29, 2024, the evaluation of the combine crops will take place at the ZALF research station in Dedelow.​ The topics of the event will be: Discussion of the weather and vegetation in the 2023/2024 season Information on variety selection for rapeseed and winter cereals Evaluation of other crop trials Start of the event: 29.08.2024 - 10:00 Location: Research Station Dedelow, Steinfurther Straße 14, 17291 Prenzlau You are cordially invited!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/dedelow_maehdrusch_einladung.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Aug 2024 17:00:00 GMTResearchers at the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have published an opinion paper in the journal "Plant and Soil" on the uptake of organic nitrogen (N) as an important nutrient source for plants in agricultural soils. In their paper, the researchers propose a combination of research methods that allows for a holistic view of the interactions between soil, plants and microorganisms and fills gaps in the knowledge of nitrogen uptake in research. In doing so, they provide the basis for developing new cropping practices that use nitrogen efficiently and are less dependent on chemical fertilizers.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Stickstoffaufnahme.aspxDr. Maire HolzNoticeBiodiversityWed, 21 Aug 2024 08:00:00 GMTA recent study by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows that the use of organic nitrate fertilizers, such as liquid manure or fermentation residues, in combination with topsoil dilution increases carbon storage in the soil and can thus contribute to climate protection. According to the study, the method of topsoil dilution, in which low-carbon subsoil is mixed into the topsoil, has less influence on the soil's ability to store carbon than the type of fertilization and the erosion status of the soil. The research results were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Oberbodenverduennung.aspxShrijana VaidyaNoticeSoilTue, 20 Aug 2024 13:00:00 GMTDr. Katharina Löhr (SUS/PB2) presented her research on “social cohesion as leverage point of restoration” at this year’s PECS-III Conference in Montreal, Canada (12-15 August 2024). The presentation was part of the Symposium Towards Social-Ecological Approaches to Restoration chaired by Dr. Manuel Pacheco and Dr. Miguel Cebrián (Leuphana Universität, Lüneburg). As the flagship meeting of a transdisciplinary, action-orientated field, PECS conference gathers a diverse group of scholars, policy-makers, stakeholders, practitioners, and Indigenous rights-holders from all over the planet to share cross-cutting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and insights on social-ecological dynamics in the Anthropocene. It focuses on the transformative changes needed in different contexts and places to bring society onto a sustainable path.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PECS-III_Montreal.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 16 Aug 2024 14:00:00 GMTThe "Provision of Ecosystem Services" working group in the Research Area 2 “Land Use & Governance” is exchanging knowledge with the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje (MRIZP) in order to develop climate change-adapted agroecological cultivation methods for agriculture. Although the consequences of prolonged periods of heat and drought are already a challenge for agriculture in Germany, there are countries in Europe where extreme weather events and heat waves are much more severe. While the average temperature for maize and soybean vegetation period gradually increased (from 16.5 °C to 21.0 °C for the period 1991 to 2023 at Zemun Polje, Belgrad location) precipitation amount tend to be stable of about 350 mm. Nevertheless, precipitation amounts were distributed unequally over crop growing period, similarly to the situation in Germany, with dominance of dry periods, particularly during maize anthesis, including maize and soybean grain filling period. At the same time, obtained changes are favourable for a rapid spread of aggressive weed species and pests. Thus, maize and soybean dry farming become even more challenging in Serbia. Frequent dry periods in October and November also affect germination and sprouting of small-grain cereals. Accordingly, it is required to transform and apply more resilient models of agricultural production in Serbia. The MRIZP is a government-funded institute developing maize, soybean, and small-grain cereals cultivars with a high-yielding potential for different growing conditions, purposes and needs. The gene bank of MRIZP disposes of more than 5,000 accessions of local and introduced maize genotypes, whereby the institute is doing plant breeding and seed production research. For the successful introduction to new cultivars on the agricultural market, MRIZP is constantly working with field trials to develop conventional and organic crop production systems under diverse agro-ecological conditions during the cultivation. The ZALF-MRIZP cooperation network brought together scientists from the fields of agronomy and agroecology in Belgrade at the beginning of August to discuss joint research potential and cultivation strategies for maize, grain legumes and cereals in the field. Under the leadership of Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, Dr. Milena Simic and Dr. Vesna Dragicevic, Dr. Richard Omari, Tsvetelina Krachunova, Dr. Milan Brankov and Natalia Pavlovic will investigate synergies between plants and soil organisms in the coming vegetation period. The focus will be on weed diversity and management on the cultivation areas under climate change conditions. In addition, various weed communities will be analysed for their effect on plant physiology, grain quality and biomass. Another research topics being developed in the collaboration are various crop rotation, tillage and fertilisation systems for grain maize and maize for silage for climate change adaptation and their effect on soil C concentration and CO2 emissions, as well as the cultivation of soybeans with novel inoculants in various crop rotation designs. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Wissenstransfer_Serbien.aspxTsvetelina KrachunovaNoticeMiscellaneousKlima4039e9fe-87f8-47c3-bdf6-a0c90a354d1bThu, 15 Aug 2024 08:00:00 GMTTowards sustainable crop protection in agriculture: A framework for research and policy. European countries have set ambitious targets for reducing pesticide risks. To meet these targets, farmers need to adopt sustainable crop protection strategies. However, it is still unclear how best to achieve this. A recent article in Agricultural Systems analyzed farmers' decision-making and policy instruments for sustainable crop protection.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Nachhaltiger-Pflanzenschutz-in-der-Landwirtschaft-Grundlagen-f%C3%BCr-Politik-und-Forschung.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeSustainable Land UseWed, 14 Aug 2024 16:00:00 GMTThree soil types with different degrees of erosion were investigated in a vessel experiment.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Erosionsbedingte_Veraenderungen.aspxIsabel ZentgrafNoticeSoilMon, 12 Aug 2024 14:00:00 GMTProf. Dr. Gunnar Lischeid of ZALF becomes member of the Brandenburg Scientific Climate Council The new Scientific Climate Council of the State of Brandenburg was constituted on 15.07.2024 under the chairmanship of Prof. Hermann Lotze-Campen of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Prof. Dr. Gunnar Lischeid of the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is one of the 12 appointed members. The main task of the advisory board is to scientifically monitor the progress of the Brandenburg Climate Plan and to prepare a report on the state's greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets every two years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Lischeid-Klimabeirat_Brb.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeClimate ChangeKlimaTue, 06 Aug 2024 17:00:00 GMTEine aktuelle wissenschaftliche Studie unter Leitung des Leibniz-Zentrums für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) zeigt: Treibhausgasemissionen in der Milchviehhaltung könnten um 20% bis 30% reduziert werden, wenn die Betriebe eine Kombination verschiedener Maßnahmen anwenden. Ein Forschungsteam hat die Effekte von einer Zufütterung mit Rotalgen, Kuh-Toiletten und Gülleansäuerung auf die Umweltbilanz der Milchviehhaltung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse wurden nun in der Fachzeitschrift Heliyon vorgestellt. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Massnahmen-Umweltbilanz-Milchviehhaltung.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeClimate ChangeKlima45762de2-9a0c-43f4-93c7-57a6069e3f13Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMTOn 15.07.2024, Esther Shupel Ibrahim successfully defended her doctoral thesis on "Modelling and Predicting Diseases and Pests Impacts on Crop Production under Climate Change in Nigeria: Combining Remote Sensing and Agro-Ecosystem Modelling" at the Humboldt University of Berlin.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Esther-Shupel-Ibrahim-verteidigt-Promotionsarbeit.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 19 Jul 2024 15:00:00 GMTThe data collection contains 6-year measurement data series (2014-2019) on CO2 concentration, temperature and moisture in different soil depths of a European beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) and a Scots pine forest (Pinus sylvestris) in the northeast German lowlands.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Bodenrespiration-eines-Buchen--und-Kiefernwaldes.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 19 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMTOn 10 July 2024, Dr. Felix Zoll received the Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Prize of the Förderverein für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften (Association for the Promotion of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences) at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin for the best doctoral thesis. The award recognises his outstanding dissertation, which examines alternative food networks to investigate how the spatial and social separation of food production and consumption can be overcome. In today's globalised world, the strong separation between food production and consumption often leads to problems. These include environmental pollution, lack of transparency and trust, unfair production conditions and the loss of biodiversity and local cultures. Felix Zoll's work has looked at community-supported agriculture, food cooperatives and self-harvest gardens. These alternative food networks (AFNs) offer a promising solution by actively involving consumers in the production and distribution of food. This promotes both physical and social proximity and enables transparent, fair production conditions. As part of a social movement, AFNs can thus contribute to a value-based food system and provide a small-scale example of a more sustainable approach to food. The dissertation is entitled "Reconnecting Production and Consumption in Alternative Food Networks - Motivations, Drivers and Socio-economic Implications" and was written in cooperation between the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The work was supervised by Prof. Dr. Klaus Müller and Dr. Rosemarie Siebert at ZALF. Since 1996, the Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Prize has honored outstanding doctoral theses and graduates of the Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. We congratulate Dr Felix Zoll on this well-deserved award! https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer-F%C3%B6rderpreis_FZoll.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 19 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMTZALF at the German Farmers' Day 2024 in Cottbus Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) presented itself with a varied program at the German Farmers' Day 2024 in Cottbus. The projects LeguNet, DAKIS, NatApp, EROSPOT and SynAgri-PV presented innovative solutions for soil and climate, erosion control and agri-environmental measures as well as the dual use of arable land.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Bauerntag_2024.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 18 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMTResearchers from the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are part of the new DFG research group FORMULA. The group is investigating the benefits of agroforestry systems for ecosystems and people. Over the next four years, different working groups within FORMULA will study biodiversity, water balance, soil health and pollination services in agroforestry experimental plots. The new DFG research group FORMULA at the University of Giessen and ZALF is dedicated to the study of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry is the combination of trees or shrubs on the same agricultural land. The research will investigate the impact of these cropping systems on ecosystems and people. Over the next four years, the effects of cropping systems in the field as a function of the distance between crops and integrated tree rows will be analyzed. The research group will initially focus on questions related to water management, soil health, pollination services and changes in microclimate. The results of the agroforestry systems will also be analyzed in comparison to conventional field arrangements. The trials will be conducted in Brandenburg and Hesse on plots where tree rows have already been planted in 2017, allowing researchers to begin with field studies immediately. Several working groups are involved at ZALF The research group is headed by Prof. Lutz Breuer, Professor for Land Use Systems at the University of Giessen. Several ZALF research groups are involved in the DFG research group: • Dr. Joana Bergmann, working group "Sustainable Grassland Systems", investigates questions of biodiversity and the mapping of plant functional variation. • Dr. Mathias Hoffmann from the "Isotope Biogeochemistry & Gas Fluxes" group is working on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. • Dr. Maren Dubbert from the "Isotope Biogeochemistry & Gas Fluxes" group is working on Soil-plant interactions of the water cycle. • Dr. Kathrin Grahmann from the "Resource-Efficient Cropping Systems" group investigates nutrient fluxes • Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath Kimura (WG: "Provisioning of Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Systems"), Prof. Heidi Webber ("Integrated Crop Systems Analysis and Modeling") and Prof. Frank Ewert (Scientific Director) are investigating the management, productivity and yields of agroforestry systems. Research needs in agroforestry Agroforestry systems are a form of land use that integrates trees or shrubs with crops, sometimes in combination with livestock. In the context of current challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, this form of land use is receiving increased attention in research. Agroforestry systems have the potential to improve microclimate, soil health and biodiversity. In addition, agronomic benefits are seen through an additional source of income from the rows of trees, thereby diversifying risk for agricultural enterprises. Shade from tree rows, increased pest and weed pressure, water competition, inflexibility and lower crop yields are seen as critical. However, there are few scientifically validated results on agroforestry systems, especially in temperate latitudes. Announcement of the DFG on research group funding on July 02, 2024 The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding a total of ten new research groups that will work on topics ranging from agroforestry to the automation of social communication. On July 2, the DFG's Joint Committee decided to fund ten new Research Units on the recommendation of the Senate. The funding will be provided in the form of a total of approximately 41.3 million euros for a period of up to eight years. The funding of Research Units enables scientists to address current and pressing issues in their fields and to establish innovative research directions. The DFG currently funds a total of 225 research groups. Project partner: Landscape, Water and Biogeochemical Cycles at Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen – Prof. Dr. Lutz Breuer Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development – Prof. Dr. Ralf Bloch Funding: Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Neue_-DFG-Forschungsgruppe_FORMULA.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 16 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMTWith the support from Prof. Heidi Webber and Dr. Wurb Angelika, Dr. Chenzhi Wang, a member of the CSA Group of Research Area 3: Agricultural Landscape Systems, has been awarded the prestigious Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. This distinguished accolade is part of the 2024 Marie Curie Actions (MSCA), an initiative of the European Commission aimed at promoting research and innovation across Europe and the world.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-Forscher-Marie-Curie-Postdoc-Stipendium.aspxHeidi Webber, Chenzhi Wang, Katrin Meier NoticeMiscellaneousFri, 12 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMTThe Uzbek delegation, represented by scientists from the “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University (“TIIAME” NRU) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), visited Germany during July 1-5, 2024. The main aim was to participate in a number of scientific workshops. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Deutschland-Usbekistan-Workshops-.aspxAhmad Hamidov, Katrin Meier NoticeWaterThu, 11 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMTOn 08.07.24, Joseph MacPherson successfully defended his doctoral thesis on "Addressing uncertainty and normativity in agricultural sustainability assessment: the example of agricultural digitalisation" at Leibniz Universität Hannover. Joseph demonstrated that the potential of digitalisation to improve ecosystem services and biodiversity in agriculture can only be realized if a proper legal framework and incentive mechanisms are in place. Additionally, Joseph methodologically advanced agricultural sustainability assessment to better account for causal uncertainties and the value perspectives of affected stakeholders, thereby making the results more robust.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Joseph-MacPherson-hat-Dissertation-verteidigt.aspxJoseph MacPherson, Katrin Meier NoticeMiscellaneousThu, 11 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMTIn a recent article published in the journal Nature Plants, the authors used simulation experiments to show that nitrogen fertilization in wheat cultivation will have to increase up to fourfold in the coming years to exploit the yield potential of the varieties and feed the growing world population.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Stickstoffbedarf-im-Weizenanbau.aspxKevin UrbaschPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 11 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMTNew bacterium described: Hope in the fight against ash diebackhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Eschentriebsterben.aspxDr. Andreas UlrichPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeWed, 10 Jul 2024 15:00:00 GMTThe 1st FAIRagro Community Summit took place on June 17th/18th in Berlin. More than 120 interested people from the agricultural community joint the event.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/FAIRagro-Community-Summit.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 10 Jul 2024 13:00:00 GMTThe TREES project (ZALF/PB2/SUS) has been invited to present its accompanying research on forest landscape restoration (FLR) and good governance at this year's Restoration Academy (17.-19. 6.2024). The RA aims to connect local and (inter)national organizations working within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and to promote knowledge exchange. The RA was organized by F4F/GIZ, AREECA and DEER as part of the AFR100 Annual Partnership Meeting (APM 8) in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania). In addition to an introduction to the TREES project, Shibire Bekele Eshetu presented her findings on the impacts of land use decisions on FLR in Ethiopia. The expert panel, which was also attended by representatives from NEPAD/AFR100, ICRAF and Wetlands International, was followed by a World Café on risks and chances of collaboration between science and practice. Funding: TREES Project receives financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned and administered through the global project on forest landscape restoration and good governance in the forest sector (Forests4Future) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Restoration_Academy_2024_Tansania.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 10 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMTApplication for an Extraordinary Item of Expenditure passes next stage. At its meeting on Friday, July 5, the German Council of Science and Humanities decided on an assessment of ZALF's application for a strategic extension. The report on this so-called "Extraordinary Item of Expenditure" was published on July 8.​ According to the report, the project to establish an Institute for Agricultural System Transformation at ZALF is rated as very good overall. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/update-sondertatbestand.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 09 Jul 2024 17:00:00 GMTAbout 60 trainees, trainers, and students came to the Havelland Trainee Day 2024, put on by the Havelland District Farmers' Association and the Paulinenaue Research Station on June 14, 2024. The day was full of different activities for young people from Havelland and other districts at the Paulinenaue Research Station of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The motto was "Grassland, moors, insects - you can never know enough." The trainees and students had the chance to test their knowledge and learn new things at several practical stations. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/Azubitag_Paulinenaue.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 08 Jul 2024 15:00:00 GMTA study published in Energy, Sustainability and Society examines the attitude of nature conservation organizations towards the installation of photovoltaic systems in agricultural landscapes. The study was conducted as part of a master's thesis at Humboldt University of Berlin and the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The results show a growing acceptance of renewable energies, but also underline the need for a co-design process in which all stakeholders are involved in the planning and implementation of photovoltaic systems at an early stage. Photovoltaic systems can represent a sustainable alternative to fossil energy sources, but their installation on agricultural land often leads to conflicts of use. This study analyzes the perspectives of nature conservationists in Brandenburg on ground-mounted photovoltaic systems (GM-PV) and high-mounted agrivoltaic systems (agri-PV), which combine agriculture and energy production on the same land. Through interviews with local representatives and analyses of position papers from nature conservation associations, the research team found that there is broad support for rooftop PV systems in this group, while large ground-mounted systems are less accepted. Smaller systems and agri-PV systems, on the other hand, meet with a more open attitude, as they could mitigate land use conflicts. Cooperation with interest groups increases their acceptance Author Janna Marie Hilker emphasizes: "The study shows that local and regional conditions as well as the interests of those affected must be taken into account when planning PV systems in order to achieve greater acceptance and compatibility with nature conservation goals." The study makes it clear that the acceptance of PV systems increases if the planning process is organized in accordance with local interests and ecological standards. Nature conservation organizations can help to develop environmentally friendly design options that promote both climate protection and biodiversity. Future developments and research needs The results of the study suggest that in future, ecological standards and the demands of local stakeholders and interest groups should be given greater consideration in the planning and implementation of PV projects. Agri-photovoltaic systems could play an important role in the energy supply in Germany and Brandenburg by reducing land use conflicts and preserving biodiversity at the same time. However, there is still a need for research to investigate the long-term effects of agrivoltaics on nature and landscapes. The continuous monitoring of demonstration and trial installations as well as the further development of agri-PV technologies and designs within an open innovation process are necessary to promote local acceptance and find satisfactory long-term solutions. Funding Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. No funding was available for this study. https://deal-konsortium.de/ Text disclaimer: This is a summary of the original text created with the help of artificial intelligence: Hilker, J.M., Busse, M., Müller, K. et al. Photovoltaics in agricultural landscapes: “Industrial land use” or a “real compromise” between renewable energy and biodiversity? Perspectives of German nature conservation associations. Energ Sustain Soc 14, 6 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00431-2, published Open Access.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Agri-Photovoltaik.aspxSybille KrickelNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMTThe SUSLand working group, led by Prof. Stefan Sieber, welcomed Prof. Pawan Kumar Joshi from the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, for a short visit. On June 18, 2024, Prof. Joshi delivered an insightful talk titled “Indian Western Himalaya – A Climate Changing World”, organized by the SUSLand group. He elaborated on the topography of the majestic Indian Western Himalaya and discussed how climate change is impacting this mountainous region. These changes are highly affecting forests and, consequently, agricultural communities that rely heavily on natural resources. Prof. Joshi's talk covered a broad spectrum, from spatial level changes to their connection with individuals, emphasizing the "Pixel-People-Policy" nexus. This approach integrates the use of spatial and geographical information system (GIS) tools at the ground level. Special thanks are extended to German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for funding the bi-national PhD supervision of Miss Akshita Choudhary, a visiting researcher at SUSLand, ZALF from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. This support enables young PhD researchers and their supervisors to build networks and exchange ideas at an international level.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Besuch_Joshi.aspxAkshita ChoudharyNoticeMiscellaneousKlimaf1ab892d-1ed4-473f-ab93-d452ecbb5c53Fri, 05 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMTOn May 24, one of the Brandenburger Science Slams 2024 took place at Kulturfabrik Fürstenwalde, organized by the Präsenzstelle Fürstenwalde. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Science-Slam-in-der-Kulturfabrik-Fuerstenwalde.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousSat, 06 Jul 2024 02:55:12 GMTNadja Heitmann successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the BTU Cottbus with the topic "Ground-dwelling arthropods as mobile linkers for the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium and Alternaria". https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/diss_heitmann.aspxDr. Marina MüllerNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 03 Jul 2024 11:00:00 GMTOn June 18, 2024, the Grain Legume Field Day was held in Müncheberg, Germany, organized this year by the Society for the Promotion of Lupine (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Lupine, GFL). The day was primarily aimed at a specialist audience, including representatives from breeding companies, seed producers and retailers. In total, around 50 people attended the event. The focus was on exchanging breeding objectives and strategies for lupin with growers and research institutions. The event began with a welcome from Dr. Thomas Eckardt of the GFL. Rebecca Thoma (GFL), Martin Kind and Elisabeth Berlinghof (both ZALF) then presented LeguNet. The network consists of growers and processors and develops strategies to improve the added value of grain legumes. Brandenburg is one of the most important lupin growing areas in Germany. Of the grain legumes, only peas occupy a larger area. However, only 7.5% of the lupins grown in Germany are currently used for human consumption. Tour of the field trials and history of ZALF The participants then visited the field trials with blue, yellow and white lupins as well as other grain legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, grass peas and dry beans. The trials are part of a long historical tradition at the research site: A bitter-free fodder lupin, known as the sweet lupin, was bred here as early as 1929. Moritz Reckling, Mosab Halwani and Jéssica Bubolz led the trials on drought stress, harrowing and hoeing variants and different varieties. In the drought stress trials, the white lupins performed surprisingly well, although they are not normally recommended for light soils. A yellow lupin, not yet on the market, is also seen as having great potential for human nutrition. Presentation of the patchCROP landscape laboratory and practical insights Kathrin Grahmann presented the patchCROP landscape laboratory, where small-scale, diverse cultivation is being tested, including the use of field robots. In patchCROP, lupins are grown in rotation on lighter soils. The challenges of growing lupin due to disease and weed pressure were discussed while inspecting the crops. The impressions and experiences were complemented by Thomas Kunze from the JKI Kleinmachnow. The scientist and his team monitor plant diseases and pests in addition to the field trials. Organizer Society for the Promotion of Lupine (GFL) and LeguNet in cooperation with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V. Funding: LeguNet is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag as part of the BMEL's strategy for protein crops.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Feldtag_Koernerleguminosen.aspxMoritz RecklingNoticeLegumesMon, 01 Jul 2024 15:00:00 GMTThe dataset includes 6 complete runs of the crop sequences winter wheat (WW) – winter barley (GW) – winter oilseed rape (RA) resp. faba beans (FB) in fourfold replication. Four options of residue managements were applied prior to winter wheat. See related identifier for datasets about the plots including coordinates/shape files and a comprehensive description of the treatments. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Kornertragsdaten-Uni-Kiel-V140-INPLAMINT.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 01 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMTA study by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) sheds light on the different attitudes of political and administrative decision-makers towards nature-based solutions (NBS) in water management. The case study, published in the journal "Ecosystems and People", examines the views and priorities of decision-makers in Costa Rica and provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing NBS.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2024_06_27_ZALF-PB2_NBS_Wassermanagement.aspxBarbara Schröter, Annika Grabau / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 28 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMTOn June 11 and 12, ZALF scientists met with members of the German Bundestag as part of the "Leibniz im Bundestag" event. During the one-hour one-on-one meetings, the MPs learned about agrivoltaics, developments on the agricultural land market, and the expansion of organic farming.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Leibniz-im-Bundestag-2024.aspxAnnika Grabau, Viola Kranich / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 28 Jun 2024 10:00:00 GMTA new study by the Universities of Vechta and Augsburg and the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) examines the importance of sufficiency, i.e. the reduction of excessive resource consumption through climate-friendly behavior, in the climate protection concepts of 40 German pioneering municipalities. These municipalities, known as "Masterplan municipalities", received national funding to create role models for municipal climate protection. The study shows that sufficiency, e.g. switching from cars to public transport, reducing per capita living space or repairing appliances instead of buying new ones, is playing an increasingly important role in municipal climate protection strategies. However, this often remains subordinate to technological solutions - leaving further savings potential untapped. As an outlook, the authors suggest that political framework conditions should be specifically adapted in order to integrate sufficiency as a climate protection strategy more effectively into municipal action.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Klimaschutzstrategie-Kommunen.aspxAnnika GrabauPress ReleaseClimate ChangeWed, 26 Jun 2024 11:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was awarded the 26th berufundfamilie certificate for its family- and life-phase-conscious personnel policy. ZALF has been conducting the berufundfamilie audit since 2011. The certificate was awarded to ZALF in recognition of its long-standing commitment to work-life balance. Dr. Marion Tauschke, equal opportunity officer and project manager for berufundfamilie®, accepted the award on behalf of ZALF for the fifth time.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/ZALF/berufundfamilie-Verleihung-2024.aspxAnnika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 26 Jun 2024 11:00:00 GMTA team of scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the Institute of Technology and Resource Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at Cologne University of Applied Sciences, the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Geography at the University of Potsdam and the Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES) at the University of Bonn have conducted a study with the help of modern, digital sensors to investigate the influence of plants and soils on soil moisture. The method presented in the study can contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing soil moisture in further research. This is important for the development of more water-efficient cultivation methods. The results have now been published in the journal "Hydrology and Earth System Sciences".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2024_06_21_ZALF-NEWS_Studie_Einflussfaktor_Bodenfeuchte.aspxSibylle Krickel, Viola Kranich / ZALFNoticeSoilMon, 24 Jun 2024 09:00:00 GMTGreat interest in the Carbon Farming plow at the DLG Field Days 2024 https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/CF_PFlug.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 17 Jun 2024 13:00:00 GMTOn June 12, 2024, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) welcomed the local representations of universities from all over Brandenburg. This initiative is part of a transfer strategy that is unique in Germany and aims to promote cooperation between science, business, politics and civil society.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/hochschulpraesenzstellen-am-zalf.aspxStefanie Deters, Annika GrabauNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 13 Jun 2024 18:00:00 GMTAfter 3.5 years as a doctoral student at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath-Kimura and at the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research under the supervision of Dr. Kathrin Grahmann, Marco Donat successfully completed his doctoral thesis on "Digital tools to analyze high-dimensional data sets for diversified field arrangements" on May 30, 2024.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Donat.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 13 Jun 2024 15:00:00 GMTA group of ZALF scientists led by Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf traveled to China as part of the German-Chinese research project "SinoPES" to exchange perspectives on the governance of ecosystem services and to continue ZALF's exchange with Chinese partners.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/sinopes-china-exchange-2024.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeEcosystem ServicesThu, 06 Jun 2024 17:00:00 GMTSoils are at the basis of agricultural value chains and are therefore essential for human being. At the same time, soils fulfil other important ecosystem services: as the largest terrestrial carbon sink, they actively contribute to climate protection, they serve as water retention and flood protection, and they provide clean drinking water. Soils are a habitat for biodiversity and soil organisms that transform organic compounds into plant available nutrients. But how can we achieve high yields on agricultural soils in the long term while maintaining vital ecosystem services?https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Final-conference-BonaRes---Soils-as-the-fundamental-basis-for-sustainable-agriculture.aspxKatharina HelmingNoticeSoilFri, 31 May 2024 11:00:00 GMTDr. Roger Funk in ZDFinfo Documentationhttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/PB1/Natur-macht-Geschichte.aspxDr. Roger FunkNoticeSoilThu, 30 May 2024 09:00:00 GMTThe BonaRes Repository, dedicated to the publication and curation of data from agricultural and soil research, has developed the free web app DQ-Kit for data quality assessment. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/DQ-Kit-veroeffentlicht.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 24 May 2024 11:00:00 GMTCover crops improve soil structure and change OC distribution in aggregate fractions https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Deckfruechte-verbessern-die-Bodenstruktur.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 23 May 2024 11:00:00 GMTVirtual workshop on research data management, tips for improving publication visibility.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/RDM-Workshop-Sichtbarkeit-von-Veroeffentlichungen.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 22 May 2024 12:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will take part in the "Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften 2024" (Long Night of Sciences) in Berlin on June 22nd and present four exciting research projects on sustainable agriculture. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/lndw-2024.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 15 May 2024 15:00:00 GMTA study recently published in the journal Landscape Ecology by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) investigates the diversity of crop rotations in Brandenburg's agricultural landscapes and the factors that influence this diversity. The findings are particularly relevant as they show how agricultural practices could be adapted to meet the challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/fruchtfolgenvielfalt.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 14 May 2024 12:00:00 GMTFederal President Steinmeier and Minister President Woidke at ZALF: Insight into the transformation of agriculture Climate change, biodiversity loss and, most recently, war and pandemics: Agriculture is facing numerous challenges. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is researching solutions. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier came to see for himself how sustainable agriculture can be shaped. On May 7, 2024, he visited the ZALF campus in Müncheberg together with Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the German federal state Brandenburg. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/steinmeier-woidke-zalf-2024.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousKlimae3ca3140-1664-48b8-99ba-6b825f9456eaWed, 08 May 2024 19:00:00 GMTOn Sunday, April 28, 2024, the first event of the series #waehlengehen24 took place at the Parkclub. Instead of the usual format where the candidates for the respective political committees have their say, the Parkclub, together with the Fürstenwalde office, invited scientists to speak. The event was streamed live and can also be watched on YouTube. https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/DIR/geht-waehlen-fuerstenwalde.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 29 Apr 2024 17:00:00 GMTAs part of the CliWaC project, we are looking for interested farmers to participate in two consecutive workshops on climate risks.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/cliwac-workshop.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousKlima1edb1a81-61a4-486b-b938-e384693a6785Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMTA new study published in the journal "Potato Research" presents results on the response of spring and summer potatoes to climate change in South Korea. The study, conducted by scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, investigates the effects of global warming on the potato crop and presents adaptation strategies.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Klimawandel-beeinflusst-Kartoffelanbau-in-Suedkorea.aspxYean-UK KimNoticeClimate ChangeKlima6467f219-6001-4c1f-aeec-7aa50be56ceeThu, 25 Apr 2024 09:00:00 GMTSix representatives of the Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg GmbH (WFBB) visited the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg on April 17th 2024. The aim is to initiate joint projects in the future.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/wfbb-am-zalf.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 24 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMTThe soil fungal community was surveyed across a 52-year chronosequence of soil recultivation after open-mining, during two seasons (March-winter, July-summer). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Bodenpilzgemeinschaft-in-Inden-(Deutschland).aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 22 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMTIn a world where sustainable agricultural practices are of increasing importance, "agroecology" has become a pivotal term for discourse and action. A recent study in Environmental Science & Policy examines its diverse usage and provides insights for ongoing discussions on agroecology.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Neue-Studie-zu-Agraroekologie.aspxBeatrice Walthall; Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 15 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMTMüncheberg, Germany - Scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), together with two Chinese partner institutions, have published a paper in the journal Plants People Planet. The results show how artificial intelligence can be used to identify so-called traditional agricultural systems and preserve them to protect biodiversity. As a case study, the researchers use a widespread crop with a particularly long tradition in China: Chinese tea. In the course of the ongoing modernization of agriculture worldwide, standardized seeds are increasingly being used in many places. Genetic diversity is being lost at an alarming rate. In agriculture, this has a negative impact on disease and pest resistance, adaptability to climate change and the stability and function of ecosystems, among other things. Traditional agricultural systems offer the possibility of preserving both genetic diversity and indigenous knowledge of cultivation, thereby preserving important cultural and social values that play an important role for a culture. With the help of indicator evaluation models and machine learning, the researchers have now been able to narrow down areas in China that are particularly suitable for the preservation of traditional agricultural systems. Areas were identified that are characterized by a particularly high genetic diversity and other socio-economic factors, such as the presence of local knowledge and cultural systems. Conserving these systems not only protects biodiversity, but also the indigenous knowledge and cultures associated with them. "The results of the research are a call to action to recognize traditional agricultural systems as an indispensable part of our cultural heritage and ecological future," explains Yunxiao Bai, lead author of the study. The methodology provides a model that can be applied globally to identify and protect other critically endangered agricultural systems. The map enables politicians to use resources specifically for the conservation of these systems. To the publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10479 The text was created with the help of artificial intelligence and carefully reviewed and revised under the aspects of AI regulations at ZALF. The text is used at the user's own risk. Tweet: Did you know that traditional agricultural systems, like the ones that produce our tea, are also good for our environment? They preserve the diversity of nature & ancient knowledge! A study examines how and where they should be preserved. #ProtectAgriculturalHeritage 🌿🍵https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Chinesische_Agrarsysteme.aspxYunxiao BaiNoticeBiodiversityFri, 12 Apr 2024 08:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Lab "Systemic Sustainability" addresses the challenges posed by the rapid loss of biodiversity and advancing climate change on the one hand, and intensive agriculture and food security on the other. It brings together relevant knowledge from science and society to promote the development and implementation of systemic solutions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/leibniz-lab-systemische-nachhaltigkeit.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 28 Mar 2024 15:00:00 GMTA study led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and published in the journal Ecological Economics provides important insights into the future of food labeling in the EU. By analyzing expert opinions from the food industry, the study identifies a broad consensus on the need for new food labels to encourage farmers to provide more ecosystem services.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/eu-lebensmittel-label.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseEcosystem ServicesTue, 26 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMTThis year ESP organizes its 5th European conference under the theme "Ecosystem Services: One Planet, One Health. The theme focuses on how the concept of ecosystem services can address the challenges of achieving the global vision of One Health. It highlights the interdependence of human health, animal and plant health, ecosystem health and the health of the global environment. The conference will be held in Wageningen, the Netherlands, November 18-22, 2024. The ZALF scientist Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf is part of the Scientific Program Committee. The theme is consistent with international commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework and is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals can only be achieved in a healthy and equitable economic system that takes into account the full value of nature's contributions to human well-being. Ecosystem services science can make a major contribution to addressing various challenges to sustainable development and global health and offers great potential for scientific partnerships across sectors and for driving transformative change. ESP is the leading global ecosystem services community. ESP conferences serve a vital function for this community by providing a space for knowledge exchange, networking, and innovation. At the 5th ESP Europe Conference, we aim to focus on two thematic streams: a) Ecosystem services and health, and b) Ecosystem services and conditions for transformative change. The streams are inspired by the overarching conference theme and will feed into the conference outputs and takeaways in different ways - with the common goal of scaling up the positive impacts of ecosystem services research. Of course, as always, there will also be ample room for session proposals that do not fit neatly into the streams and conditions layout, but address topics relevant to the ESP community. The 5th ESP Europe Conference will be an in-person conference to provide an enriching experience that allows attendees to fully immerse themselves in the conference, interact with speakers, and engage with other attendees in real time. The conference will also make a special effort to empower young voices. We are committed to enabling high-impact participation by early-career researchers. The program will be complemented by pre-conference trainings, a conference dinner, and field trips showcasing local landscapes. Registration will open this summer. We look forward to welcoming you all to Wageningen in November to meet and connect with passionate people, learn from their experiences, and gain valuable insights into the connections between ecosystem services and One Planet, One Health!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ESP-Europakonferenz_2024.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeEcosystem ServicesTue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMTA study published in Ecological Research by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in collaboration with the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg sheds light on how artificial intelligence and machine learning could revolutionize ecological research. The study analyzed 1,550 articles.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ki-umweltforschung.aspxHendrik Schneider; Kristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:00:00 GMTA newly developed test will make it easier to identify biting midges that can transmit dangerous disease agents. In a recently published study, the authors present an innovative method for differentiating biting midge species known to transmit viruses causing serious diseases of ruminants such as bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. These diseases pose a major threat to the agriculture livestock industry Europe and can cause enormous economic losses. ZALF scientist and dipteran expert Dr. Doreen Werner was involved in the study. Until now, it has been difficult to distinguish the various biting midge species that transmit the bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses from each other and from non-vector species. The hematophagous females of these insects look very similar, and traditional methods of species identification are often time-consuming and require specialized knowledge. This has made it difficult for both authorities and scientists to effectively control and prevent outbreaks of these diseases. In response, scientists at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, together with ZALF and the University of Strasbourg, have developed a new genetic method that can be used to quickly and accurately identify different biting midge species. The method is based on the analysis of a specific gene that is different in each biting midge species. By analyzing more than 4,000 genetic records from a publicly available database, the team was able to develop a test that detects all known vector species of these viruses within a certain biting midge group. The new test is exceptionally accurate, outperforming previously used methods. This development is an important step in the surveillance and control of biting midge-borne diseases. Researchers and animal health authorities will be able to detect potential outbreaks more quickly and take more targeted control and prevention measures. This is particularly important as climate change and global warming could increase the risk of these diseases spreading to new regions. The study highlights the importance of combining classical taxonomy and genetics in solving problems that affect both agriculture and public health. The research group plans to further refine the methods and apply them to other groups of disease vectors to enable even broader application in monitoring and controlling disease outbreaks. Funding: This research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), grant number 281B101816.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Gnitzenforschung.aspxKristina Backhaus, Doreen WernerNoticeMosquitoesMon, 25 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMTLong-term experiments (LTEs) are an important infrastructure for investigating interactions between soil, plants, and agricultural activities. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/LTE-Datensatz-ver%C3%B6ffentlicht-Duernast-020-N-Formen-Versuch.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 25 Mar 2024 09:00:00 GMTIn a recent study, scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the University of Geisenheim have found that the use of amorphous silicon as a fertilizer in drought-stressed wheat fields has two major benefits: it increases soil moisture and promotes the development of beneficial microbial species. These findings offer new approaches to wheat production under climate change conditions and could lead to more effective farming practices.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/silizium-weizen-mikroorganismen.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilFri, 22 Mar 2024 18:00:00 GMTResearchers at ZALF have developed a low-cost instrument for agricultural research to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and evaporation from plant and soil surfaces. The device will help fill data gaps on greenhouse gas emissions and water use efficiency in agriculture.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/low-cost-measurement-system.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMTIn its final statement, the Leibniz Senate emphasized the outstanding development and the good to excellent performance of the various research units of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The Leibniz Senate recommends continued funding by the federal and state governments for the next seven years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/leibniz-evaluierung-ergebnis-2024.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 21 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMTThe dataset contains two kinds of wind-related-data for the site Forst (Lower Lusatia) in the SIGNAL project. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Agroforstwirtschaft-und-Monokultur-in-gemae%C3%9Figten-Zonen.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 21 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMTCrises are posing new challenges for agriculture and the food sector worldwide. It is becoming increasingly clear that one-size-fits-all solutions no longer work and that case-specific concepts need to be developed from a variety of approaches. By joining the Agroecology Coalition, the German government aims to promote the conversion of agriculture to sustainable agroecological cultivation methods through policy, knowledge exchange and the provision of financial resources. Depending on regional conditions and requirements, agriculture in Germany and around the world is to be adapted to natural and climatic conditions and cycles, with local experience and the inclusion of practice partners being important building blocks. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Projektstart-AGROECOLOGY.aspxToni Klemm, Annette PiorrNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 19 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMTTwo dissertations successfully completed Anne-Katrin Kersten and Marina Gerlinghttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Diss_gerling.aspxDr. M. MüllerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 18 Mar 2024 14:00:00 GMTCan the joint work of practitioners and researchers in living laboratories accelerate and improve the transformation of the agriculture and food sector, and if so, how? Questions like these were discussed by more than 100 participants at a pre-conference for the Scientific Conference on Organic Agriculture (Wita 2024) at the University of Giessen.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/preconference-reallabore-giessen.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 15 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMTToday marks the end of the four-day DAFA conference on agricultural research on climate change. The scientific conference in Potsdam focused on the transformation of the agricultural and food system. Several ZALF scientists and political representatives took part. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/dafa-konferenz-2024.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeClimate ChangeKlima4de6b387-a199-4ead-8f7d-856ef685218cThu, 14 Mar 2024 15:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has installed the first four charging stations for e-mobility in Müncheberg. They are operated by EMB Energie Brandenburg, a GASAG Group company. All stations are accessible to ZALF employees, guests and tenants, and two of the stations are also accessible to external electric car drivers. Eight charging stations are available, each with a charging capacity of up to 22 kW, depending on capacity. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/e-mobilitaet-muencheberg.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 13 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMTThe scientific community has made its decision: 26 Leibniz researchers will serve on review boards of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) for the next four years. Among them is ZALF scientist Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb for the field of soil sciences in the review board "Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine". Kolb heads the working group "Microbial Biogeochemistry" at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/dfg-fachkollegium-steffen-kolb.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 12 Mar 2024 18:00:00 GMTThe German Research Foundation (DFG) has announced the establishment of the Permanent Senate Commission on the Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems. Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), has been appointed as a member of the committee. The Senate Commission has the task of evaluating new scientific findings for their social and political significance and making recommendations for action.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Ewert-Mitglied-DFG-Senatskommission-SKAE.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima5cbdb451-49a3-44e8-8f3d-aad606127647Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:00:00 GMTProf. Stefan Sieber, head of the working group "Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries" at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), has been appointed adjunct professor by the Humboldt University of Berlin. The certificate was presented to him by Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Ulrichs, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the HU. Prof. Sieber is now adjunct professor at the Thaer Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at HU Berlin in the Department of Agricultural Economics. At ZALF, he heads the working group "Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries" in Program Area 2 "Land Use and Governance". He is an expert on food security, climate change adaptation and bioenergy. He deals with impact assessment and the development of decision support systems in the context of sustainability issues. In addition, Prof. Sieber advises on agricultural and environmental policy issues and is committed to the dissemination of scientific findings.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Professur_Sieber.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 11 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMTMany ZALF data are generated on experimental plots in a few regions. These are increasingly being expanded into LivingLabs (Agroscapelab Quillow). These so-called ZALF Focus Areas are described as well as possible with metadata and their geodata and get published in the BonaRes repository.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ZALF-Focus-Area-Forschungsstation-Dedelow.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 08 Mar 2024 10:00:00 GMTGeneral description of the Long-term Field Experiment ‘V140‘: The long-term field experiment ‘V140‘ was established in 1963 at the experimental site of the present Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) about 50 km east of Berlin in the district Märkisch-Oderlandhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Langzeit-Feldexperiment-V140-Muencheberg-gestartet-1963.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 07 Mar 2024 14:00:00 GMTThis data set reports measurements and observations from a grain legume cropping system experiment (2017-2021) investigating the effects of cultivars and irrigation on yield of soybean, lupins and faba bean, and rotational effects on a subsequent winter wheat (2018-2020)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Datensatz-zum-Anbau-von-K%C3%B6rnerleguminosen-(2017-2021).aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 07 Mar 2024 14:00:00 GMTAt the end of January, the DFG research network RESTORE, in which ZALF is involved with two sub-projects (AG SUS: Sieber/Löhr) under the leadership of Prof. Fischer (University of Leuphana), began its work in Rwanda. In addition to exploratory field visits in Western Rwanda, the kick-off took place in Kigali. Day 1 explicitly aimed at scientific actors. Day 2 brought together researchers and actors from policy and practice. Both days were organized in a participatory manner in order to work jointly on visions, strategies and methods, as well as to explore synergies and collaboration opportunities. Dr. Apollinaire William and Valery Ndagijimana joined the ZALF RESTORE team in February. The up-coming field phase is scheduled for June in order to start establishing stakeholder platforms and two living labs based on an in-depth network analysis and further field visits.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Projekt_Restore.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 06 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMTResearch plays a crucial role in societal efforts towards sustainable development. However, how can we recognize and promote this societal responsibility of research?https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Wirkungsabschaetzung-zum-Forschen.aspxLena Pfeifer; Katrin Meier NoticeMiscellaneousTue, 05 Mar 2024 09:00:00 GMTA new podcast format has been launched at ZALF: Soil Hydrology Prediction delves into the details of soil science, hydrology and modelling water and energy cycles in environment. It is hosted by Dr Roland Baatz, ZALF researcher in the field of landscape modelling.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Podcast-Soil-Hydrology-Prediction.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeWaterKlima65dbb376-141b-4b64-a17d-aa870b89f423Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMTOn February 28, the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) presented recommendations for action based on a study by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) to the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The study examined the potential contribution of digital and smart technologies in agriculture to promoting sustainability.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/nena-handlungsempfehlungen-digitalisierung-landwirtschaft.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Thu, 29 Feb 2024 13:00:00 GMTA study conducted by an international team led by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has comprehensively investigated the impact of climate change on productivity at long-term field experiment (LTE) sites in Germany. The study, published in the European Journal of Agronomy, analyzed net primary productivity (NPP) - a key indicator of vegetation productivity and carbon dynamics - at 271 LTE sites and projected significant spatial shifts in productivity under different climate scenarios across Germany by the end of the 21st century​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Studie-offenbart-Einfluss-des-Klimawandels.aspxCenk Dönmez; Katrin Meier NoticeClimate ChangeFri, 23 Feb 2024 11:00:00 GMTUnder the motto "Brandenburg shows attitude", regional organizations and individuals take a public stand for democracy and cohesion. The Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) takes part in this campaign and stands up for an open-minded Brandenburg. ZALF also joins the declaration of the Leibniz Association "For Democracy and Human Dignity". Current crises such as climate change, war, inflation and migration hold conflict potential, also for democracy in Germany. Insecurities caused by the rapid changes in our society are exploited by extremist and anti-democratic forces. ZALF is therefore committed to the protection of democracy and scientific exchange in order to overcome the current challenges in society. With "Brandenburg Shows Attitude - For Democracy & Cohesion!" ZALF supports a campaign in which numerous organizations and individuals from the state show that they stand against right-wing populism, anti-democracy and for an open democracy. Prof. Frank Ewert, scientific director of ZALF, explains the reasons for supporting the campaign as follows "Similar to science, democracy needs different perspectives to find solutions for the current complex social upheavals and crises; the answers are rarely simple. People from almost all continents research and work at ZALF and bring not only their professional diversity and thus different perspectives, but also a cultural diversity to our institution, which we see as a great enrichment. We are therefore committed to a democratic, tolerant, diverse and cosmopolitan Brandenburg. As part of our organizational guidelines, we also stand for open discussion, objective debate, and respectful interaction with one another.”https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Brandenburg_zeigt_Haltung.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseMiscellaneousWed, 21 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMTFind out more about the joint work of PhenoRob and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Developing and designing crop systems that combine food security with sustainability, ZALF aims to deliver solutions for an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4pQw8lY9p4Kristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMTIn a recently published study, a large international consortium of biodiversity scientists utilized synthesis data to show the synchronized response of communities to land-use. The study provides evidence, that higher agricultural land-use has direct and indirect effects on the community leading to faster growth and nutrient cycling in most guilds. This has consequences for functional biodiversity as well as for ecosystem functions like nutrient fluxes, carbon sequestration and productivity. They analyzed traits and occurrence data of more than 2800 protozoa, fungi, plants and animal species from grassland plots in three long-term study areas in Germany, the DFG-funded Biodiversity Exploratories. The working group “Sustainable grassland systems” from Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) contributed data and plant root trait expertise for this endeavor. The study „A slow-fast trait continuum at the whole community level in relation to land-use intensification” has been published on 10 February 2024 in the journal Nature Communications. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Nature-Studie.aspxJoana BergmannNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 15 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMTGiven the pressing challenges of climate change, education is increasingly seen as a key to transformative adaptation to a changing environment. A study, conducted in collaboration between the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the University of Victoria (Canada), takes a closer look at an innovative approach: the use of drama in climate change education.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/klimawandelbildung-durch-drama.aspxHendrik Schneider, Kristina BackhausPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlima314db2f8-3d17-4547-b229-fec572b28b5cWed, 14 Feb 2024 14:00:00 GMTThe Tropentag conference took place on September 20 - 22, 2023 and was organised by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany in cooperation with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjqiS84-6_YKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 08 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMTThe latest scientific data show that Europe's biodiversity has reached a tipping point: Over the past four decades, the populations of Europe's farmland birds and insects have declined significantly. To improve the situation, seven projects of the BiodivScen program propose collaborative and sustainable solutions. ZALF has contributed to these solutions with the SALBES project (Scenarios for Agricultural Landscapes' Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/biodiversity-scenarios-2024.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityWed, 07 Feb 2024 16:00:00 GMTThe "CarbonTillage" innovation project (ZALF, LEMKEN, agrathaer) presented itself to a broad public from January 19th to 27th, 2024 at the Green Week.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/IGW-Berlin-Carbon-Tillage.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeSoilWed, 31 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMTOn Thursday, January 25, Martin Jank, ZALF's Administrative Director, hosted the official inauguration of a new woodchip heating system in Hall 51. According to Jank, the new heating system is "an important first building block for a secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply" and one of the projects to increase ZALF's energy resilience.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/holzhackschnitzelheizung-zalf.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 31 Jan 2024 14:00:00 GMTThe Call for abstracts and pre-conference workshops for the LANDSCAPE conference 2024 in Berlin is now open. The deadline for submissions is March 15th, 2024. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/landscape-2024-call-for-abstracts.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 30 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMTThe study focuses on the impact of a beneficial microbial consortium on the plant performance of winter rye under different farming practices during the vegetation period, including the winter growing season.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Winter-rye-grown-organically-and-conventionally.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 23 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMTTree species composition of a landscape in north-eastern Germany in 1780, 1890 and 2010https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Tree-species-composition.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 02 Feb 2024 14:51:01 GMTOn January 19, Cem Özdemir visited the stand of the "Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (DAKIS)" project and the joint project "Agricultural Systems of the Future". At the Global Food Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), the Minister of Ministers had the first applications demonstrated to him.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Bundeslandwirtschaftsminister_besucht_DAKIS.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 22 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMTOn January 18 and 19, we will be presenting the DAKIS project at the 'Agrarsysteme der Zukunft' booth. Among other things, the new image film will be presented there. This film provides insights into the work and goals of our research project. Additionally, a poster illustrates our visions for the agricultural landscape of the future: What might our agricultural landscapes look like in the year 2050, and how can we reconcile nature conservation objectives with agricultural production on the same area? These are the questions we, the DAKIS team, would like to discuss with the visitors of the GFFA Forum. On our tablets, we demonstrate the innovative DAKIS software and the EROSPOT web app. These digital tools, developed as part of the DAKIS project, aim to support farmers and agricultural advisors in implementing sustainable production systems.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DAKIS_GFFA.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMTFrom January 19 to January 28, the "Land-Innovation Lausitz" project will be presenting itself at the International Green Week in Berlin. At the exhibition booth, a miniature model will be used to demonstrate solutions that have been developed in the transformation region as part of the project. The aim of "Land-Innovation-Lausitz" (LIL) is to develop Lusatia into a model region for adapting land use to climate change. This is to be achieved with the help of innovative technologies and sustainable forms of use on a bioeconomic basis. More than 60 partners from research, business, agriculture, politics and administration are currently working together to achieve this. The research and development projects focus on the innovation areas of soil, plants and materials, the integration area of cultural landscape and the cross-sectional area of digitalization and sensor technology. The project teams each come from science and practice and conduct research into resource-efficient cultivation systems, drought stress-resistant crops and bio-based plastics, among other things. Very different projects such as a truffle plantation and the World Heritage Initiative of the Lusatian post-mining landscape are united under the umbrella of LIL. The projects are researching the dual use of climate-resilient crops such as sunflowers and chickpeas, developing monitoring of landscape surfaces and biodiversity using drone and satellite data and agroforestry recycling management. One project utilizes iron hydroxide sludge and aims to develop a valuable soil additive from it. And much more! "Land-Innovation-Lausitz" is jointly managed by the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and is funded as part of the "Change through Innovation in the Region" (WIR!) program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). With this funding program, the BMBF aims to strengthen innovation and structural change in selected regions. The funded initiatives are intended to bundle regional expertise, establish new collaborations between science, industry and society and thus provide important impetus in the respective region. In the long term, the aim is to create partnerships that form sustainable, self-supporting structures.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/LiL_auf_IGW.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:00 GMTJoin us for anl virtual conference on Planetary Justice and Societal Responsibility in International Sustainability Sciences!Dive into discussions on the role of international cooperation in sustainability, the interplay between Global North & South, and the impact of cultural and socio-economic diversity on research. We're bringing together experts to reflect on the societal responsibility within Sustainability Sciences.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Planetary-Justice-and-Societal-Responsibility.aspxKatharina Helming; Katrin Meier NoticeMiscellaneousFri, 05 Jan 2024 11:00:00 GMTZALF scientist Cenk Donmez has been awarded the title of professor by University of Cukurova-Adana in the Graduate School of Natural Sciences at the Department of Landscape Planning, Division of Remote Sensing and GIS, upon the recommendation of The Turkish Council of Higher Education-Ankara.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/professur-cenk-doenmez.aspxCenk Dönmez; Katrin Meier NoticeSoilFri, 15 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMTZALF scientist Cenk Donmez has been awarded the title of professor by University of Cukurova-Adana in the Graduate School of Natural Sciences at the Department of Landscape Planning, Division of Remote Sensing and GIS, upon the recommendation of The Turkish Council of Higher Education-Ankara.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Dr--Cenk-Dönmez-zum-Professor-für-LandschaftsplanungCenk Dönmez; Katrin Meier NoticeSoilFri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:00 GMTThe first European Soil Mission Week took place in Madrid from November 21–23, 2023 organised by the Joint Research Center - EU Soil Observatory (EUSO), the EU-funded PREPSOILProject, and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) in support of the EU Mission "A Soil Deal for Europehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-Forscher-nehmen-an-EU-Bodenmissionswoche-in-Madrid-teil.aspxCenk Dönmez; Katrin Meier NoticeSoilFri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:00 GMTZALF scientist Cenk Donmez has been awarded the title of professor by University of Cukurova-Adana in the Graduate School of Natural Sciences at the Department of Landscape Planning, Division of Remote Sensing and GIS, upon the recommendation of The Turkish Council of Higher Education-Ankara.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Dr--Cenk-Dönmez-zum-Professor-für-LandschaftsplanungCenk Dönmez; Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 07 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMTOn November 23, 2023, a parliamentary evening with ZALF participation took place in the newly opened Potsdam Lab.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/parlamentarischer-abend-potsdam.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 28 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMTTogether with the Parliamentary State Secretary of the BMEL, Dr. Ophelia Nick, the ZALF scientists Dr. Cheng Chen and Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Maerker traveled to China to represent the perspectives of agroecology and to expand ZALF's cooperation with China. The delegation was led by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and included representatives from research, industry, organic farming and farmers' organizations. Several meetings were organized to discuss agrobiodiversity and green transformation. The exchange with the Chinese Agricultural University highlighted the potential for cooperation in sustainable agricultural development, food safety and agro-environmental protection. A field trip to an indoor smart farm and the Shared Harvest organic farm were also part of the delegation's itinerary. At an agricultural reception hosted by the German Ambassador to China, Dr. Patricia Flor, it became clear that both Germany and China want to continue working together on solutions for sustainable food systems. Dr. Cheng Chen from the working group "Ecosystem Service Governance" is co-leader of the German-Chinese project "SinoPES". The International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) hosted Prof. Dr. Michael Maerker, Editor-in-Chief of International Soil and Water Conservation Research, for a series of lectures at various Chinese universities. Both Cheng Chen and Michael Maerker joined the BMEL delegation to China to strengthen the ZALF network in China.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/BMEL-Delegation_China.aspxCheng ChenNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 27 Nov 2023 14:00:00 GMTFrom 12th to 18 November 2023, the CarbonTillage project presented its innovative carbon farming plow at the world's leading fair for agricultural technology AGRITECHNICA in Hannover. Together with the project partner LEMKEN, the fractional deep tillage to increase soil fertility and yields as well as for sustainable climate protection was explained to visitors. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Agritechnika.aspxProf. Dr. SommerNoticeClimate ChangeFri, 24 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMTOn November 20 and 21, our DAKIS project was represented by Frauke Geppert, Marvin Melzer and Karoline Hemminger at the Digital Summit in Jena. At the booth of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) we presented the latest developments of the DAKIS software and the EROSPOT web application. The visit of the Federal Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger at the BMBF booth was a special event and showed the great interest in the presented innovations. As part of the Market of Digital Opportunities, Marvin Melzer also held a workshop where he introduced the new DAKIS image film and demonstrated the practical application of the EROSPOT app for the detection and reduction of soil erosion. The DAKIS booth provided an excellent platform to get in touch with a broad audience and to gain important insights into the public perception of research work. The ZALF team would like to thank the BMBF for the opportunity and Project Management Jülich for coordinating the participation in the Digital Summit. The event provided valuable insights for further research.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DAKIS_Digitalgipfel.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:00 GMTAt this year's Agritechnica, DAKIS successfully presented itself together with the other consortia "NOcsPS" and "GreenGrass" as well as the coordination office of the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future" in Hall 24 in the Campus & Career area. On screens and tablets, visitors were shown the current research status of the decision support system for farmers developed in DAKIS. The 3D erosion map EROSPOT, which was demonstrated using the project regions of Bavaria and Brandenburg as an example, met with particular interest. The open-minded audience consisted of representatives from politics, economy, science and agricultural practice. The interactive multi-touch table provided valuable information and drew the attention of visitors to the stand when they had questions about the entire "Agricultural Systems of the Future" funding line. On Friday, November 17, from 12:00 to 12:50 pm, a panel discussion took place on the DLG Studio Stage in the Campus & Career area. Dr. Ariani Wartenberg from DAKIS, Dr. Juliane Horn from the GreenGrass consortium and Dr. Ingrid Claß-Mahler from NOcsPS took part in the discussion, which was moderated by Dr. Rebecca Klopsch from the Central Coordination Office. Under the title "Agricultural systems of the future - innovative visions for area-based systems", the participants discussed the extent to which research into innovative agricultural systems can reduce conflicts of interest in the production and use of food in rural and urban areas. The individual projects were briefly presented, interfaces were identified, and opportunities for cooperation and transfer to industry and practice were discussed in a subsequent discussion with the audience.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DAKIS-Agritechnica.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMTThe effects of climate change pose a major challenge for cereal production in many regions. In a recently published study in “Nature Reviews Earth & Environment”, ZALF scientists have investigated how warmer temperatures, increased carbon dioxide levels and changes in water availability affect globally important cereals such as wheat, maize, millet, sorghum and rice.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/climate-change-threatens-crop-yields.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlima6c4266dc-8b4a-4918-bd6c-7a40c9500a71Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMTProf. Dr. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at the University of Bonn, has been named a "Highly Cited Researcher" in the category "Agricultural Sciences" for the eighth time in a row.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/highly-cited-researcher-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 17 Nov 2023 14:00:00 GMTDr Katharina Löhr gave a lecture on 'Sustainable land use in African countries' as part of this year's 21st Autumn School System Earth: 'Africa - a continent in the focus of geosciences' and provided insights into research approaches and project activities. Once a year, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences offers the "Autumn School System Earth" in cooperation with the German Meteorological Society (DMG). Teachers, trainee teachers, seminar groups and students as well as all members of the participating societies are invited. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Herbstschule_GFZ.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 17 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMTOn November 13, 2023, Annika Hoffmann successfully completed her dissertation at Humboldt University Berlin. Since 2018, Ms. Hoffmann has been working as a doctoral student in the DFG-funded Research Training Group "BioMove - Integrating Biodiversity Research with Movement Ecology in Dynamic Agricultural Landscapes", investigating the effects of different environmental filters and dispersal strategies on the fungal community in the phyllosphere of wheat. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Promotion_AHoffmann.aspxDr. M. MüllerNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 15 Nov 2023 15:00:00 GMTThe Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations in Uzbekistan has, upon the recommendation of the National Research University „Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME)” in Tashkent, awarded ZALF scientist Dr. Ahmad Hamidov as Professor of Melioration and Irrigated Agriculture. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Ahmad-Hamidov-zum-Professor-f%C3%BCr-Melioration-und-Bew%C3%A4sserungslandwirtschaft-ernannt.aspxAhmad Hamidov, Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 07 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMTFor the 60th anniversary of the nutrient enrichment trial in Müncheberg, ZALF invited scientific partners as well as former and current employees to a field trip followed by scientific lectures.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/60-jahre-V140.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 06 Nov 2023 18:00:00 GMTStefan Sieber of the SusLAND working group of ZALF stayed in the period from 1st to 3rd of November in Madagascar to initiate a closer cooperation between ZALF and the University of Agriculture in Antananarivo. Agreements of a closer exchange of students between ZALF and the Humboldt University to the Madagascan University have been achieved. Beyond, Mr Sieber visited and strengthened the cooperation between the Forest for Future - project as well as the Prosar - project of the GIZ that are both accompanied by specific research projects. Further project activities have been additionally discussed.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Aufenthalt_Madagaskar.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 06 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMTTwo ZALF projects will be present at the Agritechnica in Hannover from November 12th to 18th. Visitors can find the project DAKIS - Digital Knowledge & Information System for Agriculture in hall 24. In Hall 11, the CarbonTillage project will provide information about a special type of soil cultivation that is designed to both secure yields and protect the climate.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/agritechnica-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 03 Nov 2023 17:00:00 GMTStefan Sieber from the working group SusLAND of ZALF participated in the webinar CASSIS-series of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. Stefan Sieber discussed within a group of experts how forest protection can be efficient organized. The options for efficient forest protection from regulations like the supply chain law to efficient governance approaches through ownership and participation in a transdisciplinary setting have been discussed. Link https://lnkd.in/euBPpnVK https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Webinar_Sieber.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 02 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMTIn the joint project VolCorn, funded by the Leibniz Association and led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), a team of researchers has gained fundamental insights into how wheat plants respond to stress factors such as drought, flooding or pests in interaction with microorganisms in the plant and soil. The findings are important for breeding more resistant varieties and for the general understanding of plant-microbe interactions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/volcorn-ergebnisse.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseClimate ChangeThu, 26 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMTThe American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) held its annual conference from September 25-28 in Burlington, USA. More than 200 speakers presented their research on life-cycle analysis in a variety of sectors.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ACLCA-Konferenz-in-Burlington-(USA).aspxRéne MéitéNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 GMTZALF scientist Dr. Ahmad Hamidov was part of a German delegation at the INNOWEEK 2023, which took place during 16-20 October 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Dr. Hamidov presented research cooperation between ZALF and Uzbek institutions. The main aim of the visit was to strengthen collaboration between German and Uzbek scientists. The visit was organized and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in collaboration with the Uzbek Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations (MHESI).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-participated-in-INNOWEEK-2023.aspxAhmad Hamidov, Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 25 Oct 2023 15:00:00 GMTThe EU CAP Network Focus Group has released its final report and several publications on enhancing biodiversity on farmland through High Diversity Landscape Features (HDLFs). These features contribute significantly to biodiversity, yields and community well-being.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/hdlf-report.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityWed, 25 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMTAstrid Artner-Nehls represented ZALF at the 6th Conference of the European Rural History Organisation with a presentation on her work in the BMBF junior research group BioKum, which is investigating the potential of livestock manure as a resource for the bioeconomy. The four-day conference took place from 11 to 14 September at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). The programme was broad in topics and time span, ranging from rural finance in the 14th century to the agri-food change in the 21st century.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-Wissenschaftlerin-bei-der-Konferenz-der-European-Rural-History-Organisation-(EURHO)-.aspxAstrid Artner- Nehls, Katrin Meier NoticeSoilWed, 25 Oct 2023 11:00:00 GMTZALF researchers recently partnered with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (College of Agriculture and Food Science) to conduct a workshop with local farmers in Laguna, Philippines last September 25, 2023. This collaborative effort was the culmination of an 18-month field trial focused on the reuse of pineapple residue through soil incorporation as part of a project called rePRISING. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/reprising-workshop.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 09 Oct 2023 16:00:00 GMTThe fourth status seminar of the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future" took place on 26-27 September 2023. At the conference, which was attended by over 150 participants, the eight consortia and the coordination office presented their project progress and professional communication activities at the Archenhold Observatory in Berlin. A special focus this year was on the cooperation of the consortia to develop and implement new innovations and their transfer activities. After the opening remarks by Monika Schreiner (IGZ) and Thomas Weith (ILS), co-directors of the coordination office, Christina de Wit, head of the Department for Sustainable Management and Bioeconomy at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), started the event with a welcoming speech. She assessed the funding line as a successful model and quoted Albert Einstein, who gave his first lecture on the theory of relativity at the Archenhold Observatory: "The whole is more than the sum of its parts". And she emphasised that "long-term and genuine solutions can only emerge if action is taken together and holistically, if - as in the case of the "agricultural systems of the future" - researchers and practitioners work together, there is close cooperation with industry and associations, and the public is involved. She stressed out that the consortia contribute significantly to creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. These goals are also laid down in the coalition agreement, the Future Strategy for Research and Innovation and the National Bioeconomy Strategy. Stefanie Molthagen-Schnöring, Vice President for Research and Transfer and professor of science communication at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, then outlined in her keynote speech how the transfer of scientific knowledge can succeed. "The transfer between science and the public is a constant loop and mutual translation process." Molthagen-Schnöring advised against addressing a diffuse broad public, it would never be possible to reach everyone at the same time through communication, a more specific, selected target group would be necessary. Her recommendation for the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" was to address the youth, as they are the decision-makers of tomorrow and multipliers to other target groups. She also mentioned politics as a relevant target group for a successful transfer. Following the keynote, four consortia presented their project progress: NOcsPs, Fahrerkabine 4.0, food4future and DAKIS reported on their field tests, the implementation of real laboratories and pilot plants, the dialogue with affected stakeholders from politics to consumers and practitioners, and gave an overview of a large number of new publications. The presentations of the consortia were complemented by poster presentations in which young scientists presented individual topics of the consortia in greater depth. In the report of the coordination office, Rebecca Klopsch and. Thomas Weith (ILS) presented the activities of "Agricultural Systems of the Future" in public relations and at events and gave an insight into inter-consortium workshops and fields of action, as well as in the cooperation of the consortia. Afterwards, Dagmara Weckowska (FU Berlin) from the food4future consortium, Thomas Weith (ILS) from the coordination office, and Marcus Geimer (KIT MoBiMa) from the Fahrerkabine 4.0 consortium presented the background and impact of responsible research practice on technological innovation processes that can lead to social change. Marcus Geimer gave practical insights into the implementation of innovations with science using the example of successfully implemented work at KIT. On the second day of the status seminar, four further consortia - GreenGrass, RUN, SUSKULT and CUBES Circle - presented the results of their work to date: In the session "Pathway to Impact", Thomas Weith (ILS) and representatives of the consortia presented inter-consortia working groups that work together on selected priority topics. The working groups were developed in workshops by the consortia of the funding line themselves from the transformation pathways and fields of action. Two groups have already started their work on the topics of governance and sustainability and were able to report initial successes. In addition, there was an insight into the planned action in the second funding phase of the "Agricultural Systems of the Future". In the closing remarks Monika Schreiner and Thomas Weith from the coordination office emphasised the importance of the work done so far by all consortia and their exchange with each other, as the strategic cooperation of the consortia can now be continued in order to advance the technological and social transformation of agricultural systems.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Statusseminar_AdZ.aspxThomas WeithNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:00:00 GMTOn 27-28 September 2023, the first "Agricultural Systems of the Future Summit" with over 150 participants took place. The international conference met on the topic of transformation towards sustainability in the agricultural and food sector at the Archenhold Observatory in Berlin. The summit was hosted by the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future". Klaus-Peter Michel from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research opened the event and affirmed that the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" are developing unconventional concepts and that these are necessary to address the major challenge of securing our food supply while conserving natural resources. Afterwards, Harald Grethe, Professor of International Agricultural Trade and Development at the Humboldt University in Berlin, gave a keynote on the interplay between technological and behavioural change to achieve sustainable agricultural and food systems. He made it clear that both technological and societal behavioural change are needed. In addition, he stressed that science-based strategies and measures should be attractive to those who have to implement them. On the second day, Christine Lang, Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Technical University of Berlin and member of the International Advisory Council for Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) opened the main part of the conference. In her keynote speech, she emphasised that the bioeconomy is a crucial solution for a fossil-free, sustainable, regenerative and cycle-oriented global economy. New technologies and social innovations are key elements for a bioeconomy based on bioresources and science. Rebecca Klopsch and Monika Schreiner (IGZ) from the coordination office of the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" then moderated the panel discussion on the topic of "Agricultural Systems of the Future - Food (Retro) Perspectives under the Sign of the Bioeconomy". Invited guests were Sabine Kulling (coordinator of the BMBF innovation space "NewFoodSystems" and head of the Institute for Safety and Quality in Fruit and Vegetables of the Max Rubner Institute), Christine Lang and Matthias Lech (co-founder MaKers-Lab). Kulling made clear: "The transformation of agri-food systems towards sustainability is a multi-stakeholder approach involving a multitude of stakeholders. It is complicated and we need to engage the public." Collaborative creativity is needed for this, she said, and farmers who drive change. We need to strengthen these, Lech added. The panel discussion was followed by lectures and presentations by international experts from science and practice on three topics: 1. Sustainable and innovative land use through integrative indoor production and recycling systems. 2. Digitalisation as the key to sustainable and effective land management systems 3. Transforming agricultural systems - creating technological and social change The prize for the best poster was presented by Sabine Kulling to Jasper Mohr, Thomas Gaiser, Max Frohberg, Almut Haub, Paul Mosebach and Inga Schleip from the Institute of Crop Sciences and Resource Conservation at the University of Bonn. The poster dealt with the work on a bioacoustic concept for the detection and quantification of biodiversity in grasslands. The aim of the conference was to present research-based new solutions to current challenges in agricultural economics and nutrition, and at the same time to strengthen the national network of agricultural science and agricultural economics experts in order to gain more visibility and influence in the international research community. An important part of the "Agricultural Systems of the Future Summit 2023" is therefore the embedding of German activities in international policies and international research strategies for the transformation of agricultural systems.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Summit_AdZ.aspxThomas WeithNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:00:00 GMTFree online conference on Sustainable restoration of agricultural landscapes affected by military activitieshttps://www.permaculture.in.ua/index.php/en/projects-and-events-en/conference-on-land-restorationSibylle KrickelNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 29 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMTThis year's ZALF PhD Day on 10 October, 2023 will again offer PhD students the opportunity for exchange and reflection. Special topics this year are motivation, as well as the time after the PhD: with creative methods, such as Lego, Sketchnotes and pantomime, young scientists are invited to take a curious look at the period after graduation and options for the upcoming career. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PhD-Day-2023.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 28 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMTThe 25th Tropentag Conference took place in Berlin from September 20-22. With a total of more than 1,000 participants online and on-site from over 80 countries, it was the largest Tropentag conference since the first Tropentag in 1999.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/tropentag-2023-review.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 26 Sep 2023 19:00:00 GMTIn the context of the future strategy for research and innovation, the # Zukunftsstrategie Forum (Future Strategy) has started its work. The panel consists of 21 experts from business, science and civil society who will advise both the Federal Government and the mission teams on the implementation of the Future Strategy. Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), is one of the 21 selected members. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/ewert-forum-zukunftsstrategie.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 25 Sep 2023 17:00:00 GMTOn September 27-28, 2023, the first "Agricultural Systems of the Future Summit" will take place. The international conference will be held on the topic of transformation to sustainability in the agricultural and food industry.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/agricultural-systems-future-summit.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 25 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMTThe symposium organized by Die Gemeinschaft e.V. on September 11 and 12 brought together some 300 stakeholders from the food sector to discuss a sustainable and equitable food system. Elisabeth Berlinghof, regional manager of LeguNet Berlin-Brandenburg and researcher at the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), organized activities on legumes. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/symposium-huelsenfruechte.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeLegumesMon, 25 Sep 2023 11:00:00 GMTOn September 26-27, 2023, the fourth status seminar of the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future" will take place. The focus this year is on innovation and transfer. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/statusseminar-agrarsysteme-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:00:00 GMTJörg Schaller has been appointed adjunct Professor (apl. Prof.). The certificate of appointment was presented to him on September 4, 2023 at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/apl-prof-schaller.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 21 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMThttps://landscape2024.org/frontend/index.phphttps://landscape2024.org/frontend/index.phpHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 15 Sep 2023 10:00:00 GMTOn Saturday, September 16, the nature park administration again invites you to the traditional nature park festival in Buckow. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and many nature park partners and regional stakeholders will celebrate at the visitor information center "Schweizer Haus" (Lindenstraße 33 in Buckow). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/apfelfest-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 08 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMTIMA delegation represented by Katharina Helming, Ahmad Hamidov and Shakhnoza Abulkosimova visited Uzbekistan during 21–25 August 2023. The main aims of the visit were to organize the 2nd WEFCA International Summer School (Sustainability assessment of the water–energy–food–environment nexus for irrigated agriculture: Interdisciplinary approaches for Central Asia) and participate in SusWEF project’s (Sustainable water-saving irrigation technologies to achieve water, energy and food security in the context of climate change in Uzbekistan) field seminar. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-organisiert-2--WEFCA-Sommerschule-in-Usbekistan.aspxAhmad Hamidov, Katrin Meier NoticeSoilThu, 07 Sep 2023 13:00:00 GMTVereinigte Hagelversicherung invited to a press briefing on the occasion of the International Expert Seminar of the world's leading crop insurers. The event took place on Thursday, August 31 at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/feldtag-hagelversicherung.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 05 Sep 2023 15:00:00 GMTOn Thursday, August 30, 2023, an information event was held at the ZALF trial site in Dedelow to report on the cereal and legume growing season to date. About 60 farmers and industry representatives took part in the practical exchange. The invitation was extended by Dr. Gernot Verch, head of the ZALF experimental infrastructure platform, which includes the Dedelow site.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/dedelow-maehdruschfruechte-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 04 Sep 2023 18:00:00 GMTTROPENTAG 2023, the annual international conference on tropical and subtropical agriculture, will be held on September 20-22, 2023, at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. This year's TROPENTAG is organized by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in collaboration with the Humboldt-Universität Berlin. Journalists are cordially invited to attend.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/tropentag-2023.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseFood SecurityMon, 04 Sep 2023 17:00:00 GMTAt "Book a Scientist" on 12 September, 2023, the curious and knowledge thirsty will have the chance to talk to an expert from the Leibniz Association for 25 minutes and ask everything they ever wanted to know about their favorite topic. There are over 100 research topics to choose from. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is also represented with two scientists.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/book-a-scientist-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousKlima23b2f8c4-16eb-4d72-9f38-ab02cc53f327Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:00:00 GMTThree new research teams have started work as part of the BMBF funding initiative "Creative Young Researchers for the Bioeconomy". One of them is a project of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), which is investigating the effects of field robots on soil health and soil condition in different cropping systems. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/soilrob.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:00:00 GMTCan cities rely on their surroundings for their food supply? In the case of Munich, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, if food waste is reduced and people switch to a less meat-based and a regionalized diet, the required catchment area shrinks. This is the result of a study by a team of researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The study was commissioned by Karl Bär, an agricultural economist and member of the German Bundestag.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/regionale-selbstversorgung-muenchen.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseFood SecurityTue, 08 Aug 2023 10:00:00 GMTOn July 21, 2023, Jonathan Friedrich successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled "Sustainability Transitions in German Livestock Farming: The Role of Innovations, Incumbents, and Imagined Futures".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/promotion-jonathan-friedrich.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 04 Aug 2023 17:00:00 GMTAs part of the AF4EU project, the first meeting of the Regional Agroforestry Innovation Network (RAIN) in Saxony-Anhalt took place on 24th July 2023. The team of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) welcomed 20 stakeholders to the workshop in the ecovillage Sieben Linden in Beetzendorf. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/AF4EU.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 04 Aug 2023 10:00:00 GMTHow can we design agricultural systems to be both environmentally sustainable and support socio-economically equitable food production? This challenge exists at both the local and global levels. Agroecology has emerged as a promising approach to address the challenges for pursuing sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems (agri-food systems). It involves studying and replicating relationships in ecosystems to develop productive and healthy agricultural practices. A recently published review by scientists from ZALF and ETH Zurich investigates to what extent agroecology can become the mainstream model for transforming agriculture toward more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems within the given economic and political context. The article shows that new technologies such as digitization and breeding can play a major role in successfully implementing agroecology on a large scale.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/agroecology-large-scale.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 25 Jul 2023 16:00:00 GMTDr Monika Joschko, Biologist at the Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V., researches soil. She knows how soil can be analysed using medical computer tomography and how farmers can protect their soil. https://thefurrow.co.uk/monika-joschko-zalf-soil-structure-with-x-ray-ct/Sibylle KrickelNoticeSoilTue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT EROSPOT research project develops digital tool: Conservation of arable soils through targeted erosion management ​18.07.2023 Press Release Abbildung einer EROSPOT-Erosionskarte in 3D​ Arable soils are a valuable resource for our food and biodiversity - and are at risk from drought, storms and heavy rainfall. To help farmers better protect their fields from erosion, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), in cooperation with the Bavarian State Research Centre for Agriculture (LfL), has produced erosion maps that identify areas particularly at risk of erosion and thus help to target protective measures where they will have the greatest effect.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/erospot.aspxHendrik Schneider Press ReleaseAgriculture 4.0Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:00:00 GMTOn 06. July 2023 the workshop "Agroforestry policy in practice and for the future" took place on the farm of the agroforestry pioneer and farmer Thomas Domin. After a presentation of previous research results and a guided tour of Thomas Domin's farm, suggestions for improvements in agroforestry policy were discussed and prioritized together with representatives from agriculture, politics and administration. It became clear that, above all, government-funded advisory services, simplification of the use concept and its integration into the application for agricultural subsidies are considered essential. Financial incentives and an increase in premiums for agroforestry systems are also important, but not quite as significant.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Agromix-WS.aspxAlma ThiesmeyerNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 GMTSome crops actually improve the soil, such as beans and chickpeas. But these protein-rich sustainable legumes aren’t popular everywhere. We look at an attempt to introduce chickpeas in Germany. https://www.dw.com/en/popularizing-plants-that-make-their-own-fertilizer/video-66052990Hendrik Schneider NoticeLegumesFri, 07 Jul 2023 11:00:00 GMTIn an insightful meeting within the framework of “Leibniz im Bundestag” held on July 5, 2023, at the Paul-Löbe-House, Dr. Michelle Bonatti and Associate Professor Stefan Sieber engaged in a productive discussion with Dr. Anton Hofreiter from the Alliance 90/The Greens. The focus of the one-hour meeting revolved around exploring ways to enhance the resilience of smallholder agriculture in the face of climate change. The discussion primarily centered on the socio-economic factors crucial to the successful implementation of agricultural innovations. The participants also delved into the concept of agroecology and agroforestry. Dr. Hofreiter, in particular, discusses the potential of agroecology within a global context, highlighting its applicability in large-scale cultivation to meet the demands of wholesale and retail markets. Agroforestry was also one of the key topics of the meeting, as a practice that combines agricultural cultivation with the integration of trees holds promise as a strategy to address climate change challenges while simultaneously boosting agricultural productivity. Dr. Hofreiter expressed his keen interest in the global application of agroecology and its potential to contribute to supply chains for wholesale and retail markets. The discussion touched upon how large-scale cultivation could incorporate agroecological principles to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices. The meeting concluded with a shared perspective to further research, policy development, and collaboration among stakeholders to foster the adoption of agroforestry and agroecology practices. Already in May, several discussions between politicians and scientists from ZALF on soil biodiversity and on legumes in agriculture took place within the framework of “Leibniz im Bundestag”.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Leibniz_im_Bundestag_07_2023.aspxMichelle Chevelev-BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 06 Jul 2023 16:00:00 GMTTwenty regional participants from the fields of agriculture, the environment, climate change, land administration, science, farmers, and farmer organizations attended the "PREPSOIL Regional Soil Needs Workshop" on May 26, 2023. Participants talked about the Brandenburg region's future soil health, major agricultural threats, and farming techniques that could support high-tech agriculture in support of soil health. We further identified the possibilities for future collaboration in Living Labs. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Workshop-Zukunft-der-Bodengesundheit-in-Brandenburg.aspxLukas Bayer, eerthi Bandru, Katrin Meier NoticeSoilFri, 30 Jun 2023 09:00:00 GMTThe Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) organized its 9th Global Workshop at Columbia University this week. AgMIP is a collaborative network of scientists and stakeholders who work to advance the next generation of agricultural modeling to improve global food security and agricultural system resilience. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-Wissenschaftlerin-Madina-Diancoumba-bei-der-Er%C3%B6ffnungsdiskussion-auf-dem-AgMIP9-Workshop.aspxHeidi Webber, Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 29 Jun 2023 16:00:00 GMTIn a recent study published in the journal Nature, scientists looked at the impact of extreme rainfall on rice harvests in China. Through long-term observations and experiments, they found that heavy rain can reduce harvests by up to eight percent. Furthermore, the authors forecast additional yield reductions of another eight percent by the end of the century due to global warming. Prof. Heidi Webber, a scientist at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), was involved in the study. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Extreme-Regenf%C3%A4lle-verringern-Reisertr%C3%A4ge-in-China-.aspxHeidi Webber, Katrin Meier NoticeClimate ChangeZALFThu, 29 Jun 2023 15:00:00 GMTIn a recently published paper in the journal Nature, the authors discuss two previous studies on the relationship between leaf and root traits, which were based on the same data set but came to almost contradictory conclusions. Dr. Joana Bergmann, a scientist at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, was involved in both the Nature study and one of the underlying research papers. In one study by Carmona et al. (let's call it Study A), the form and function of aboveground leaves were shown to be largely independent of those of belowground roots, while the study by Weigelt et al. (Study B) described features of leaves and roots as interrelated. In the paper now published, the authors show that trait selection in the analysis played a crucial role in the different results. Study A) involved above-ground characteristics of different organs and functions, for example, leaf area, plant height, stem density or seed mass. Study B) deliberately focused on leaf and root characteristics that serve the purpose of resource acquisition and hence potentially similar ecological functions. For example, the scientists examined the amount of nitrogen in the leaves and the roots. Subsequently, they included plant size related traits like aboveground height and rooting depth into the analysis. In addition, the use of an analytical correction factor (varimax rotation) in the A) study, but not in the B) study, influenced the results. The authors emphasize the importance of careful and hypothesis-based trait selection and the influence of statistical procedures on research results. The contrasting conclusions highlight the complexity of studying plant traits. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between leaf and root traits. Nevertheless, the comprehensive data and analysis, as well as the critical comparison of the two studies, provide valuable insights for future investigations.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/nature-matters-arising.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 29 Jun 2023 10:00:00 GMTFrancesca Calitri successfully defended her dissertation https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Diss_Calitri.aspxProf. Dr. M. SommerNoticeSoilWed, 28 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMTFrom May 24 to 27, 2023, the VÖW seminar "Sustainable Land Use Systems - Transformation Processes and Goals" took place at the Environmental Education Center Berlin. This seminar was organized in cooperation with the Topic Cluster "Life in Transformation: Food, Resources and Minds" of the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of the HU Berlin and the Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and financially supported by the Graduate School of Life Science, among others. The seminar aimed to promote exchange and discussion on the design of sustainable land use systems between young scientists from different disciplines such as agricultural sciences, biology, geography, psychology, political sciences and agricultural economics.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/seminar-landnutzungssysteme.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 23 Jun 2023 17:00:00 GMTMany ZALF data are generated on experimental plots in a few regions. These so-called ZALF Focus Areas are described as well as possible with metadata and their geodata and get published in the BonaRes repository.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ZALF-Focus-Area-Paulinenaue-im-BonaRes-Repositorium-publiziert.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 21 Jun 2023 10:00:00 GMTSusWEF kick-off meeting in Tashkent (Uzbekistan)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/SusWEF-Kick-off-Meeting-in-Tasshkent-(Usbekistan.aspxAhmad Hamidov, Katrin Meier NoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 20 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMTOn the 25.05.2023, Custódio Efraim Matavel successfully defended his PhD work with the title“Integrating more efficient renewable energy technologies into food systems in Central Mozambique: Implications to food and nutrition security”. The PhD defense was held at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the doctoral committee was headed by Prof. Dr. Klaus Eisenack. Mr. Matavel was supervised by PD Dr. Stefan Sieber (Head of the working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” at ZALF) and Prof. Dr. Klaus Müller (Professorship in Economics and Politics of Rural Areas at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Co-Head of Research Area 2 "Land use and governance" at ZALF). Within his PhD, Mr. Matavel explores the effects of optimally designed processing energy usage on food and nutrition security in rural Mozambique. He followed an experimental and transdiciplinary approach to provide a holistic understanding of the effects of the newly introduced food processing technologies and the nature of food and nutrition security in Central Mozambique. Within five peer-reviewed articles, Mr. Matavel demonstrated the importance of staple crops and post-harvest technologies for the household food and nutrition security. Moreover, Mr. Matavel was able to provide strong evidence that the effectiveness of a technology dissemination program depends on the awareness of cost-effectiveness oft he training approach which, depending on the context, needs to be adjusted to achieve the highest impact per unit of resource expenditure. The doctoral committee rated the PhD with an overall grade of magna cum laude. We congratulate Mr Matavel!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PhD_Defense_Custodio_Matavel.aspxCustodio MatavelNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 19 Jun 2023 15:00:00 GMTIn the current webinar of the platform "Climate Change of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA)", new arable crops were discussed as adaptation options for crop production under climate change.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ZALF-Wissenschaftler-stellen-Klima-Anpassungsperspektiven-durch-neue-Ackerkulturen-vor.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeClimate ChangeThu, 15 Jun 2023 11:00:00 GMTThis year's TROPENTAG will take place in Berlin from September 20 to 22, 2023. The guiding theme is "Competing pathways for equitable food systems transformation: trade-offs and synergies". Registration is now open. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/tropentag-2023-registrations.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 09 Jun 2023 11:00:00 GMTToday’s 50th World Environment Day serves as a platform to drive enhancements in national and international environmental policy. The EU research project Contracts 2.0 funded under Horizon 2020 ends after four years and, within the handbook called “Co-Creating Contracts”, is now publishing numerous recommendations to decision-makers for the EU level as well as for federal and state government levels for the design of ecologically effective, economically viable and viable agri-environmental schemes. The President for environmental matters of the German Farmers' Association (DBV) and President of the Farmers' and Winegrowers' Association of South Rhineland-Palatinate, Eberhard Hartelt: "From farmers' point of view, biodiversity in agricultural landscapes especially succeeds when biodiversity measures are practicable and flexibly implemented by politicians and administrators. The current agricultural policy framework formally offers room for innovative approaches; politicians must actively use and promote it. In the future, innovative approaches such as results-based payments and collective schemes should be enabled, and designed to be flexible, motivating and as simply as possible to implement.” Contracts2.0 was able to show that the many economic and ecological advantages that novel contractual solutions can bring are worth the initial effort they need. Farmers are willing to implement innovative approaches if their contractual agreements are motivating rather than restrictive and reliable rather than vague. The administrative focus should be on compliance with practical principles rather than rigid regulations. Regarding the publication of the handbook called “Co-Creating Contracts”, the head of the research group “Governance of Ecosystem Services” at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and coordinator of the Contracts 2.0 project, Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf reinforces: “We should show more courage in the shoulder-to-shoulder cooperation between science and practice to implement innovative approaches, such as collective and results-based agri-environmental measures, in practice and also use experimental spaces such as living labs for this purpose. If we take the ideas of the EU Commission’s Farm-to-Fork strategy seriously, we also need holistic approaches that implement a complementary rewarding of farmers’ ecological services through support policies and consumers.” In the Contracts 2.0 project, approaches such as co-design and bottom-up principles as well as the involvement of all relevant stakeholders played a major role. In this regard, the lead scientist of the research team “Nature and Society” at the Flemish Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO), Dr. Francis Turkelboom, emphasises: “Involving the different knowledge holders and stimulating co-creation is one of the keys in solving challenges of the current agri-environmental schemes under European Agricultural Policy. In practice, this means simplifying bureaucracy and reducing state controls, actively involving farmers in designing and monitoring contracts, and strengthening the involvement of intermediate experts such as agricultural advisory services for high potential of innovative agri-environmental schemes.” The published handbook entitles “Co-Creating Contracts – Designing innovative agri-environmental schemes – A guide for policymakers” can be accessed online. All results and publications of the Contracts 2.0 project can be found via the website: www.project-contracts20.eu Background: Project Contracts 2.0, funded by the EU under Horizon 2020 for the past four years (2019-2023), has designed innovative contractual approaches for effective and sustainable agri-environmental schemes with a wide range of scientific research and participatory processes between agriculture, nature conservation and administration. A total of 28 European research and practice partners were involved under the direction of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg. The Flemish Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) in Brussels took the lead for the participatory co-design process and the organization of the living labs, which were at the heart of the project. The German Farmers' Association (DBV), as a practice partner, was responsible for communicating and publishing the diverse research and practice results for stakeholders from practice and politics. We thank all partners for their extraordinary commitment and contributions over the years. Funding: Contracts 2.0 is an EU-funded Research- and Innovation Project within the framework of Horizon 2020. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/EU-Forschungsvorhaben_Contracts_20.aspxBettina MatzdorfPress ReleaseMiscellaneousMon, 05 Jun 2023 08:00:00 GMTOn May 12, 2023, the German JSPS alumni association honored Prof. Dr. Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath Kimura with the JSPS Alumni Club Award 2023, the JACA award. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Preisverleihung.aspxDr. Wolfgang Staguhn (Board member JSPS Bonn)NoticeMiscellaneousFri, 02 Jun 2023 11:00:00 GMTThe Bonares repository team organized a data workshop at the BonaRes2023 conference, which took place between May 15th and 17th. This workshop was titled "data publication and reuse". https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/BonaRes2023-Konferenz-Datenworkshop-Mai-2023.aspxKevin UraschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 31 May 2023 15:00:00 GMTPREPSOIL Regional Soil Needs Assessment Workshop https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Workshop-Zukunft-der-Bodengesundheit-in-Brandenburg.aspxLukas Bayer, Katrin Meier NoticeSoilWed, 10 May 2023 12:00:00 GMTFor the first time, the effects of silicon fertilization on wheat yields were investigated for a study led by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. In a field trial in Brandenburg, the plants formed significantly more biomass: Yields increased by 80 percent compared to conventionally farmed areas. The sequestration of carbon in the soil and the availability of water also improved significantly as a result of fertilization. In the future, this could improve the plants' robustness to drought episodes.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/silizium-steigert-weizenertraege.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseSoilKlimaf3abce6d-4536-493a-a160-9b5bddec8ba3Wed, 10 May 2023 09:00:00 GMTThe intensive interactions of digitalisation and spatial development are the focus of the Spatial Science Colloquium 2023 (SSC2023), an event hosted by the Leibniz Research Network “Spatial Knowledge for Society and Environment – Leibniz R”. For the first time, the SSC will take place on two days: 4 July is an online event aimed at an international scientific audience. Day 2 on 5 July will be a face-to-face event in Berlin dedicated to the application-oriented exchange between science, politics and practice. Registration for the event is now open.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Raumwissenschaftliches_Kolloquium_2023.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 09 May 2023 07:00:00 GMTIn the course of climate change, the question of long-term yield security is becoming increasingly important for society. For a better understanding of yield development over long periods of time and the influence of controlling factors (climate, management, soil), long-term data with large area coverage are needed.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Langzeitdatensatz-zu-Ertraegen-landwirtschaftlicher-Kulturen-in-Deutschland-veroeffentlicht.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 08 May 2023 10:00:00 GMTOn April 26, the first virtual FAIRagro Plenary meeting after the project start in March 2023 took place.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Erfolgreiches-erstes-Treffen-nach-Projektstart-im-FAIRagro-Plenary.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 02 May 2023 14:00:00 GMTFrance experienced in 2016 the most extreme decline in wheat yields in recent history: In some districts, yields fell by 55 percent. To determine the causes, scientists combined the largest contiguous, detailed dataset of wheat field trials with statistical methods and crop models, climate information and yield physiology. The results show that the yield losses were caused by a confluence of different climate effects. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/weizen-frankreich-2016.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeClimate ChangeKlima7a890ea8-ec19-46da-820a-8e6dc63549c0Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:00:00 GMTThe German Research Foundation (DFG) has now announced the funding of new research groups. The research group "A social-ecological systems approach to ecosystem restoration in rural Africa" has also been included in the funding. More than three million euros will be available for this project over the next four years. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ecosystem-restoration-rural-africa.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 06 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMTNitrate pollution from agriculture is the most common cause of the poor chemical status of groundwater in Germany. Intensive livestock farming in particular, but also special crops and rapeseed cultivation, contribute to this. In the new opinion paper, agricultural engineers Prof. Frank Eulenstein and Prof. Jürgen Augustin provide insights into the state of groundwater in Germany, and what needs to happen to reduce nitrate surpluses in agriculture. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Opinion-Paper-Nitrat.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeWaterTue, 04 Apr 2023 11:00:00 GMTIn 2021, Springer published the book "Sustainable Land Management in a European Context - a Co-Design Approach". In essence, it answers the questions: How can land use be made more sustainable? And: what development processes are needed to resolve increasing conflicts and competitions? As of today, the book has received more than 150,000 hits. "Sustainable Land Management in a European Context - a Co-Design Approach" was edited by current and former ZALF staff members Thomas Weith, Tim Barkmann, Nadin Gaasch, Sebastian Rogga, Christian Strauß and Jana Zscheischler. On more than 350 pages, innovative approaches to land management in a European context are presented and discussed. The book emphasizes and highlights co-design processes within the framework of the "co-design approach", which reflects collaboration in transdisciplinary research processes between science and other stakeholders. A team led by Professor Thomas Weith at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) received the Gerd Albers Award (Special Mention) from the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) for this work on November 10, 2021. For a broad readership from land system and environmental sciences, social sciences and geosciences, new insights and experiences on the sustainable use of land are offered here.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Nachhaltiges_Landmanagement.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 30 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMTThe German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the "Model Demonstration Network for the Expansion and Improvement of the Cultivation and Utilization of Grain Legumes in Germany" (LeguNet) with around 5.2 million euros. The aim is to promote the cultivation, processing and utilization of legumes such as peas, beans and lupins with regional partners throughout Germany by 2025. The project joins the various nationwide networks already successfully funded by the BMEL's protein crop strategy since 2014. The new network builds on the experience gained and now brings together the work across different crop types. The grain legume network will bring together stakeholders from research, extension, breeding, production, processing, trade and associations and demonstrate best practice examples. The demonstration of successful practical examples from agriculture and the downstream sector as well as the networking of the aforementioned actors takes place on a regional and supra-regional level. In this context, ZALF is responsible for regional management in Berlin and Brandenburg as well as for the coordination of nationwide environmental assessments. In this context, ZALF accompanies on-farm trials and supports the development of value chains for legumes. As a follow-up project to the model demonstration network on lupins and soybean, in which ZALF was already involved, LeguNet opens up to all grain legumes. Besides the common grain legumes, chickpea, lentil and common bean are now also in focus, and thus also targets human nutrition to a greater extent than before, because there is a great need and interest in protein-rich alternatives to meat. In addition, ZALF is evaluating the environmental performance of legumes in crop rotations, for example the effect on greenhouse gases. The project is in close exchange with the CiLaKlima and Valpro Path projects, which are also based at ZALF. Since the approval in spring 2023, the first on-farm and on-station trials on various grain legumes have thus already been planned. Network building in the region is also underway and interested actors are welcome to join.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Koernerleguminosen.aspxMoritz RecklingNoticeLegumesWed, 22 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMTOn the 26th of April 2023, the final conference of the ZALF-coordinated research project contracts2.0 will take place in Brussels. At the final conference, the project and its results will be presented and reflected upon.https://eveeno.com/project-contracts20Kristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityMon, 20 Mar 2023 15:00:00 GMTLast week, ZALF offered an international block class for MONICA users. In the mornings, Prof Claas Nendel provided the theoretical background of the processes used in the simulation model, and Michael Berg-Mohnicke then demonstrated the technical tricks of using the model in different situations. The international participants then each had the opportunity in the afternoon to set up and advance their own simulation projects and to get individual support from the ZALF staff in the virtual space. Dr Roland Baatz and Dr Ehsan Rezaei rounded off the course with learning units on model calibration and large-scale application using massively parallel computing infrastructure. The MONICA course was attended by 15 scientists and PhD students from nine countries.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/MONICA-kurs-.aspxAnnett StangeNoticeModellingFri, 17 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMTTo improve dialogue and knowledge circulation between different actors of policy, practice and sciences, the ZALF working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries”, together with the GIZ project “Forests4Future” initiated the “WebTREESSeries”. This webinar series focuses on studies related to impacts of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Africa with a session planned on a bi-monthly basis. The first session took place on 2nd March 2023 and focused on Togo with presentations by Edoh Ekoue and Lidia Dekede from the University of Lomé on perceptions and adoption of agroforestry practices, and contributions of (non-) timber forest products to FLR. This webinar was conducted in French and English to increase participation and outreach. The next webinar will focus on FLR in Ethiopia and is planned for May. The WebTREESeries is the product of a current collaboration between ZALF and GIZ and its Global project on Forest Landscape Restoration and good governance in the forest sector (Forests4Future) commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Forests4Future aims to restore forests and tree-rich, productive landscapes in different African countries, who are committed to the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, the AFR100. Linked to Forests4Future, ZALF is performing accompanying research on F4F implementation. The research results will help to scientifically underpin the FLR practices developed for each country package, taking into account their context-specific ecological, economic, and social conditions. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/WebTREESSerie_1.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 13 Mar 2023 14:00:00 GMTThis March is the official project launch for the FAIRagro consortium (2023-2028).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Projektstart-und-Kick-off-f%C3%BCr-das-FAIRagro-Projekt.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 02 Mar 2023 18:00:00 GMTHigh summer temperatures, mild winters and changing precipitation: Climate change is increasing the risk that exotic mosquitoes and the viruses they transmit will also occur in Germany. The interdisciplinary research project "CuliFo 3" started its third round on February 16 with a kick-off meeting in the historic lecture hall of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is involved as one of five partner institutions. The research project focuses on the spread of various mosquito species in Germany and their ability to transmit so-called arboviruses such as the West Nile virus or the Usutu virus to humans. "CuliFo" stands for research (in German “Forschung”) on mosquitoes (in Latin: Culicidae). CuliFo 3 continues the research work on the spread of mosquito species and viruses transmissible by them in Germany. It builds on the findings of the previous BLE-funded research projects "CuliMo" on mosquito monitoring, as well as CuliFo and CuliFo2. The continuation project CuliFo 3 aims to focus even more on how insect-specific viruses and arboviruses in mosquitoes interact and what this means for their ability to infect animals and humans. In addition, the researchers want to find out the minimum infectious dose needed for mosquitoes to transmit arboviruses and maintain cycles of infection. The collaborative also wants to investigate which environmental conditions favor outbreaks. The environmental conditions studied include abiotic and biotic influencing factors such as temperature, precipitation, habitat or landscape structure. The researchers hope to use these data to model outbreak scenarios in order to develop environmentally sound and sustainable control strategies. The researchers hope to use these data to establish an early warning system for arbovirus disease outbreaks. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Stechmueckenforschung.aspxDoreen WernerNoticeMosquitoesTue, 21 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMTZALF supports the Leibniz Association's efforts to ensure responsible and sustainable management of and open access to research data as a cornerstone of its research strategy. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ZALF-Data-Policy-Update.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 20 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMTAnnelie Ehrhardt, M. Sc., successfully defended her dissertation https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Promotion_A_Ehrhard.aspxPD Dr. Horst H. GerkeNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMTIn the BonaRes SIGNAL project, emphasis was placed on well-structured data management agreed with all project partners right from the start.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Communications-Earth-%26-Environment-Agroforst-%26-Gutes-Datenmanagement.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 06 Feb 2023 16:00:00 GMTOn February 1st and 2nd, Dr. Maria Kernecker from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) joined 19 experts from around Europe in Poitiers, France, to participate in the first meeting of the EU CAP Network Focus Group for enhancing the biodiversity on farmland through high-diversity landscape features. The Focus Group will meet once again and produce a recommendations and outcomes report. Recommendations feed into future EU funding calls and EIP-AGRI Operational Groups. This specific group focused on the question of how farmers can create and maintain high-diversity landscape features (HDLF) that positively impact farmland biodiversity. The specific tasks for the focus group included: • Identifying both challenges and opportunities for farmers in implementing HDLF to increase both the diversity and area of habitats and/or better connectivity between habitats. • Collecting and highlighting good practices, successful approaches and methodologies for implementing but also maintaining HDLF at different scales, from farm to landscape. • Identifying examples of how HDLF are socially and economically valued. • Identifying needs for capacity building in the implementation of HDLF. • Suggesting innovative HDLF and suitable maintenance/management models. • Identifying further research needs and possible gaps in technical knowledge.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/GAP.aspxMaria KerneckerNoticeBiodiversityMon, 06 Feb 2023 14:00:00 GMTOn Tuesday, February 28, starting at 10 a.m., a workshop on agroforestry systems will be held at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). The title: "Agroforestry systems as a component of sustainable agriculture - policy instruments and agricultural realities". The workshop will be held in the framework of the "AGROMIX" project and will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas with representatives from agriculture, politics and nature conservation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/AGROMIX-Workshop.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseMon, 06 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMTWhat can justice mean in a spatial context? And what are the possibilities for "implementation"? These were central questions of the lecture on January 17, 2023 in Bayreuth with about 30 participants with subsequent discussion. The existing lines of discussion from Geography, Spatial Planning Studies, Law / Equality, Land Use, Environmental Justice, Ecosystem Services, Energy Justice and Digitalization were pointed out. In the second part of the presentation, a further development of the understanding of the term and the derivation of recommendations for concrete use cases was proposed. Special importance was attached to the fair urban-rural balance, a current topic in the distribution of subsidies or area-related coordination processes in the designation of commercial areas. The exchange with colleagues in Bayreuth on the topic of spatial justice and transformation, in particular with Prof. Dr. Manfred Miosga, is to be continued.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Regionale_Gerechtigkeit.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 03 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMTOn 25th January 2023, the final meeting of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) funded collaborative project MoPlaSa on non-chemical control strategies against the buckthorn fruit fly (Rhagoletis batava) took place at ZALF. The project had started in August 2018 and was led by ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Abschlussveranstaltung-EIP-agri-Projekt-MoPlaSa.aspxDr. M. MüllerNoticeBiodiversityThu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 GMTThe deadline for registering to the Spring School on "Evidence Synthesis for Agri-food Systems Transformation" from 20-24 March 2023 has been extended until the 12th of February.https://synthesisspringschool.github.io/Kristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 31 Jan 2023 16:00:00 GMTCongratulations! Larissa Koch successfully completed her PhD on 16th December 2022 at the Research Centre for Environmental Systems Research and the Institute of Geography at the University of Osnabrück. Since April 2022, she has been employed as a Post-Doc in the research group “Co-Design of Change and Innovation” and is initiating a living lab project (prepLL). Ms Koch wrote her dissertation in the resource Management group led by Prof. Dr. Claudia Pahl-Wostl. Her PhD research focuses on the social dynamics in collaborative approaches to environmental governance and resource management. In particular, she dealt with interpersonal communication, narratives and the mechsnisms that influence good cooperation in groups. Using quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis, she investigated how the social relations among the actors involved have developed and which social dynamics influence the success of these collaborative approaches. We congratulate Larissa Koch on her successfully defended doctoral thesis and wish her all the best for the future.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_LKoch.aspxLarissa KochNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 31 Jan 2023 15:00:00 GMTOn 21.01.2023 Welthungerhilfe with ZALF and HU Berlin hosted the expert panel “Linking indigenous knowledge with transformation processes of sustainable food systems” at GFFA2023 in Berlin. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/GFFA_2023.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 31 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMTIn November 2022, a data set on soil samples from 1983 was published in the BonaRes Repository of Soil and Agricultural Research Data to serve as the basis for a renewed study on conversion to organic farming.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Bodendaten-1983.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilFri, 27 Jan 2023 16:00:00 GMTOn 17.1.2023 the first Coffee Lecture at ZALF about Research Data Infrastructure (RDM) took place with the topic: "Two working groups, one aim". https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Erste-ZALF-FDM-Coffee-Lecture-Voller-Erfolg.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 26 Jan 2023 15:00:00 GMTFAIRagro - the consortium in the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) for research data in agrosystems research - introduces itself with an article in "Informatik Spektrum".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/FAIRagro-stellt-sich-vor.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 26 Jan 2023 14:00:00 GMTIn this podcast episode, host Julia Lidauer asks about the conditions under which agriculture can work in a conflict region like Colombia, when the main crop of many farmers is coca plants (i.e. plants from which cocaine is later produced), what part agriculture plays in peace, what challenges but also opportunities the more difficult conditions in the country offer and what we can learn from these regions for other conflict regions in the world. Guest in this episode is Dr. Stefan Sieber, Agricultural Engineer from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Podcast_Kolumbien.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 26 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMTAs part of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2023, an expert panel on linking indigenous knowledge in transformation processes of sustainable food systems will take place on January 20 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. The event is jointly organized by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, ZALF and Deutsche Welthungerhilfe. ZALF scientist Dr. Katharina Löhr will be the moderator. https://gffa-berlin.de/en/expert_panel/welthungerhilfe/Kristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityMon, 16 Jan 2023 11:00:00 GMTHow can spatial planning govern the future development of Urban-Suburban Areas in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania? On 14th of December 2022 in Schwerin various actors from Spatial Planning Offices of the various regions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (AfRL), the State Planning Office of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the project partners of the BMBF-funded ReGerecht project discussed possible answers. Keynote speeches by Ms Petra Schmidt-Kaden (Deputy Head of Department and Head of Division for Principle Issues of Spatial Planning, State and Regional Planning in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), representatives of the regional offices as well as Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith (ZALF) and Prof. Dr. Köck (UFZ), who are also involved in the ReGerecht project, shed light on different approaches to solutions. In the subsequent discussion, these were brought together and can serve as a basis for the further development of the state spatial development programme, which is currently being revised. At the same time, the event showed how transdisciplinary projects can generate new knowledge for solving practical problems and contribute to their implementation. The continuation of the event is currently being examined.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Projektworkshop_ReGerecht.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 06 Jan 2023 09:00:00 GMTBonaRes held a virtual workshop on research data management on 13th December 2022.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/BonaRes-Data-Management-Workshop-Dezember-2022.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 06 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMTA study published by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in the scientific journal "Global Change Biology" shows that in the long term, more and more arable land in Europe will become suitable for soy production. This effect exceeds the yield losses that are to be expected due to increasing heat and drought, especially in southern Europe. According to the authors of the study, this would enable the EU to do without a large proportion of soybean imports from Brazil and the USA in the future.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Sojaanbau-Europa.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseLegumesKlimaa31b1f51-ce84-4458-b7fb-2c6a5ac8ebc6Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMTThe ZALF scientist Prof. Heidi Webber has been invited as a member of the External Advisory Committee (EAC) of the “Excellence in Agronomy” initiative for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Heidi Webber holds a professorship in "Integrated Crop Systems and Modelling" at BTU Cottbus and is an expert in climate change adaptation and climate risk assessment at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Excellence-in-Agronomy.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 21 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMTOn 15th and 16th December 2022, 14 spatial data experts from different national (research) institutions (i.e. Thünen Institute, JKI, UFZ, IAGB, 52°North) met at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Workshop-GeoNode-als-Forschungsdateninfrastruktur.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 20 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMTAt the 2nd International Symposium on Cocoa Research in Montpellier (France), ZALF scientists from the working group "Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries" presented current research results from the PRO-PLANTEURS project on cocoa farming in Côte d'Ivoire. The conference was organized by the International Cocoa Organization and the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD). More than 500 participants from academia, as well as the entire cocoa value chain, gathered for intensive discussions on sustainable cocoa production. During the symposium, PhD student Bonna Antoinette Tokou from the Université Félix-Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB) and ZALF presented research results on diversification models of Ivorian cocoa farmers in the PRO-PLANTEURS research project. In a poster presentation, Dr. Franziska Ollendorf and Dr. Claudia Coral explained measures to reduce income disparities. The team also met with project partner Prof. Adou Yao of the UFHB (Ivory Coast). The research is funded by BMZ to conduct accompanying research on PRO-PLANTEURS. The joint project of GISCO, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Conseil du Café-Cacao (CCC) works with more than 30,000 cocoa farming families to improve their incomes and professionalize the organizations to which they belong.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Symposium_Kakaoforschung.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:00 GMTWhat should the future of cities and regions look like? What needs to be considered in particular? These questions were the focus of a hybrid conference with around 80 participants on November 26 and 27, 2022, organized by Southeast University in Nanjing. Thomas Weith and Meike Fienitz from ZALF (working group Co-Design of Change and Innovation) were invited to give a keynote address on the topic "Analysis and solution of urban-rural land use conflicts with examples from Germany and Indonesia". They presented different approaches to the analysis and resolution of land use conflicts. The conference offered renowned scientists the opportunity to exchange ideas on current developments and planning in urban and regional development. The lecture cycle was accompanied by lively discussions after the presentations on the 7 sessions. The cooperation with the Chinese colleagues is based on a long-standing exchange and shall be continued in the future - if possible on site.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Austausch_mit_China_fortgesetzt.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 16 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMTWith collaborations from the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), University of Hohenheim, and SIDO-Lindi, the Veg-Leg project implemented a combination of low-cost technologies to guarantee basic nutritional needs together with investments in processing technologies to add value through market integration.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JINs3H7XzEgKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityThu, 15 Dec 2022 15:00:00 GMTFrom November 21 to 25, the International Conference on Ecological Sciences took place in Metz, France. It was jointly organized by the Société Française d'Écologie et d'Évolution (SFE²), the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ) and the European Ecological Federation (EEF). The ZALF scientist Benito Schöpke won a photo competition in the category "Ecosystem" with a picture of a bog landscape from the Uckermark. The title of the picture: "Foggy memory". The picture shows a bog in the nature reserve Poratzer Moränenlandschaft in the Uckermark in the rising evening fog. The habitat, which at first glance appears so wild and untouched, is subject to constant change as part of the cultural landscape that has been used and overused by man. The dead bog birches and black alders show the dynamic nature of the water balance. The pine monoculture in the background extracts a lot of water from the moor through evaporation. Old drainage ditches are not visible in the picture, but at least likely.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Fotowettbewerb.aspxBenito SchöpkeNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 14 Dec 2022 15:00:00 GMTNext year's Conference on Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (TROPENTAG) will be organized by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in collaboration with the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The 2023 TROPENTAG will take place from September 20-22, 2023 in Berlin and online. The topic this year: „Competing pathways for equitable food systems transformation: trade-offs and synergies“.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/TROPENTAG-2023.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityWed, 14 Dec 2022 10:00:00 GMTOn November 15, 2022, the management of agrathaer GmbH and the Executive Board of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Thus, agrathaer GmbH and ZALF will go organizationally separate ways from 01 January 2023. agrathaer GmbH was founded in 2011 as a subsidiary of ZALF to make research results usable for politics, practice and society. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/agrathaer-kooperation.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 09 Dec 2022 10:00:00 GMTDue to the war in Ukraine, wheat exports have declined worldwide. Yield fluctuations and losses due to climate change are additionally hampering the supply situation in individual regions of the world. As a result, wheat prices have risen sharply. In a recent study published in the journal Global Food Security, scientists argue that in the long term, wheat production must increase worldwide to compensate for the lack of exports.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Weizenexporte-Ukraine.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseFood SecurityWed, 07 Dec 2022 13:00:00 GMTA sustainable bioeconomy requires integration of soil productivity with a wide range of other soil functions including nutrient cycling, carbon storage, water retention and filtering as well as being the habitat of a myriad of organisms and enabling their activities.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/BONARES-Conference-2023-Soil-as-a-Sustainable-Resource.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 22 Nov 2022 14:00:00 GMTProf. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at the University of Bonn, has been named a Highly Cited Researcher in the category “Agricultural Sciences” for the seventh year in a row. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Highly-Cited-Researcher-2022.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 15 Nov 2022 15:00:00 GMTProf. Claas Nendel from ZALF and Dr Til Feike from the Julius Kühn Institute welcomed over 50 participants to a virtual workshop on "Modelling Crop Rotations" on 11 November 2022. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Modellierung-von-Fruchtfolgen.aspxProf Dr. Claas NendelNoticeModellingMon, 14 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMTLong-term field experiments (LTEs) are agricultural experiments for monitoring soil and crop properties in changing climate conditions and different management practices.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Dauerfeldversuche-kostbarer-Datenschatz.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 11 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe FAIRagro consortium aims to create an infrastructure for agrosystems research data to facilitate cross-institutional and interdisciplinary research. As confirmed by the Joint Science Conference (GWK) in a press conference on November 4, 2022, FAIRagro will be included as a consortium in the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and funded by the federal and state governments from March 2023. A funding period of five years is planned. FAIRagro is coordinated by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg and comprises 29 partners.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/FAIR.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 10 Nov 2022 18:00:00 GMTMore than one hundred participants accepted the invitation of the Academy for Rural Areas Baden-Württemberg to attend the conference "The New Image of Rural Areas" in Baiersbronn on 27th and 28th of October 2022. Experts from various disciplines and institutions discussed the current situation in rural areas and the need for transformation with representatives from the field. Thomas Weith from ZALF (working group Co-Design of Change and Innovation) was invited to give a keynote address on the topic of "Functions of rural areas: How to deal with different demands for use? On the first evening, Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Agriculture Hauk also visited the event. The lively dialogue between science and practice showed, on the one hand, the requirements arising from demographic and social changes as well as climate protection and climate adaptation. On the other hand, it opened up new perspectives on social innovations and transformations for a better quality of life. The event, which takes place every four years, thus made a trend-setting contribution to the future discussions on rural areas, in Baden-Württemberg and beyond.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/neues_Bild_vom_Land.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 08 Nov 2022 09:00:00 GMTThe partners of the AGROMIX project will gather together in Residenza Le Benedettine, located in Pisa, Italy, from 7th-10th November 2022, to discuss Europe's mission to transform farms into more resilient and effective uses of land.https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/PB3/agromix-in-Pisa.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 04 Nov 2022 16:00:00 GMTOn 21.10.2022 GIZ with the project “Forests4Future” (F4F) and the ZALF working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” hosted a symposium on 'Research for Restoration Impacts in Africa' in Bonn to strengthen dialogue and collaboration between research and practice. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Symposium-Research-for-Restoration-Impacts-in-Africa.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 03 Nov 2022 16:00:00 GMTThe ZALF working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries “ (SusLAND) met with Peru's Minister of Environment Wilbert Rozas, Yamina SIlva Vida, Vice-Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources of the Ministry of Environment, and Billy Heinrich Maco Elera, Director of the Office of Cooperation and International Affairs to co-ordinate co-operation actions and research strategies. A delegation of GIZ Germany and GIZ Peru, led by Alejandra Munoz Gonzales, also participated in the event.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Peru-and-ZALF-cooperation.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 03 Nov 2022 15:00:00 GMTThis year the PhD day took place on the 15th of September under the topic “Science for Dummies: Present your research in a creative way to everybody”. The program consisted of various presentations and activities on professional and organizational topics related to doctoral research and science communication. Overall, more than 50 persons attended the event.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/PhD-Day-2022.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 28 Oct 2022 15:00:00 GMTAbout seventy participants from all over Saxony-Anhalt accepted the invitation of the network Stadt-Land in Sachsen-Anhalt to the summer academy in the village community centre in Schleberoda (Freyburg/Unstrut) on 19 October. apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith from ZALF (Working group co-design of change and innovation) was invited to give the keynote address on the topic of "Regional Justice - Results from the BMBF ReGerecht Project". After the introductory words of the former chairman of the Bundesverbandes der gemeinnützigen Landgesellschaften, Dr. Boß, and the greetings of the Saxony-Anhalt Minister of Agriculture, Sven Schulze, Professor Weith showed what added value can result from a just urban-rural balance for people and their development options. In the subsequent panel discussion with Gert Zender, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of Saxony-Anhalt, as well as mayors and heads of local administrations, the necessity of involving different groups of actors at an early stage in land-related coordination processes between cities and the countryside, e.g. in the designation of industrial estates, became particularly clear. The event showed once again that the topics of spatial and landscape justice and urban-rural linkages are highly topical - and should be discussed again and again on a regional and local level.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Sommerakademie_2022.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 24 Oct 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe manifold interrelations between humans and the Earth system are the focus of a conference on 8 and 9 November, which will for the first time deal with an ‘Integrated Earth System Research’. Nationally and internationally recognised researchers from the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities are involved. The venue is the Albert Einstein Science Park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam. Several ZALF scientists are involved in the organization and content of the conference. Registration is possible until 28 October.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Integrierte-Erdsystemforschung.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 19 Oct 2022 14:00:00 GMTThe third status seminar of the BMBF funding line "Agrarsysteme der Zukunft" (Agricultural Systems of the Future) took place on 5th and 6th of October 2022. The eight consortia and the Central Coordination Office presented the progress of their work at an online conference with over 180 participants. A special focus was on the cooperation between the consortia to implement their developed transition pathways this year. At the opening of the event, Dr Klaus-Peter Michel from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) emphasised the importance of the systemic approach of "Agrarsysteme der Zukunft", which is designed for long-term and sustainable solutions. Dr Boelie Elzen, a transition expert from Wageningen University & Research, gave inspirational keynote speech for change in the agro-food sector. He shared insights from over 20 years of transition research in the agro-food sector. Elzen said: "The big challenges are not technological, but environmental, political and social". He further stated that the success drivers for transition are combination of different innovations ("smart combinations"), to break down transition pathways into manageable steps, to engage stakeholder in processes from the beginning and work with farmers with a frontrunner attitude. The eight consortia presented their project progress, including the DAKIS project coordinated at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Scientists complemented the presentations with in-depth insights into individual topics of their work in Young Talent Talks and Focus Talks sessions. The two-day event concluded with an endorsement of further strategic collaboration across consortia to advance the technological and societal transition in agro-food systems. For this, the "Agrarsysteme der Zukunft" work along four transition pathways: integrative indoor production systems, sustainable land management systems, local and regional circular production systems and healthy and attractive work systems in the agricultural industry. Professor Schreiner (IGZ) and Professor Weith (ZALF) from the Central Coordination Office concluded the importance of the event, because now concrete steps can together be taken to push the transition in the agro-food systems, beyond the individual projects goals.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Statusseminar_AdZ_2022.aspxUlf WeddigeNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 17 Oct 2022 08:00:00 GMTZALF faces the challenge of generating, managing and analyzing more and more remote sensing (RS) data. ZALF conducts research at the landscape scale and has traditionally been closely networked with other research institutions. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Workshop-zum-Aufbau-eines-ZALF-Data-Cubes.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 03 Oct 2022 15:00:00 GMTDas ZALF gratuliert Marta Kifleab von der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin zum 2. Preis in einem Fotowettbewerb des Tropentags 2022. Das Bild ist im Rahmen ihrer Forschungsarbeit für das ZALF-Projekt „TREES“ in Äthiopien entstanden. Marta, derzeit in Äthiopien, um im Rahmen ihrer Masterarbeit (TREES/Forests for Future) Daten über Bodenverluste zu sammeln, nutzte direkt die Gelegenheit, um ihre visuellen Eindrücke zu teilen: Am fernen Horizont ist der Chamo-See zu sehen, und aus der Nähe sieht man die Einzugsgebiete von Elgo und Sile. Die Bodenerosion ist ein fortschreitendes Problem in der Region, vor allem aufgrund landwirtschaftlicher Aktivitäten an hohen Hängen, die zu Bodendegradation und Erdrutschen führen, insbesondere im hügeligen Oberlauf. Agroforstwirtschaft, Erd- und Steinbänder und Rückhaltedämme sind die vorherrschenden lokalen Bodenschutzpraktiken, um das Risiko von Bodenerosion und Landverödung zu verringern. Weitere TREES Forschungsarbeiten zu Äthiopien (Shibire Bekele, HU/ZALF) und Madagaskar (Hamy Raharinaivo, Uni Antananarivo/ZALF) wurden als Poster ebenfalls beim Tropentag vorgestellt. Diese Arbeit wurde mit finanzieller Unterstützung des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) im Rahmen des globalen Projekts zur Wiederherstellung von Waldlandschaften und guter Regierungsführung im Forstsektor (Forests4Future) der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) durchgeführt und verwaltet.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2022_09_28_Trees_Fotowettbewerb_Tropentag.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 29 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMTThe Soil Mission Support (SMS) project comes to its end. After 2 years of working side by side with our partners, the project is holding its final conferencehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/AbschlusskonferenzSMS.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilFri, 23 Sep 2022 14:00:00 GMT​During the currently four years since its start, much has happened in the research project ReGerecht. Participants of the project now presented some of its results at the symposium “Good Urban-Rural Relations: For a Sustainable Development in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania”, which took place on September 15th at HanseMesse Rostock. ​The event was organized jointly by the research projects ReGerecht, PROSPER-RO and VoCo, which are all part of the BMBF funding scheme “Stadt-Land-plus”, as well as by the scheme’s accompanying research team. The aim was to present core results of the three research projects that focus on Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and discuss them with regional decision makers and the interested public. With more than one hundred participants from administration, ministries, politics, and interest groups that represented all levels from municipalities to the Federal level, this aim was certainly reached. A total of ten expert talks examined different aspects of urban-rural cooperation – from sustainable land management and resilient infrastructures to regional value added. For the ReGerecht project, apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith (ZALF) and Ute Franke (Landeshauptstadt Schwerin) presented concepts for regional land banks, Antje Ellen Wahls (Amt für Raumordnung und Landesplanung Westmecklenburg) reported how regional planning contributes to a regional balance of interests in Westmecklenburg and Eva Eichenauer (BTU) explained results of her work on regional value added from wind turbines. A poster exhibition that included results of the analyses on digitalization (Sabine Barthold, TUDD) and land use conflicts (Meike Fienitz, ZALF) conducted in the ReGerecht project completed the event. During the final panel discussion the exchange between the Symposium’s participants was further intensified. Here, two of ReGerecht’s practice partners were part of the panel: Amt für Raumordnung und Landesplanung Westmecklenburg, represented by head official Karl Schmude, and Landgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, represented by Torsten Mehlhorn, head of the department for urban and regional development. The manifold information and the opportunity for personal exchange were received very positively by all participants. Conclusion: Diverse knowledge is available which now needs to be (further) implemented. Or, to use the words of Thomas Beil (Greifswalder Agrarinitiative): Regarding implementation we now not only have to start trotting, but we need to switch on the warp drive (as known from Star Trek).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2022_09_15_ZALF-NEWS_Transfer_ReGerecht.aspxMeike FienitzNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMTDr. Ahmad Hamidov, researcher in the Impact Assessment working group at ZALF, coordinates a new BMBF funded project about “Sustainable water-saving irrigation technologies for achieving water, energy and food security in the context of climate change in Uzbekistan (SusWEF)”. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Usbekistan.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseWed, 21 Sep 2022 18:00:00 GMTThe European project PREPSOIL will help improve the knowledge base and awareness of soil health in the European Union.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Prepsoil.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilWed, 14 Sep 2022 16:00:00 GMTZALF researchers receive poster award at the 2022 annual meeting of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) in Trier.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/2022_DBG_Trier_Posteraward.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 09 Sep 2022 12:00:00 GMTAs part of the UBA-funded project "City and Country: Equality of Living Conditions by creating sustainable spatial relations" (in German: „Stadt und Land: Gleichwertige Lebensverhältnisse unter Ausgestaltung nachhaltiger Raumbeziehungen“), an expert workshop was realized in Berlin on September 9th 2022 to discuss how land use in Germany can be governed in a better way and the loss of agricultural soils will be avoided. In addition to about twenty other experts from all over Germany, apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith, head of the working group "Co-Design of Change and Innovation" at ZALF and coordinator of the ReGerecht project, was also invited. The workshop demonstrated that a variety of efforts are still necessary to achieve a stronger implementation of sustainability-oriented land policy.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Workshop_bei_UBA.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 08 Sep 2022 15:00:00 GMTThe International Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA) started in Potsdam on 29 August 2022. Under the motto "Diversification & Digitalization – Trends that shape future agriculture", researchers will be discussing ways to achieve climate-adapted, resource-conserving and digitalized agriculture until 2 September 2022. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is hosting the conference this year. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/ESA-Konferenz-2022.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousKlima8dce5bd0-9839-4144-812c-0a27412154b3Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe new, English FELD magazine ist here!https://webkiosk.zalf.de/feld-01-2022/67170664Kristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 29 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMTLong-term field experiments (LTEs) are agricultural experiments for monitoring soil and crop properties in changing climate conditions and different management practices.https://comm.zalf.de/sites/bonares-ltfe/SitePages/Home.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 26 Aug 2022 14:00:00 GMTIn 2027, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), together with the Julius Kühn Institute and the Thünen Institute, will host the XXVI International Grassland Congress in Leipzig. The congress will present diverse aspects of natural grasslands and those managed at varying intensities, including the cultivation and use of other forage crops.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Grassland-Congress-2027.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 25 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMTThe Federal Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger visited the exhibition stand of the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future" at the Open Day at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on 20 August. She asked the coordinators, Professor Monika Schreiner and Professor Thomas Weith, about the current challenges facing the agricultural sector, such as climate change, and about ways to transform agricultural systems. Another topic was whether and how bio-economic topics can be included in the educational mandate, especially at schools. On the second day, Undersecretaries of State Judith Pirscher and Kornelia Haugg visited the exhibition stand of "Agricultural Systems of the Future" as well for a further dialogue. Interested citizens were able to interactively explore the work of the eight projects of "Agricultural Systems of the Future" on a multi-touch table during the two-day event - from grassland management with virtual fencing to satellite-based sensor systems in agriculture to nutrient communities in urban and rural areas. "The great interest of the public in the exhibition stand showed once again that research about innovative approaches for a future-oriented, sustainable agricultural economy is highly relevant to society," said Professor Monika Schreiner from the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), co-head of the coordination office of "Agricultural Systems of the Future", after the event. "We are therefore very pleased that we were able to provide insights into the work of our eight projects at the open day." Professor Thomas Weith from the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), co-director of the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" coordination office, adds: "Part of our systemic approach is to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders - i.e. also with citizens, who help decide on possible futures with their views and behavior." Dr. Rebecca Klopsch and Julia Walter from the coordination office of "Agricultural Systems of the Future" presented the researchers' vision for the future of agriculture in a presentation entitled "Of smart tractors and bio spaces in the city - a journey into the future of agriculture" on the second day of the event. "Agricultural Systems of the Future" is a funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in which eight inter- and transdisciplinary projects exploring and experimenting with innovative approaches in the field of agricultural systems. Together they pursuing the goal of transforming the agricultural system in the light of the bio-economy. The coordination office of "Agricultural Systems of the Future" is located at the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Website: “Agriculture System of the Future” https://agrarsysteme-der-zukunft.de/en/homehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Agrarsysteme_der_Zukunft_TdoT22.aspxThomas WeithNoticeAgriculture 4.0Thu, 25 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMTAlthough a basic food provision for Berlin with regional products is possible, a large part of the food for Berlin is produced far away and then imported. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/National-Geographic.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeFood SecurityFri, 19 Aug 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will host the 17th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA). The congress will take place in Potsdam from the 29th of August to the 2nd of September 2022. The registration period has been extended until August 19, 2022. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Registrierung-bis-19-August-Konferenz-ESA.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima65d6cd8d-c799-4f4c-9339-25805fa7fd8bWed, 17 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMTMethane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas. Whether a soil acts as a methane sink or as a methane source, i.e. absorbs or releases methane, depends on the composition of the microorganisms, i.e. the microbiome, in the soil. How the soil microbiome changes over the course of a year and what influence its composition has on methane emissions in grassland has now been studied in depth for the first time. The researchers found that methane fluxes in the soil change significantly depending on the season and that methanogen transcripts provide useful information about methane emissions in grassland. The ZALF scientist Prof. Steffen Kolb was involved in the research. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Methan-Emissionen-im-Boden.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilKlima8679ef1e-0390-45f2-b101-036fda548758Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:00:00 GMTThe 22nd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) took place between 31st July and 5th August in Glasgow, Scotland. Several ZALF scientists participated. One of them was offered a grant of £5,000 by the British Society of Soil Science to develop a feasible and low-cost approach for the environmentally sustainable analysis of soils in agriculture.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/World-Congress-of-Soil-Science-2022.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilWed, 10 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMTThe new documentary series "Roots" starts today on Arte. Journalist Pierre Girard and a camera crew visited farmers in Europe who are trying to use alternative farming methods to conserve resources and deal with climate change. Researchers from various research institutions, including ZALF, supported the production with a fact check.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/ARTE-Roots.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilKlima8963fef3-988e-47d7-ad37-678fea3b8b36Mon, 08 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMTFrom 2nd to 3rd June, the conference "Towards Pesticide Free Agriculture" was held in Dijon. The conference was organized by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). Several ZALF scientists were involved. The recordings from the conference, as well as presentations by the keynote speakers, the thematic sessions and posters have now been published on the conference website.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Towards-Pesticide-Free-Agriculture.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 05 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMTZALF Annual Report 2020 & 2021https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/downloads/Documents/Jahresberichte/ZALF-annual-report-2020-2021.pdfHendrik Schneider NoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 04 Aug 2022 16:00:00 GMTIn the "FInAL" project, researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are testing measures for insect protection. Since 2018, they have been investigating possibilities for the insect-friendly management of lowland fen soils in a specially established landscape laboratory in Havelland, Brandenburg. These soils can only be used to a limited extent for agriculture, but are very valuable due to their ecological significance, for example as carbon sinks. By directly comparing areas with and without measures, practical results are now available showing the successes and limitations of various insect protection measures. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Insektenschutz_aus_dem_Landschaftslabor.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseBiodiversityKlimae11b778e-281a-4fb7-8af1-7c8e67fc79afThu, 21 Jul 2022 10:00:00 GMTA growing world population and a harsher climate are posing challenges to wheat production worldwide. Production must increase, if possible without further increasing the area of agricultural land. An international research team has now calculated for the first time that global wheat production could be doubled if wheat varieties were better adapted to regional growing conditions using the great genetic diversity available in wheat gene banks and modern techniques. ZALF Director Prof. Frank Ewert and ZALF scientist Heidi Webber are co-authors of the study, which appeared in the journal Nature Food in early July.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Globale-Weizenproduktion-verdoppeln.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityKlimad2e1c045-5624-4012-bc90-9dd7d04fb463Wed, 13 Jul 2022 12:00:00 GMTHow can systems thinking be translated into collaborative action and strategic planning around the regional food system? After being invited by INRAe, Beatrice Walthall and José Luis Vicente Vicente travelled with this guiding question to Avignon. In Avignon, researcher form INRAe and ZALF shared insights and research results from their work in the FoodSHIFT2030 project. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/FoodshiftAvignon.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeFood SecurityThu, 07 Jul 2022 18:00:00 GMT38 years of yield data published from ZALF Research Station Dedelowhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/38jaehrige-Zeitreihe-ZALF-Forschungsstation-Dedelow.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 05 Jul 2022 15:00:00 GMTAs part of the development of the federal government's national security strategy, Dr. Katharina Löhr (ZALF) participated as a panelist in the consultation workshop "Climate and Security in the National Security Strategy". The organizer was the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office. The geopolitical and security policy challenges of climate change, (regional) vulnerabilities and methods for securing peace, as well as possible solutions, were discussed in panels. In the coalition agreement, the Federal Government has undertaken to develop a national security strategy. The Federal Foreign Office has taken the lead in this strategy development process and intends to take up ideas and explore different perspectives in a series of workshops.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Konsultationsworkshop_Nationale_Sicherheitsstrategie.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 04 Jul 2022 15:00:00 GMTThe Haus der Wissenschaft Bremen shows from 07 July to 15 October 2022 the photo exhibition "Klimaneuland - Akteur*innen der Klimaforschung und -kommunikation im Porträt"https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Klimaneuland.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeClimate ChangeWed, 29 Jun 2022 15:00:00 GMTLTE research datahttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Dauerfeldversuchsdaten-veroeffentlicht.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 24 Jun 2022 10:00:00 GMTOn 31 May 2022, State Secretary Judith Pirscher of the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) visited the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" at the Hanover Expo together with representatives of the Project Management Jülich (PtJ) organization. At the "Bioeconomy Showcase" stand, the Coordination Office of Agricultural Systems of the Future presented innovative approaches of the BMBF funding line "Agricultural Systems of the Future" to the State Secretary. A virtual reality simulation showed visions for sustainable agri-food systems and a multi-touch table allowed visitors to learn more about the content of the eight projects.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Hannover-Messe.aspxUlf WeddigeNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 24 Jun 2022 08:00:00 GMTHow can agri-environmental and climate measures (AACM) be documented more easily in the future? How can farmers obtain information about the range of AACM? How can the workload for information and documentation of agri-environmental measures be reduced at the administrative level? The NatApp wants to provide help here. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/NatApp-Video.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityFri, 17 Jun 2022 14:00:00 GMTHow can mission-oriented research and innovation be designed and implemented in a sustainable way? And how can these efforts be coordinated between different actors, across policy fields and levels? These and other questions were the focus of the first international conference of the Leibniz Research Network Knowledge for Sustainable Development, in which ZALF is also involved.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Missions-for-Sustainability.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 15 Jun 2022 10:00:00 GMTA Soil Deal for Europe – European R&I Conferencehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/RI-Conference.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilFri, 10 Jun 2022 16:00:00 GMTIn recent years, the concept of “justice” has once again become a central point in both socio-political and scientific debates. For this reason, the ReGerecht project, funded by the BMBF’s “Stadt-Land-plus” initiative, addresses the topic from a spatial perspective. Since there is thus far no fundamental, comprehensive work regarding the current state of discussion on this topic, the authors review the existing lines of discussion from geography, spatial planning studies, law, land use, environmental justice, ecosystem services, energy justice and digitalization. Subsequently, the definitions of central terms are further developed and recommendations for concrete cases of application are derived.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/regerecht_discussion_paper.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 08 Jun 2022 08:00:00 GMTOn September 1, 2022, the European Coordination and Support Action "Digitalization for Agroecology (D4AgEcol)" will start. Together with eleven partners, "D4AgEcol" aims to demonstrate the potential of digitalization as an enabler for agroecological farming systems in Europe with a strong focus on existing knowledge and the co-innovation capacity of actors and stakeholders.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/D4AgEcol.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeAgriculture 4.0Tue, 07 Jun 2022 18:00:00 GMTOn 4 May 2022, the second webinar of the Bayer-funded project "Enhancing Biodiversity and Resilience in Crop Production" took place – co-hosted by ZALF. This webinar focused on the collaboration among researchers, farmers and businesses. The recording of the webinar is now available online.https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/PB3/Recording-Webinar-Bending-the-curve.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityThu, 02 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMTIn the Frame of the Leibniz Initiative “Leibniz in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag)” associate professor Dr. Sieber, head of the working group "Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries (SusLAND)", was able to visit the politician and entrepreneur Knut Gerschau. Mr. Geschau is member of the German Federal Parliament since 2021 (FDP). He is former chair of the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung and state chairman of the liberal medium-sized business of Lower Saxony. The discussion focused on problems such as leakage effects and telecoupling of international trade linkages, which may contribute to the deforestation of the rainforest. A potential solution would be strengthening governance systems and assigning responsibilities to people at local level in order to better control natural resources. Advantageous and disadvantageous have been intensively discussed and a further collaboration was envisaged by all involved participants. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Leibniz_im_Bundestag.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 02 Jun 2022 13:00:00 GMTMaking research data freely available is a matter of the highest priority. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Agrarforschungsdaten-Das-ungenutzte-Potential-nutzbar-machen.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 01 Jun 2022 17:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will host the 17th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA). The congress will take place in Potsdam from the 29th of August to the 2nd of September 2022. The registration period starts from 1st June 2022. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/ESA.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 01 Jun 2022 11:00:00 GMTEquipment manufacturers and scientific institutions presented digital tools and robotics for agriculture during the patchCROP Field Robotics Workshop on 3 May 2022. The event took place on the grounds of the patchCROP landscape laboratory in Tempelberg, Brandenburg, which is coordinated by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Together with ZALF, the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence and the DAKIS research project hosted the specialist event. In lectures, a panel discussion and technology demonstrations, scientists and manufacturers demonstrated the latest digital technology for agriculture. In a keynote speech, Prof. Arno Ruckelshausen, Professor of Engineering and Computer Science at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, gave an overview of the range of digital agricultural technology available for practical use and possible development prospects. Prof. Anne-Katrin Mahlein from the Institute for Sugar Beet Research at the University of Göttingen presented digital solutions for crop protection in her keynote speech. In the BMEL-funded digital experimental field "FarmerSpace", coordinated by the University of Göttingen, research and practice partners are testing, among other things, drones and optical sensors for the detection of plant diseases as well as various agricultural robots for weed control. Information systems and automation support sustainable agriculture The subsequent lecture program gave partner projects of the "patchCROP" landscape laboratory the opportunity to present their work. Nahleen Lemke from ZALF explained how the DAKIS project (Digital Knowledge and Information System for Agriculture) can help farms to use techniques such as artificial intelligence and robotics to manage resources more efficiently and in a way that is adapted to the landscape and the demands of society. Prof. Chris McCool, Department of Agricultural Robotics and Engineering at the University of Bonn, illustrated the progress of the research of the "PhenoRob" Cluster of Excellence on robotics and autonomous systems, for example for mechanical and sustainable crop protection. Helge Wanta from the Technical University of Dresden presented an extension of the computer game "Farming Simulator 2022", in which the research design of the "patchCROP" landscape laboratory can be depicted and the research content developed in a playful way. In the future, the virtual demonstrator will help to make the interactions of small-scale farming tangible with the help of robotics and new technologies for soil processes, yield and other factors such as biodiversity. Focus on practice and applicability In the subsequent panel discussion, journalist Andreas Oppermann debated with researchers Prof. Cornelia Weltzien (ATB) and Dr. Maria Kernecker (ZALF) as well as Prof. Engel Arkenau, the Digitalization Officer of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the question of what steps are necessary for agricultural robotics to become part of everyday operations on farms. In addition to questions of approval, safety and liability, the experts also discussed the importance of independent advice and information for farms. Another important point of discussion was the question of the economic efficiency of the new technology: Will the purchase also pay off for smaller farms? The panel was unanimous on the point that the expertise and decision-making autonomy of farmers will continue to be central to agricultural processes in the future. Digital tools should only take on the role of a support system for agriculture. Companies and research present digital helpers Following the lecture program, the manufacturers Zauberzeug and Naïo presented various agricultural robots that can be used primarily for weed control in special crops such as herbs, vegetables and sugar beet. The team from the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) demonstrated the autonomously driven small tractor SunBot for use in the cultivation of bush berries. Representatives of Bayer presented the digital yellow trap, which digitalizes and simplifies pest monitoring in oilseed rape. In addition, the companies AgXeed, geo-konzept, E-Terry and the digital experimental field LANDNETZ presented their offerings in the areas of software, surveying, precision farming, robotics and data infrastructure.   Modern technology is tested in the landscape laboratory The research design of the "patchCROP" landscape laboratory, the partner institutions of which had invited to the workshop, relies heavily on the support of digital tools and agricultural robotics. Here, small-scale, climate-resistant and sustainable agriculture adapted to heterogeneity is tested as a model: The field is divided into small field units of only about half a hectare. Up to nine arable crops grow side by side here on the field. However, these so-called patches cannot be cultivated using large heavy agricultural machinery. Starting this year, the research team and their practice partner, the Komturei Lietzen, have been using a maneuverable small agricultural robot from the company Naïo for cultivation, for example for weed control. Soil sensors or drones record the condition of soil and plants.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Bericht-patchCROP-Workshop-2022.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseAgriculture 4.0Mon, 30 May 2022 13:00:00 GMTOn Friday, 13th of May, the consortium of the InNuSense project with representatives from the Center for Rural Development (SLE) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and colleagues from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda visited ZALF. The meeting aimed to exchange on current research activities in Africa.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/InNuSense.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseMon, 30 May 2022 12:00:00 GMTBonaRes (www.bonares.de) and EJP SOIL (https://ejpsoil.eu/) together compiled a substantial metadata database by collecting metadata on LTE in Europe.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Mit-gutem-Forschungsdatenmanagement-(FDM)-die-Publikationsleistung-erhoehen.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 16 May 2022 11:00:00 GMTWhat will we eat in the future? How will we produce our food and what forms of agricultural economy are we aiming for? These are the questions addressed by the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" initiative. The coordination office of the BMBF funding program in cooperation with all the projects produced short image films for a broad understanding and a clear perception of the work of the eight transdisciplinary research projects of the "Agricultural Systems of the Future”. For this purpose, the coordinating office, based at ZALF and IGZ-Großbeeren, together with the film team Eonamic-Filmproduktion, visited the individual projects, which are spread all over Germany, and carried out shooting. In addition to interviews, insights gained from research were also recorded. Among the eight projects, the DAKIS project is presented too, which is also coordinated at ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Portraetfilme_fertiggestellt.aspxUlf WeddigeNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 11 May 2022 08:00:00 GMTIn April 2022, Mariami Marsagishvili from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Mitiku Ayele from Hawassa University spent three weeks in Ethiopia (Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region (SNNPR)) to collect data together for their master theses on forest landscape restoration and collective action. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Feldforschung-TREES-%C3%84thiopien.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseMon, 09 May 2022 15:00:00 GMTTenure Track Position for a Scientist (m/f/d) on “Behavioural Economics” [Reference N° T01-2022]https://www.zalf.de/de/karriere/stellenangebote/Documents/T01-2022_Classic%20Call_Behavioural%20economics_final2.pdfKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 05 May 2022 14:00:00 GMTTenure Track Position for aScientistand future Working Group Leader(m/f/d) on “Demand-Driven Innovations in the Agri-Food System”https://www.zalf.de/de/karriere/stellenangebote/Documents/T02-2022_Classic%20call_Demand-driven%20innovations%20in%20the%20agri-food%20system_final2.pdfKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 05 May 2022 14:00:00 GMTOn the 29.04.2022, Johannes Michael Hafner successfully defended his PhD work with the title “Development of a component-based assessment framework to evaluate fuelwood energy systems of smallholder farmers in sub-humid and semi-arid regions in Tanzania - Modelling cooking-related demand and on-farm supply of fuelwood.” The PhD defense was conducted virtually; the doctoral committee was headed by Prof Dr. Dagmar Mithöfer (Professorship in management agricultural value chains at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). During his PhD work, Mr. Hafner has been enrolled at the Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute at the Faculty of Life Sciences of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He was supervised by Prof. Dr. Klaus Müller (Professorship in Economics and Politics of Rural Areas at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Co-Head of Research Area 2 "Land use and governance" at ZALF), PD Dr. Stefan Sieber (Head of the working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” at ZALF) and Dr. Anthony Kimaro (Country representative of World Agroforestry Tanzania). Within his PhD, Mr. Hafner focused on the development of a framework to assess and model fuelwood demand and on-farm fuelwood production to determine fuel sufficiency levels of smallholder farmers in semi-arid Tanzania. He conducted multi-annual performance assessments of different cook stove systems and agroforestry fuelwood production systems. Central findings of the research encompassed that improved cook stoves reduce the fuelwood and time spent during cooking compared to three-stone fire stove when operated with common off-farm and with on-farm fuelwood. Using qualitative assessment methods such as participatory impact assessments, Mr. Hafner identified locally perceived most important criteria which can benefit improved cook stove adoption in the case study sites. His final published work included the estimation and modelling of on-farm fuelwood production of G. sepium and pigeon pea within different agroforestry systems. Mr. Hafner developed and published his framework within four peer-reviewed articles. His developed framework enables farmers to estimate their fuelwood consumption during cooking and on-farm production potential to improve farmland planning for fuelwood security. With precise farmland planning, households can substitute fuelwood from off-farm sites with on-farm produced fuelwood which includes multiple socio-economic benefits. The doctoral committee rated the PhD with an overall grade of magna cum laude.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PromotionsverteidigungJMH.aspxJohannes HafnerNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 03 May 2022 11:00:00 GMTAgricultural transformation – what do farmers and researchers tell us? On 4th May 2022, the second webinar of the Bayer-funded project "Enhancing Biodiversity and Resilience in Crop Production" will take place and focusses on the collaboration among researchers, farmers and businesses. The webinar is co-hosted by ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Webinar-Biodiversity-and-Resilience.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityWed, 13 Apr 2022 12:00:00 GMTGlobal warming is expected to have beneficial impacts on overwintering crops in cool and temperate regions of the world. Now, statistical analysis that combines different sources of historical yield and meteorological data reveals that decreases in snowpack insulation partly reduce yield benefits of winter wheat.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Frost-Risiko-Klimawandel.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeClimate ChangeKlima3305b62a-feeb-467c-a3db-dc813e256a7cTue, 12 Apr 2022 12:00:00 GMTRussia's war of aggression on Ukraine has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Beyond the acts of war and the suffering of the people on the ground, there is a threat of crop failures in Ukraine. Export restrictions imposed by Russia will also drive up world market prices for numerous agricultural products. Both countries are among the most important exporters of wheat and sunflower oil. In countries that are already dependent on food imports or aid supplies, a further price increase could have catastrophic consequences and drastically exacerbate the problem of hunger and malnutrition.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Stellungnahme-Ukraine-Krieg.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseFood SecurityThu, 07 Apr 2022 16:00:00 GMTGeoNode (https://geonode.org/) is THE open source geodata management system that many important research institutions rely on.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/ZALF-unterstuetzt-die-Weiterentwicklung-von-GeoNode.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 06 Apr 2022 12:00:00 GMTOn 15 March, the Soil Mission Support held a workshop on how to reduce the EU global footprint on soils as part of the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’. Annette Schneegans from the EU Soil Mission Secretariat introduced the mission’s agenda for the global footprint and Mathis Wackernagel from the Global Footprint Network introduced the depth and complexity of the topic. Discussions with participants revealed the many perspectives on what the global footprint on soils consists of and how we can measure it effectively. The workshop was a great first step to develop an ambitious area of research.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Workshop.aspxKatrin MeierNoticeSoilFri, 01 Apr 2022 10:00:00 GMTThe BonaRes Project “Intelligence for Soil” (I4S) is targeted towards the design of an integrated system for fertilizer recommendations and improvement of soil functions at high spatial resolution. The project now started its third phase.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/I4S.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilThu, 31 Mar 2022 14:00:00 GMTLTE are essential research infrastructures for agricultural and soil sciences and fundamental for answering current and future research questions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/LTE-Datensatz-veroeffentlicht-IOSDV-Rauischholzhausen.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeSoilMon, 28 Mar 2022 09:00:00 GMTDid you know that in Germany, we throw around 12 million metric tons of food into the trash can each year? 52% of that food waste alone is generated in private households. And on top of that — living in a climate crisis — the Global food production accounts for more than one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from the production of animal foods are almost twice as high as those from the production of plant foods. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/-querFELDein-Podcast-sustainable-foodsystems.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima77b3c846-75d0-48ac-8fe9-cfbc41449821Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:00:00 GMT"10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science”, ranging from climate stress for German forests, the restructuring of agriculture to the corona virus that has jumped from animals to humans, are now published for the first time. More than 45 experts from the Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity and colleagues have compiled this inventory on the preservation of nature as the basis of human life. In the run-up to the World Summit on Nature – the UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China – the report is intended to invite dialogue, the researchers say. At the same time, they voice clear policy demands.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/10-Must-Knows-zur-Biodiversitaet-2022.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlima02fd8d25-41a9-48da-a9e5-16393e1313feFri, 25 Mar 2022 15:00:00 GMTThe first edition of this series took place on 23/02/2022, 15:00 - 16:30 CET. The webinar entitled "The Scientific Basis of the Brazilian Agricultural Revolution" on the scientific basis of Brazilian agricultural innovations also featured PD Dr Stefan Sieber and Dr Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti from the working group SusLAND at ZALF as keynote speakers. This webinar series is organised by the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin and ApexBrasil. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Webinar_Brazil.aspxMichelle Chevelev-BonattiNoticeSustainable Land UseMon, 21 Mar 2022 16:00:00 GMTProf. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, researcher at Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), was awarded the prize of the Foundation for Japanese-German Scientific and Cultural Exchange (JaDe-Stiftung) on 05 February 2022 at the Japanese Cultural Institute Cologne.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/JaDe-Preis-2022-Prof-Sonoko-Bellingrath-Kimura.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 16 Mar 2022 14:00:00 GMTSpeed dating with science - on April 8, 2022, the curious and the knowledge thirsty can enter into a 25-minute personal, virtual exchange with a scientist of the Leibniz Association. In personal conversations, the researchers will provide insight into their topics and their everyday work, answer your individual questions and look forward to exchanging ideas with you.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Book-a-Scientist-2022.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 GMTAn article by The Care Operative and “Transforming Academia” workshop participants at 2021 International Transdisciplinarity Conference: What do we want academia to be like in 2050?https://i2insights.org/2022/03/08/transforming-academia/Kristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 08 Mar 2022 15:00:00 GMTOn 28th February, the new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released. The report warns of the dangerous and widespread disruption that man-made climate change is causing to nature and the lives of billions of people, despite all efforts. In particular, it addresses the importance of species conservation and the urgency to act. ZALF scientists were involved in the IPCC report. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/IPCC-Report-2022.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeClimate ChangeKlimaa5a7c28b-6a55-4ff0-b5e6-c14648a8c193Tue, 08 Mar 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe universities, non-university research institutions, student unions and the Ministry of Science of the state of Brandenburg declared their full solidarity and support for Ukraine on 3rd March. Also the Directors of ZALF, Prof. Dr. Frank Ewert and Martin Jank, signed the declaration. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/BB-stands-with-Ukraine.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 07 Mar 2022 14:00:00 GMTDr. Jana Zscheischler will take up the junior professorship "Sustainability-oriented Production Economics" in Geography at the University of Vechta on 1 March 2022. During her time at ZALF, Ms Zscheischler researched intensively on questions of the design of sustainability-oriented transformation processes in rural areas and agricultural landscapes. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Jana-Zscheischler-Juniorprofessur.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 28 Feb 2022 13:00:00 GMTThe H2020 Soil Mission Support project has published a scientific open access article to promote “Systems knowledge for sustainable soil and land management”. Sustainable soil and land use is pivotal for of many Sustainable Development Goals. However, achieving sustainable soil and land use requires targeted, systemic and inclusive research, innovation, education, practice and governance. The article presents a systemic research framework for applied and inclusive sustainable soil and land use. Six soil and land related societal challenges summarize all related problem situations. Eight knowledge domains guide a systemic, integrated problem solving pathway.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/SMS.aspxKatrin MeierNoticeSoilMon, 21 Feb 2022 11:00:00 GMTHow can we ensure that everyone is involved in the process of a transition towards more sustainable, plant-based and circular food systems? This is a key questions guiding the FoodSHIFT2030 project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Foodshift.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeFood SecurityFri, 18 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMT How can we move beyond treating agricultural landscapes as the sum of spatially explicit units to treating them as one complex unit when researching and managing for biodiversity and yields? In a recently published perspective piece, ZALF researchers and alumni outlined how transition zones (TZ) might be used to facilitate an integrated landscape approach. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Perspective-Paper-Transition-Zones-Agrarlandschaften.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 15 Feb 2022 13:00:00 GMTFor the international and interdisciplinary reuse of our research findings, papers AND data must be published and thus accessible and reproducible. This month, we published such a "publication tandem". https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/LandScales-Publikations-Tandem.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeSoilFri, 20 May 2022 02:55:23 GMTOn May 5 and 6, the Leibniz Research Network "Knowledge for Sustainable Development", in which ZALF participates, will host an international conference on "Missions for Sustainability: New approaches for science and society". The conference will take place online.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Conference-Missions-for-Sustainability.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousKlimacbdc5bd4-d9eb-46b2-91c1-d6734d18f39aThu, 10 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMT​​​Soil health is an essential basis for the transformation to a resource-efficient, climate-neutral economy. About half the German land area is used for agriculture, and in addition to producing food and biomass, soils actively contribute to storing carbon from the atmosphere, host biodiversity, cool the landscape, and store excess rainfall. This multifunctionality can only be achieved with sophisticated, site-adapted soil management systems.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Bonareszentrum.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilFri, 04 Feb 2022 16:00:00 GMT The Landscape 2021 conference held September 20-22, 2021 was hosted digitally due to the pandemic situation. By eliminating travel for conference guests and energy requirements at the venue, among other things, digital events have a smaller carbon footprint compared to an on-site event. Nevertheless, they are not entirely climate-neutral. Participants' devices, servers, data centers and data transmission consume electricity and thus generate greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated total of around 1.845 kg of CO2 was emitted during the three days of the conference for the transmission of workshops, lectures and discussion rounds via video conference. The conference organizer, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), has now offset these emissions. During the registration process, participants could optionally top up their registration fees with a donation for CO2 compensation. This raised an amount of 320 euros. The conference team invested the donations in climate protection certificates of the project "MoorFutures", which correspond to a compensation of 5,000 kg CO2. The collected donations will benefit a peatland protection project in the Königsmoor in Schleswig-Holstein. Here, groundwater levels are to be raised again on part of the area previously drained for agricultural use. This measure is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the soils there and restore the typical highland peat vegetation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Konferenz-Landscape-2021-kompensiert-CO2.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimafce74b88-636c-4267-8fdb-2adfefca4314Fri, 04 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMTDocumentary on the research alliance "Towards a chemical pesticide free agriculture" and the landscape laboratory "patchCROP"https://leblob.fr/videos/reduction-des-pesticides-une-alliance-europeenneSibylle KrickelNoticeSustainable Land UseWed, 02 Feb 2022 18:00:00 GMTDue to the COVID-19 pandemic many research methods typically applied face-to-face had to be adjusted to online formats. In a recently published perspective, ZALF researchers, together with colleagues from five international social-ecological research projects, explore the question what drawbacks and possible merits are linked to this development. In a mutual reflection process the authors discuss the pros and cons across several methods.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Forschung-in-der-Pandemie.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 01 Feb 2022 14:00:00 GMTThe project “SinoPES”, coordinated by the ZALF working group “Governance of Ecosystem Services”, had its workshop on 17th January 2022 to discuss lessons learned from Germany and China about incentive-based policy instruments to protect ecosystem services in Germany and China. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/SinoPES-workshop.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeEcosystem ServicesThu, 20 Jan 2022 14:00:00 GMTOn Thursday, 27th January, there will be an expert panel on sustainable agriculture improving soil governance worldwide. The panel will be moderated by Ana Paula Turetta (EMBRAPA Solos) and Stefan Sieber, head of the working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” at ZALF. The panel is part of the 14th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture with a focus on “Sustainable Land Use: Food Security Starts with the Soil”.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/GFFA-soil-governance.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 18 Jan 2022 10:00:00 GMTFrom January 2022, ZALF under coordination of Dr. Katharina Löhr takes over the scientific accompanying research on measures to achieve a living income for smallholders and increase sustainable cocoa production in Côte d'Ivoire. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PRO-PLANTEURS.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 07 Jan 2022 11:00:00 GMTSince November 2021, the ZALF working group "Sustainable Landuse in Developing Countries" takes over the accompanying research on the implementation of the GIZ global project Forests for Future (F4F) for the next four years. It will accompany the implementation of the activities of forest landscape restoration (FLR) implementing organisations in Ethiopia, Togo and Madagascar for the restoration of forest-rich landscapes and good governance in the forest sector. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/TREES.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 07 Jan 2022 11:00:00 GMTThe female ZALF scientists Prof. Dr. Heidi Webber, Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, Dr. Katharina Löhr, Dr. Jana Zscheischler, Dr. Kathrin Grahmann and Dr. Barbara Schröter are nominated by the Leibniz Association to join AcademiaNet in the field of agriculture. AcademiaNet is a database of more than 3200 profiles of excellent female researchers from all disciplines and from over 40 countries. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/AcademiaNet.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 05 Jan 2022 12:00:00 GMTZALF is now a member of the NFDI associationhttps://www.nfdi.de/association/?lang=enKevin UrbaschNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 03 Jan 2022 13:00:00 GMTNutrient deficiencies and acidic soils are major challenges for agriculture in large parts of East Africa. Although the important plant nutrient phosphorus is present in the soil, it is not available to the plants in sufficient quantities. In addition, due to the low pH, increased amounts of aluminum ions are released, displacing important plant nutrients and thus harming the plants. A research project led by ZALF biogeochemist Dr. Jörg Schaller is now working with local partners to investigate how fertilization with local volcanic ash can improve soil fertility in croplands and thus improve crop yields.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Tephra-Kenia.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseSoilKlima98d51c50-39e3-473a-b16e-89b59d091363Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:00:00 GMTSteffen Münch received his doctorate from the University of Potsdamhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Promotion_Muench.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 14 Dec 2021 16:00:00 GMTAn aerial view of the patchCROP field made it onto the new cover of the Nature Food journal.https://www.nature.com/natfood/volumes/2/issues/11Kristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 10 Dec 2021 11:00:00 GMTLast week, the Careoperative had their third annual meeting since their founding. The Careoperative is an experiment in collective leadership, co-founded by ZALF researcher Dr. Maria Kernecker, ZALF alumni Dr. Harry Hoffmann, and eighteen other mid-career scientists around the globe in 2019. The Careoperative understands collective leadership as a group of individuals from multiple organizations and sectors who lead transformational social change together through critical reflection, inclusivity and care. From their experience with a living experiment for collective leadership, the Careoperative, believes that leadership collectives can support shifts in academia from metrics to merits, from a focus on career to care, and from disciplinarily-bounded to inter- and trans-disciplinary research. In a paper published this year in Sustainability Science, “Creating leadership collectives for sustainability transformations”, and the Careoperative advocates for leadership collectives as both a mechanism and outcome for achieving the structural changes needed for more effective leadership for sustainability transformations. The paper is written under a shared first-author pseudonym Dr. O. Care, which reflects the group’s commitment to acknowledging the collective effort of learning, reflecting and writing that have resulted in the paper, whilst challenging lead author status as an indication of status. The group call for academic organizations to reorient their training programs, work ethics and reward systems to encourage collective excellence and to allow space for future leaders to develop and enact a radically reimagined vision of how to lead as a collective with care for people and the planet. Drawing upon their experience of working together as the Careoperative, the authors highlight three ways leadership collectives can be fostered. 1. Taking root – cultivating nourishing conditions based upon egalitarian ways of working, shared responsibility and an ethics of care. 2. Pollinating – creating inclusive and trusting spaces for the open pollination of ideas, tools and experiences. 3. Seeding change – engaging with active, critical and collaborative reflection that encourages new ideas and approaches to emerge. Based on the ideas published in this paper, the Careoperative has been engaged in a dialogue with other scientists, academic leaders, and funders at several events: a meeting with colleagues at the Dutch Research Institute for Societal Transitions (DRIFT) last week (25.11.2021), the Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI ) at Leuphana University seminar series (18.11.2021), the International Transdisciplinarity Conference (14.09. 2021), where the Careoperative hosted a round table discussion with leaders from throughout academia on how to transform science, and Transformations 2021 (09.06.2021), and Transformations 2021 (14.06.2021). In the near future the Careoperative will have an online presence with a website and will write a blogpost with leaders from throughout academia on practicing transformation in collective research processes. Stay tuned! https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Careoperative.aspxMaria KerneckerNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 06 Dec 2021 14:00:00 GMTThe article "Using Land for Peace: How Sustainable Land Use Systems can foster climate action and support peacebuilding", using the example of Colombia, shows how sustainable land use systems can reduce emissions, foster livelihoods and improve the resilience of communities to climate change and illegal economies. Several ZALF scientists were involved in the project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Using-Land-for-Peace.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 26 Nov 2021 15:00:00 GMTProf. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at the University of Bonn, has been named a "Highly Cited Researcher" in the "Agricultural Sciences" category for the sixth year in a row.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Highly-Cited-Researcher-2021.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 26 Nov 2021 14:00:00 GMTWelthungerhilfe and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) invite you to participate in this side event on malnutrition as part of the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 on December 1st, at 12 PM CET.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/N4G-Malnutrition.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityTue, 23 Nov 2021 12:00:00 GMTStrengthen biodiversity and ecosystem services: ECO²SCAPE project enters practical implementation phase Since October, another research project, funded as part of the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA), has entered the implementation phase: ECO²SCAPE. The aim of the project is to develop practical approaches and measures for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in cultural landscapes together with farmers. The loss of biodiversity is progressing at a rapid pace - with hardly foreseeable consequences for humans and the environment, and thus high consequential costs for society. The intensification of agriculture is considered one of the most important drivers of biodiversity loss in Germany. Despite some partial successes, there is a lack of broad implementation of measures to protect biodiversity. This is where ECO²SCAPE comes in: In the project, new, practical approaches and measures for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services are developed together with farmers in the model region “Vereinigte Mulde” near Leipzig, piloted and studied by an interdisciplinary research team. These measures will focus on the role of farmers in landscape management and the conservation of structurally rich cultural landscapes beyond the production of agricultural products and aim to achieve the broadest possible acceptance in society. The aim is to design ecologically effective and economically efficient measures, which – by means of newly developed monitoring methods – will be examined not only with regard to their effect on specific areas, but especially with regard to their effects at the landscape level. The underlying innovative research approach thus combines current methods from the fields of artificial intelligence, institutional economic instrument analysis, environmental economics, ecological-economic modeling and software development. After a one-year preparatory phase, the second project phase was launched at a kick-off event in Dresden on October 21st and 22nd. Among other things, the results of the first project phase were presented and reflected upon. The project’s advisory board also took part. This board includes members from science and practice who are not directly involved in the project and have an advisory role. The opening event was used by the project members for further networking and planning the next steps. The project is coordinated by Prof. Anna Cord, holder of the Chair of Computational Landscape Ecology at TU Dresden. Prof. Björn Andres, holder of the Chair of Machine Learning for Computer Vision, as well as other experts from TU Dresden with a background in biogeography, environmental sciences, political science and computer science are also members of the project team. At ZALF, Dr. Maria Kernecker leads the work package "Values and Acceptance" and is responsible for the implementation of the tasks and milestones within this and other work packages. The central objective of the work package is to investigate which factors influence the acceptance of biodiversity conservation measures and the associated values of farmers and the public in the model region. Specifically, she and her collaborators will 1) explore farmers' values and perceptions of biodiversity, landscape and measures in the model region; 2) identify key stakeholders and the knowledge flows between them in relation to agriculture and biodiversity conservation and 3) categorize the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in relation to biodiversity conservation. Project partners:  TU Dresden (coordination)  Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)  Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)  Landscape conservation association Northwest Saxony e.V. (LPV)  Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. (NNL) Funding: The project is funded by the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Projekt_ECO%C2%B2SCAPE.aspxMaria KerneckerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 12 Nov 2021 14:00:00 GMTA team led by Professor Thomas Weith at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) received the Gerd Albers Award (Special Mention) on 10 November 2021 for the publication "Sustainable Land Management in a European Context". The prize is awarded by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/ZALF-Team_mit_internationalen_Preis_praemiert.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseSustainable Land UseThu, 11 Nov 2021 10:00:00 GMTAt the field, farm, household and market levels, multiple options exist for diversification of activities, building resilience of food systems to stresses and shocks, according to a new Comment in Nature Food, among others by Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director at ZALF. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00403-9Kristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityWed, 10 Nov 2021 12:00:00 GMTModelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security: the Science-Policy Knowledge Forum (MACSUR SciPol Pilot) will be present at the UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021 (COP 26).​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/pages/PB3/Macsur-2.aspxKirsa FischerPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeThu, 04 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMTA Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will strengthen evidence-based actions to improve agricultural landscapes for sustainable soil and nature resource management, preserving biodiversity and raising food security and nutrition.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/FAO-memorandum.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousTue, 19 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT2nd Status Seminar of the BMBF Funding Initiative “Agricultural Systems of the Future” The 2nd status seminar of the BMBF funding initiative "Agricultural Systems of the Future" took place from 28 - 29 September 2021. The online conference was attended in particular by the funded collaborative projects with over 200 contributors. The sustainable design of agricultural production is one of the central challenges of the 21st century. In order to research and test possible scenarios for an agricultural economy of the future, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) initiated the funding measure "Agricultural Systems of the Future". Eight inter- and transdisciplinary consortia in Germany are dedicated in different ways of transforming the agricultural economy and developing innovative solutions. After welcoming addresses by Andrea Noske, Head of the BMBF's Bioeconomy Division, Dr Eva Leiritz from the Project Management Jülich (PtJ) and Prof. Monika Schreiner (Coordination Office "Agricultural Systems of the Future"), the eight collaborative projects of the funding measure presented their project progress and activities in professional communication to representatives of the Ministry, the PtJ and an international advisory board. Among other things, approaches to innovative pasture management, circular economy and integration of ecosystem services in the management of agricultural landscapes were presented. The presentations of the consortia were complemented by virtual poster contributions and the Young Talent Talks, where young scientists presented their research. Other highlights of the status seminar were the keynotes on climate change and artificial intelligence (AI). On the first day, Prof. Hermann Lotze-Campen from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research gave a keynote speech on current issues in agriculture in relation to climate change. In particular, the reduction of climate-effective gases, nitrogen management and the protection and preservation of biodiversity are pressing issues here that can only lead to solutions in a systemic and global approach. The keynote speaker on the second day of the conference was Prof. Yael Edan, professor at Ben Gurion University (Israel), who addressed the topic of automation, robotics and AI in agriculture. In the future, developments in this field will increasingly focus on human-machine interaction and innovative sensor technology to optimise autonomous movement in space and the execution of specific tasks in the production process and harvest. Dr Philip Albers (IGZ), Stefanie Fleischmann (IGZ) and Ulf Weddige (ZALF), the managers of the Coordination Office, as well as Julia Vogt (IGZ), the manager of food4future, ensured the smooth running of the event with over 200 participants. Together with the coordinators of the Coordination Office, Prof. Dr Monika Schreiner (IGZ) and Prof. Dr Thomas Weith (ZALF), they prepared and moderated the event. More information on the consortia funded by the BMBF's "Agricultural Systems of the Future" programme, as well as on the work of the Central Coordination Unit, can be found via the following link: https://www.agrarsysteme-der-zukunft.de/en/home.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Statusseminar_Zenko.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 14 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMTEven in Central Europe, rainfall can be so scarce that the yield is at risk. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are now looking for a solution in the agricultural soil: Fertilization with amorphous silicate, a silicon compound that is sometimes even produced as a waste product in industry, could solve several problems of modern agriculture in just a few years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Amorphes-Silikat.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseSoilTue, 05 Oct 2021 16:00:00 GMTAs more data and larger amounts of data is produced in any field of science, there is a growing need for its efficient management and proper tools that support scientists in their daily work. Addressing this need, an international workshop on the data life cycle, data publication and long-term data preservation brought together the agricultural (ZALF), soil science (BonaRes) and long-term data preservation community (ZB MED).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Bonares-Daten-Workshop.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 04 Oct 2021 16:00:00 GMTn 29 September 2021, the Horizon Europe Mission on Soil Health and Food has been launched and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ was presented with the mission’s implementation planhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Horizon-Europe.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilFri, 01 Oct 2021 15:00:00 GMTWhat kind of research do we need for a better understanding and development of transformative processes? And what is role of transdisciplinary approaches in this context? These were the central questions of the DIALOG event "Transdisciplinary Research - the Gold Standard for Scientific Work on Transition and Transformation?" at the IOER Annual Conference 2021​. On Thursday, 23 September 2021, Prof. Dr. Stefan Siedentop (Scientific Director of the ILS Dortmund), Dr. Jana Bovet (Head of Division at the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture) and Karl Schmude (Head of the Office for Spatial Planning and Regional Planning of Westmecklenburg), moderated by Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith (ZALF), discussed these questions. Thomas Weith also described the current knowledge on the topic and realized interactive parts with about forty participants. It became clear that transdisciplinary approaches have many advantages with regard to the joint co-development of knowledge (from problem to implementation). At the same time, it became clear that especially in politics and administration, there are many other requirements for usable knowledge. An exciting dialogue: to be continued.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2021OKT01_IOER_Tagung_2021.aspxapl. Prof. Dr. Thomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 01 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMTInnovations are generally regarded as drivers of change and progress. In agriculture, technological leaps can be seen most recently in the context of digitalisation. Drones, sensors and robotics are finding their way. But is this enough to break new ground for a sustainable bioeconomy and to drive the transformation of agricultural systems? Organisational and institutional bottlenecks often have to be passed here, e.g. in the value chain and in planning and approval procedures; new concepts are needed. These so-called social innovations were the focus of the keynote lecture by professor Thomas Weith at the "Dialogue Platform Zukunftsfelder" on 21 September 2021, moderated by professor Ortwin Renn. In the discussion with the participation of industry, associations and also other scientific institutions such as the PIK Potsdam, needs for action in future were discussed, based on the lecture. The dialogue itself is the best example of a framework that promotes innovation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2021_09_21_Dialogplattform_Zukunftsfelder.aspxapl. Prof. Dr. Thomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 30 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMTThe first monitoring audit of the environmental management system at the Müncheberg site was successfully completed on 1st September 2021. As a result, there are only a few, minor indications and recommendations which, together with the results from the internal audits, will be addressed by the second monitoring audit in fall 2022.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/EMAS-Audit.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 Sep 2021 15:00:00 GMTToday, the international Landscape 2021 conference of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) begins. The conference program focuses on the question of how a transformation of agriculture towards more climate resilience and sustainability can succeed. The conference is characterized by its holistic perspective on the topic: all aspects that are important for a sustainable transformation of agriculture will be considered by more than 400 participants from 43 countries. Intensive agriculture, i.e. cultivation on large areas and specialization on a few crops, has led to enormous increases in yields. The negative environmental effects, such as the loss of biodiversity, damage to soils, bodies of water and ecosystems, as well as market-related economic uncertainty for farms, are no longer sustainable worldwide in view of the additional threat posed by climate change. At the Landscape 2021 conference, participants are discussing approaches that focus on diversification, or increasing diversity, in agriculture. The researchers' vision is of resilient and sustainable agriculture, characterized by high productivity with low consumption of resources, while at the same time preserving ecosystems and biodiversity in the landscape system. Diversity should lead to positive interactions between agriculture and ecosystems as well as between agriculture and the food system. This should also enable new economic perspectives and technological innovations for farmers. Diversity strengthens resilience Research assumes that agriculture and nature benefit equally from increased diversity in the field, in the soil, in the landscape as well as in the value chain and finally on the plate. Diverse crop rotations and crop species in the field and varied landscape elements such as wildflower meadows, shrubs, trees and water bodies in the surrounding agricultural landscape are expected to have a positive long-term impact on soil properties and yields. Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Conference Chair, emphasizes: "Diversification is also important on an economic level. When farms grow different crops with different characteristics in a season, they spread their financial risk and do not necessarily have to fear for the loss of the entire harvest in the event of climate-related extreme weather events such as drought or heavy rain." Diversification is thus a fundamental building block for resilient agriculture on multiple levels. Conference Chair Prof. Peter Feindt, Professor of Agricultural and Food Policy, Humboldt University Berlin, explains: "Resilience in agriculture means that agricultural systems can manage to survive crises and cope with necessary transformations as far as possible on their own. This requires individual farms and all the value chains to be future-oriented, to adopt integrated approaches, and to be highly capable of learning and adapting. Only then can food security and the protection of the underlying ecosystems be ensured." Economic resilience and landscape diversity The conference was opened by Prof. Miranda Meuwissen, Professor of Risk Management in Food Supply Chains at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In her keynote speech, she emphasized the importance of resilience in the agricultural system: "Fewer than half of European farms are economically viable in the long term. Liveable incomes also strengthen the resilience of agriculture and ecosystems. If there is sufficient income, farmers might have room to experiment with production practices which are possibly less harmful for the environment." Douglas Landis, Professor of Entomology at Michigan State University (USA), will provide insight into his research with a keynote speech on the second day of the conference. Prior to the event, he stated: "Agricultural intensification has resulted in a loss of landscape structures such as forests, peatlands and grasslands in favor of large agricultural areas worldwide. The result is the loss of biodiversity and reductions in ecosystem services. This process of landscape simplification must be reversed – and this requires close cooperation between scientists and all key stakeholders." Change is only possible together with practice Because collaboration with practice is fundamental to a transformation toward sustainability and resilience in the agricultural system, stakeholders from agriculture and policy will be involved in Landscape 2021. Conference Host Prof. Katharina Helming from ZALF emphasizes the special approach of the conference: "In order to focus on the entire landscape system around agricultural production, it is absolutely necessary to bring practitioners into the debate. Today, research projects with their application-oriented products for use in practice will present themselves at the Marketplace and search exchange. On the last day of the conference, we will invite farmers and representatives from science and politics to a round table discussion. This will also allow us to continue the dialog successfully launched at the federal level by the 'Commission on the Future of Agriculture'." Virtual conference with varied formats During the three days of the conference, participants at Landscape 2021 will choose from 175 presentations in 38 virtual sessions, which will be transmitted via video conferencing. Project groups and researchers will present a total of 85 scientific posters on an online conference platform. In addition, Masterclasses will be offered - this is an innovative format with a workshop character that focuses on mutual learning, a deeper introduction to the methodology and intensive discussions. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Auftaktveranstaltung_Landscape2021.aspxSibylle Krickel, ZALFPress ReleaseMiscellaneousKlimacb99dedc-e7bf-414e-97df-a59094c6bce3Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:00:00 GMTUnder the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN Food Systems Summit will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2021. Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director, is a member of the UN Summit's Scientific Group. ZALF has contributed to several publications and preliminary events, the results of which will now be discussed at the summit.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Food-Systems-Summit-2021.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 16 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMTHuman activity interferes with the Earth’s carbon cycle through the release of carbon dioxide and through changes in land use. Croplands cover a large proportion of Earth’s surface, but we are still understanding how cropland soils store and release carbon. Dr Jürgen Augustin and Dr Steffen Kolb from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research in Germany are using an integrated methodological approach to monitoring carbon fluxes in eroded cropland soils and resolve mechanisms regulating them.https://researchfeatures.com/effects-soil-erosion-carbon-fluxes-croplands/Hendrik SchneiderNoticeClimate ChangeThu, 16 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMTAs part of the Science Days of the UN Food Systems Summit in July, Katharina Löhr and Constance Rybak from ZALF hosted with the University of Pretoria and Welthungerhilfe a side event on ‘Bridging scientific and indigenous peoples’ knowledge for sustainable and inclusive food systems’.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Workshop-food-systems.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityTue, 07 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMTYou are cordially invited to join a webinar on “Advances and challenges of basin committees for water management: reflections from South America and Europe” on 17th September. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/webinar-water-management.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeWaterTue, 07 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMTRice is a staple food for more than half of the world's population. The majority of the world's rice harvest is grown as wet rice, i.e. on flooded fields. This has advantages, however it also produces high methane emissions and consumes a lot of water. Dry rice cultivation, i.e. growing rice on non-flooded fields, could be a climate-friendly alternative to wet rice cultivation, but has so far only be able to provide lower yields. A new international joint project coordinated by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is now investigating how yields could be increased. The project is funded by the German Research Foundation. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Trockenreisanbau.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseSoilTue, 24 Aug 2021 15:00:00 GMTZALF Welcomes DAAD RISE Internhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/RISE_Praktikantin_DAAD.aspxDr. M. MuellerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 11 Aug 2021 08:00:00 GMTIn the "patchCROP" landscape laboratory of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the second season is starting of an experiment that is until now unique in Europe. Working in cooperation with a farm, a research team will be spending the next 10 years testing an innovative cropping system that focuses on high plant diversity on small areas, digitalization and new technologies such as robotics. The aim is to reduce the use of chemical synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in particular. Through this experiment, the researchers want to prove that it is possible to increase soil fertility, yields and biodiversity while at the same time reducing the use of resources. The landscape laboratory is thus leading the way to the sustainable agriculture of the future. It sounds simple enough: Grow crops where they find the best conditions for growth in the soil. That sums up the research approach of the new "patchCROP" landscape laboratory. The special feature: Instead of taking place in the laboratory or on small experimental fields, the research work takes place under real-life conditions on the agricultural land of the partner farm, the Komturei Lietzen in East Brandenburg. In addition to ZALF and its practice partner, the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), the "PhenoRob" cluster of excellence, represented by the University of Bonn, and the BMBF-funded project "Digital Knowledge and Information System for Agriculture" (DAKIS) are also part of the project. Technology start-ups from the agricultural robotics industry are involved as well. "In patchCROP, we have created an innovative platform for an integrated research approach to the development of sustainable agricultural landscapes of the future", explains Prof. Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at the University of Bonn. "With the landscape laboratory, we are bridging the gap between basic research and practical implementation. All the experiments are carried out under real conditions in a landscape context. This systems approach is central to solving many of the challenges we currently face in agriculture." A mosaic in the field For the experimental setup, a total area of 70 hectares was divided into 30 small squares, called patches, each measuring only half a hectare. Dr. Kathrin Grahmann, scientific coordinator of the experiment at ZALF, explains: "Depending on the soil properties, different crops are grown in each of the squares. This creates a diverse mosaic of arable crops such as rye, sunflowers or lupines. Variegated flowering strips and catch crops complement this diversity." A total of nine types of crops are cultivated at the same time. In addition to the positive effects on the environment, the small-scale, site-adapted cultivation should also make the system more resistant to weather extremes. "By diversifying the crops grown, a farm reduces the risk of losing parts of its harvest during extreme weather events, because each crop species reacts differently to these events", adds Grahmann. To improve soil health in the long term, the crop rotation, i.e. the sequence of crops grown in the field, has been expanded to include crop types that promote the build-up of humus and nitrogen in the soil. All crop residues are left in the field and are only lightly worked in without plowing. This ensures an accumulation of humus in the topsoil. By planting flowering strips between the squares as a refuge for insects, the researchers hope to improve biodiversity and pollination performance. Beneficial organisms, which find a habitat in the newly created retreats, should also support crop protection. Using new technologies to create the cropping systems of the future The experiment is supported by digital measurement technology, 190 soil sensors and drones that are observing each field section. Along with a thorough monitoring of birds and insects, as well as the intensive monitoring of harmful organisms, the impacts of the experiment are being analyzed. In the future, robots will be used to manage the small squares. Not least of interest to the scientists is the question of whether this type of cropping system, using new digital technologies, can be economically viable, i.e. whether it will in future also deliver the yields needed to cover the high investment costs. They are also investigating the contribution the cropping system will make to the environment, nature and biodiversity and how this should be rewarded. For this reason, the networking aspect of the project is very important. The project team is establishing collaborations with technology companies and start-ups in the agricultural robotics sector. In cooperation with the participating practice farm, demand-oriented robots as well as associated software are to be tried out on the experimental area and tested under real conditions. Reduce the use of chemical synthetic pesticides In order to assess the positive impact of small-scale and diversified cultivation in crop rotations with high levels of biodiversity, experts from the JKI's Institute for Strategies and Technology Assessment regularly monitor the occurrence of harmful organisms in the crops. At the same time, they are investigating how small-scale crop diversification creates synergies that increase crop resilience. "We hope that this experiment will provide insights into how strengthening agro-ecological factors can help stabilize yields and exploit additional reduction potential in integrated crop protection", explains Silke Dachbrodt-Saaydeh, a plant protection expert at the JKI. High-tech in the field The researchers are already supported by digital tools that monitor the need for crop protection or fertilization for each site in the field. Soil sensors also continuously measure soil moisture and temperature. However, the team is also testing new digital agricultural technology prototypes: Using electronic insect traps, the emergence of pests and beneficial insects is measured and evaluated via app. Drone images already help to regularly monitor the entire area. In the future, additional small autonomous units are to undertake sowing, automatically remove weeds and check the nutrient balance of individual plants. Together with experts from the "PhenoRob" Cluster of Excellence and the "DAKIS" project, a concept for a holistic, digital management solution is to be developed, tested and implemented. In the future, all relevant information and recommendations for action will flow together on an "agricultural dashboard", which will then support the farm in its work as a decision support tool. Dr. Ixchel Hernandez-Ochoa from the "PhenoRob" Cluster of Excellence, explains: "The data from 'patchCROP' allows us to simulate how diverse cultivation and different field sizes will impact the soil, yields and the entire ecosystem in the long term." The "DAKIS" project, currently one of the largest research projects for the development of a digital, knowledge-based agriculture of the future in Europe, also uses data from the "patchCROP" experiment. The "DAKIS" coordinator, Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, explains: "The objective of 'DAKIS' is to develop a software system that digitally supports farmers in their everyday decision-making. This decision support system provides information on site-specific requirements for ecosystem services, biodiversity and resource efficiency. In this way, the services that agriculture can provide in addition to production, such as clean drinking water, the pollination performance of insects or attractiveness for tourists, can be recorded. This is the basis for us to be able to reward farmers appropriately for this in the future." The practice partner of "patchCROP", the Komturei Lietzen, is an agricultural food crop producer in Brandenburg. The experiment is being carried out as a landscape laboratory as part of the daily operations on the Komturei's land. Felix Gerlach, managing director of Komturei Lietzen, sees opportunities in this cooperation: "In the 'patchCROP' landscape laboratory, we can support research into sustainable cultivation systems with our experience and integrate the results directly into practice." In 2020, the first management year, extensive measurement and management plans laid the initial groundwork for the experiment. In addition to measuring soil properties, there will be ongoing monitoring of which species of wild plants, birds, insects and soil organisms are present in the field and in flowering strips. Based on this, researchers will be able to determine in the next few years whether diversity in the field is having the expected positive impact on the soil, biodiversity and yields. The "Agricultural Mosaic" is now entering its second season. Project Partners: - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg (project coordination) - Julius Kühn Institute, Institute for Strategies and Technology Assessment, Kleinmachnow - "PhenoRob" Cluster of Excellence - Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production, University of Bonn - "DAKIS" – Digital Knowledge and Information System for Agriculture, coordination at ZALFhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Landschaftslabor_patchCROP.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeFri, 06 Aug 2021 11:00:00 GMTZALF scientist Jörg Schaller has been selected as a finalist for the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021 in the category Life Sciences. He was selected for his work on significantly increasing soil water availability through fertilization with amorphous silica. This approach is a possible tool to reduce drought stress for plants even during drought periods, thus stabilizing global food production.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Falling-Walls.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilMon, 26 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMTAnna Hampf successfully completed her PhD after six years as a doctoral student at the Institute for Landscape Systems Analysis at ZALF. She conducted research on the socio-economic factors of yield gaps in the southern Amazon, the effects of climate change on crops and yield losses due to plant diseases.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Anna-Hampf-Promotion.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 22 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMTOn 8 and 9 July 2021, the German Sustainability Summit 2021 took place as an interactive virtual event. As part of the Summit, the German Committee for Sustainability Research presented its new position paper, which is to be developed into a joint research agenda for the coming years. Dr. Jana Zscheischler (ZALF) was invited to comment on the position paper. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/German-Sustainability-Science-Summit.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 22 Jul 2021 16:00:00 GMTIn order to achieve the climate goals of the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, it is important that research findings are incorporated into political strategies. In the MACSUR SciPol project, ten scientific institutions are planning to establish a hitherto missing interface between policy and science for the agri-food sector at a European level. The project is a model for an institutionalized form of scientific policy consultation. MACSUR SciPol was launched in June 2021 under the coordination of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) with a kick-off workshop and will run as a pilot project for 18 months.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Politikberatung-Klimawandel-MACSUR-SciPol.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlimab9e02256-299c-4e1b-917b-57c463100954Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:00:00 GMTScientists from a wide range of disciplines from Leibniz Association institutions are launching an initiative for "Integrated Earth System Research". Together with partners from Germany, Europe and other countries, they will investigate the current epoch of the Earth’s history, which is strongly influenced by humans, in a coordinated and interdisciplinary way as never before. The findings will point out both high-risk and safe development paths for politics, business and civil society. What are the impacts of the rapidly increasing human influences on the Earth system and in turn how do they affect people? How can unforeseeable risks be prevented and at the same time enable wellbeing, economic prosperity and justice? Humanity’s interference with the Earth system, which has evolved over millions of years, is increasing rapidly – and with it the open questions regarding its impacts on Earth and humankind are growing. Not only is global warming continuing unabated with all its consequences. At the same time, biodiversity is declining worldwide, pollution of the oceans is spreading, water is becoming increasingly scarce in many places, and pollutants are accumulating in soils, the air and waters. As a result, politics, business and civil society are facing enormous challenges. Climate change mitigation and adaptation to unavoidable climate change alone already require considerable efforts across several policy and economic sectors. How to deal with the even more extensive environmental problems of the Anthropocene – the current epoch of the Earth in which humans have gained a strong influence on the Earth system? Scientists from numerous Leibniz institutions have now addressed this question at the virtual conference "Integrated Earth System Research – Challenges, Approaches and Impacts". In view of the enormous dimension of the problem, experts not only from climate, biodiversity and ocean research participated, but also from global economic research, spatial research and international peace and conflict research, among others. As a result of the two-day discussion, it became clear that so far there are hardly any adequate, integrative approaches to scientifically deal with such a complex phenomenon. It is true that there is extensive knowledge about individual processes of change. However, this knowledge is still insufficiently interconnected and usable. Thus, important prerequisites are missing to comprehensively explain the consequences of current trends to decision-makers and to illustrate alternative, sustainable future paths of humankind on and with our fragile planet Earth. According to available projections, the upcoming decisions are of importance for the history of civilization. Against this background, the participants of the conference have launched an initiative for "Integrated Earth System Research". Together with partners from Germany, Europe and other countries, they will investigate the Anthropocene in an unprecedented coordinated and interdisciplinary manner. An important goal is to also develop solutions in the course of research with actors from politics, business and civil society. "With this initiative, we are bringing together global model simulations from very different disciplines and placing them in the context of concrete societal needs and possibilities for action for the first time," says Jochen Schanze, the conference chair. "At the moment, our research mission may seem like a vision of a moon landing in the 1960s. However, all participants agree that the scale and speed of Earth system change urgently requires such an initiative." In the coming months, a research platform will therefore be established step by step. The Leibniz institutions see themselves as initiators, while the platform will be open to all interested scientists. For an initial pooling of resources, numerous Leibniz institutions have already joined forces to form the Leibniz Research Network “Integrated Earth System Research”. The expertise of this network ranges from the observation and modelling of Earth system processes to economics, political and social sciences. The research museums, which are also involved, play an important role in communicating the results in addition to their scientific work. Central questions of future research will be: What complex interactions determine the Earth system? What are the consequences of human activities and what are the risks associated with them in different places on Earth? How can the growing world population be served for equitably within planetary environmental boundaries? What innovations are particularly effective for this purpose? What societal capacities are needed to realize them, and how can they be activated across different spatial scales?https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Anthropozaen.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlimabc4095de-c191-403d-a5b7-827aa6ace849Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:00:00 GMTSoil is a scarce resource, and the way we use it determines whether its productivity can be secured in the long term. As part of the BonaRes project, ZALF has developed an assessment platform that provides tools for scientists to evaluate the sustainability of soil management measures. A new video explains how the platform works.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Bewertung-nachhaltiger-Bodennutzung.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeSoilMon, 12 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMTBonaRes Assessment Platform: New introductory video availablehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7mFr2ok-s8Kirsa FischerNoticeSoilWed, 30 Jun 2021 15:00:00 GMTThe workshop is hosted by Dr. Katharina Löhr and Dr. Constance Rybak from ZALF together with Prof. Hettie Schönfeldt (University of Pretoria) and Dr Harry Hoffmann (Welthungerhilfe). Title: “Bridging scientific and indigenous peoples’ knowledge for sustainable and inclusive food systems”. The virtual event will be held on July 6, 2021; 4-5.30 p.m. via zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84316319155 (Passwort: 405120) The event is free of charge. Participants are kindly asked to also register for the Science Days. The registration link to the main event can be found here: https://sc-fss2021.org/events/sciencedays/https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Virtueller_Workshop.aspxConstance RybakNoticeFood SecurityMon, 28 Jun 2021 09:00:00 GMTOn 7th June, the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Julia Klöckner, visited the Temmen farm. The farm is one of 150 farms participating in the project "Landwirtschaft für Artenvielfalt" ("Agriculture for Biodiversity"). Scientific support is provided by ZALF. Julia Klöckner praised the project's approach, which focuses on both biodiversity and secure yields. Particularly noteworthy is that consumers can actively promote biodiversity by buying certain foods.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kloeckner-ZALF-Projekt.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityTue, 22 Jun 2021 20:00:00 GMTThe EU-project AGROMIX is looking for farmers with experience in agroforestry and mixed farming for a survey about the ecological (dis)advantages of such land use practices.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Umfrage.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeEcosystem ServicesFri, 04 Jun 2021 14:00:00 GMTOn 22 June 2021, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V. and the FACCE JPI invite policy representatives, researchers, farmer groups or interested farmers, and knowledge brokers to a kick-off workshop and networking event on the topic of establishing a pilot Science-Policy Knowledge Forum in Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Securityhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Macsur.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 03 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMTOn 9 June from 19:00 to 20:30, the Climate Forum on the possibilities and opportunities of agri-photovoltaics for farms will take place. ZALF scientist Prof. Klaus Müller will show, among other things, what role agri-photovoltaics plays in securing income as well as for resource protection, biodiversity, acceptance of agriculture and the energy transition.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Klima-Forum-Agri-Photovoltaik.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousTue, 01 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMTThe third episode of the querFELDein podcast is online. In the conversation with Prof. Dr. Ralf Bloch, Professor of Agroecology and Sustainable Cultivation Systems at the University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde and Dr. Roger Funk, Graduate Agricultural Engineer at the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), this time the topic is the connection between agriculture and forestry.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Podcast-Agroforst.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 27 May 2021 17:00:00 GMTA total of 100 farms have joined the "Landwirtschaft für Artenvielfalt" (Agriculture for Biodiversity) project as practice partners. It is the largest project in Germany with the goal of preserving and promoting the diversity of wild animal and plant species in agriculturally influenced habitats in order to counteract the decline of native flora and fauna. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) provided scientific support for the project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Landwirtschaft-Artenvielfalt.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeBiodiversityThu, 27 May 2021 12:00:00 GMTIn April, the Reuters "Hot List" of the 1,000 most influential climate scientists was published. Prof. Frank Ewert, scientific director of ZALF, is among the top 100.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/ZALF-Wissenschaftler-„Hot-List“.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeClimate ChangeKlima18a0a786-7ecc-4ba5-b0c7-f86cd1bb1222Mon, 10 May 2021 18:00:00 GMTA variety of positive as well as negative effects for rural area are associated with the buzzword digitalisation. Currently, the focus is on technological possibilities, e.g.for agricultural production. At the same time, tasks such as the promotion of biodiversity, the design of basic services or even peripheralisation processes point to completely different fields of action. With his lecture More than drones, sensors and robots: Digitisation as part of the "Agricultural systems of the future", apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith presented new approaches for smart rural areas at the spring conference of the Agrarsoziale Gesellschaft on 5th of May. These approaches are also a basis for discussion in the scientific accompanying project for the "Agricultural Systems of the Future" programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which is being realised by ZALF.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Mehr_als_Drohnen.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 10 May 2021 08:00:00 GMTOn 12 February 2020 Dr. Jha successfully defended her dissertation via Zoom (due to Covid-19) at the Life Sciences Faculty of the Humboldt University of Berlin. Dr. Jha's work focuses on the adoption and scaling-up of climate-smart agricultural technologies for increasing agricultural productivity and adapting to climate change. Her methodological expertise is in statistical analysis, modeling and quantifying the decision-making process. Her research work, presentation and the discussion that followed were unanimously judged to be excellent. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Virtuelle_Verteidigung.aspxSrijna JhaNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 05 May 2021 08:00:00 GMTOn July 8-9, the "Science Days" organized by the "Scientific Group" of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) 2021 and hosted by FAO will take place virtually. The aim of the event will be to discuss and pool scientific knowledge around healthier diets and more sustainable food systems as input to the deliberations and decisions of the UNFSS.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Save-the-Date-Science-Days.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 03 May 2021 11:00:00 GMTOn April 19, Katharina Helming discussed the potentials of carbon farming at an event of the FDP parliamentary group with, among others, its climate policy spokesman Lukas Köhler. While he and Gero Hocker (agricultural policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group) considered private CO2 certification to be a suitable instrument for reliable carbon storage, Helming referred to its highly site-specific nature and the BonaRes study, which questions the climate protection potential of current certification practices, particularly on mineral soils. Nonetheless, she emphasized the crucial role of soil improving cropping systems for climate adaptation and resilience of agricultural systems. Hubertus Paetow (President of the German Agricultural Society) and Andreas Täuber (BMEL) agreed with Helming on key points and looked confidently into a digital future for agriculture. The event emphasised in the important role that agriculture plays in the major transformation towards a climate neutral world. The discussion can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGVQxMNPP0https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Carbon-Farming.aspxKatharina HelmingNoticeClimate ChangeKlima935bea7c-8bd7-452b-9b3b-89429c9c5535Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:00:00 GMT„Forschungsexperiment – Trüffel aus der Lausitz“https://www.rbb-online.de/zibb/archiv/20210412_1827/trueffel-aus-der-lausitz-ein-experiment.htmlDr. B. MünzenbergerNoticeSoilFri, 16 Apr 2021 12:00:00 GMTThe project “SinoPES”, coordinated by the ZALF working group of “Governance of Ecosystem Services”, had its virtual kick-off meeting on 8th April with 19 participants. Over the next 3 years, the 6 partners from Germany and China will work together on innovation to develop a coordinated, efficient and sustainable management and financing mechanism for ecosystem services considering the contexts of Germany and China. In the kick-off workshop, the German research team presented the concept of ecosystem service governance and the corresponding practice in Germany and Europe. This has been further demonstrated by using recent innovation as examples, including Dutch collective model, Hipp value chain approach and digital driven approach. An example of digitally managed approaches in Germany is the "AgoraNatura" platform, while in China the "AntForest" app is currently in use for ecosystem service governance. Moreover, the Chinese team showed their research of Eco-Compensation, which is China’s like-version of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). A case study of Xin’an river basin presented the Eco-Compensation’s combining approach of market-oriented mechanisms and government interventions. As a result, the discussion recognized that many important components of governance of ecosystem services are framed differently in Germany and China. This includes payments for ecosystem services, stakeholder engagement, and the value chain. The governance approaches of the two countries also differ in how outcome-based, collective, and collaborative they are designed to be and in the way they are digitally implemented. The case study from China showed that PES are adopted and transformed as different forms of practicing in state environmental governance combining authoritarian intervention, marketization, commodification and privatization. The participants recognized that a comparative review in conceptualization of the two countries might provide new understanding of the diversity of PES. The next step of "SinoPES" would be investigating the similarities and differences between those important components considering the framework conditions in two countries. The participants have agreed to organize a workshop around September this year. Funding: The "SinoPES" project is funded by the Sino-German Mobility Programme of the Sino-German Center for Science Research with DFG and NSFC.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kick-off_SinoPES.aspxCheng ChenNoticeEcosystem ServicesFri, 16 Apr 2021 08:00:00 GMTIn the week after Easter, ZALF offered an international block class for MONICA users. In the mornings, Prof. Nendel provided the theoretical background of the processes used in the simulation model, and Michael Berg-Mohnicke then demonstrated the technical tricks of using the model in different situations. The international participants then each had the opportunity in the afternoon to set up and advance their own simulation projects and to get individual support from the ZALF staff in the virtual space. The MONICA course was attended by 15 scientists and PhD students from nine countries, including six ZALF staff members.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/DokumentePublikationenProjekte/FDS/International%20MONICA%20User%20Class%20at%20ZALF_eng.pdfAnnett StangeNoticeModellingTue, 13 Apr 2021 09:00:00 GMTClimate change will make weather conditions more unpredictable. Therefore, the reliability of crop or fodder yields become increasingly important for farmers. However, guidelines how to best quantify yield stability are still missing. Authors Reckling et al. reviewed methodological issues for yield stability assessment. Using data from long-term field experiments, they also provided practical examples and solutions. They recommend a combination of multiple approaches and a consistent and transparent use of stability methods. Their guidelines will help to better quantify yield stability, and to design stable cropping systems that are better adapted to a changing climate.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Neue-Methoden-zur-Ertragsstabilitaet.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeClimate ChangeKlima121afa5d-5e29-4bfb-ab13-88cdb781bd5eWed, 31 Mar 2021 09:00:00 GMTThird Cohort of Doctoral Students for DFG Research Training Group "BioMove” https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Dritte-Kohorte-Doktorandinnen-und-Doktoranden-für-DFG-Graduiertenkolleg--„BioMove“-.aspxDr. M. MüllerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 30 Mar 2021 14:00:00 GMTTogether with more than 20 stakeholders from Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, the ZALF working group of “Governance of Ecosystem Services” hosted an online workshop in 15th March in the context of the research project “PEATWISE”. The workshop aimed to discuss political actions needed at the EU and national level that could contribute towards a transition for climate neutral land use on peatlands by 2050. The EU is globally the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases from drained peatlands. As the EU affirmed the core goal of the Paris Agreement which set zero net CO2 emissions by 2050, reducing emissions from peatlands deserves an important place in Europe’s climate policies. Nevertheless, a comprehensive climate policy target for emissions reductions from drained peatlands is lacking in specific EU and national policies. Participants from policy-makers from national, regional and local levels, agricultural associations (farmer organizations, land care organizations), water boards, and researchers had joined together to discuss the pathways for a transition, policy instruments and ways to help farmers. Conservation of peatlands, such as the cultivation of wet-adapted crops or the restoration of natural conditions, or raising the water levels are widely accepted as cost-effective measures for climate change mitigation. However, as they often imply high costs of conversion and management, farmers need economic incentives sufficiently attractive to initiate the transition. Furthermore, to reduce emissions on peatlands at a large scale, cooperation must be facilitated between neighbouring farmers and different sectors. In addition to the discussion, three input presentations were made on: 1) Results of GHGs measurement of mitigation measures 2) Economic and regulatory instruments guiding towards sustainable use of peatlands in Finland, Germany and the Netherlands 3) Farmer motivations for cooperative action of peatland management in the Netherlands. We would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions and fruitful discussions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Online_Workshop_entwässerte_Moore.aspxCheng ChenNoticeEcosystem ServicesTue, 23 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMTWhich conflicts regarding land use occur in rural areas? Which challenges is agriculture facing, in Brandenburg and beyond? And which solutions are currently being discussed? These questions found much interest in Berlin High Schools: Roughly 200 students and teachers from 14 High Schools attended a virtual event organised by GeoUnion on March 16th, 2021, to learn more. „Ackern for Future? Ansätze für eine zukunftsfähige Landwirtschaft und Landnutzung – nicht nur in Brandenburg“ („Agriculture for Future? Approaches towards sustainable agriculture and land use – not only in Brandenburg“) was the title of the presentation held by apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith and Meike Fienitz (both from ZALF), during which they introduced the participants to the topics of land use change and agriculture, and presented current challenges and solutions. Interactive surveys invited the students to take an active part in the event. The subsequent discussion further demonstrated the high interest among youth regarding questions of sustainable land use. Continuation desired.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Ackern_for_future.aspxMeike FienitzNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 23 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMTIn the research project "SattGrün", researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have been working over the past three years on technical solutions for economic and ecological grassland management, in collaboration with scientific institutions and technology companies. The resulting tools were presented at the project's final workshop at the end of February.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Satellitengestuetzte-Information-Gruenland.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseAgriculture 4.0Klima19c77e6f-28d1-41f8-bab5-e7244f45f142Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMTOn 16th and 18th of February, two online scenario workshops with the title “Future Soil Management” took place. The "Foresight Team" of the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V. invited in the context of the research program "BonaRes - Soil as a sustainable resource for the bioeconomy". ​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Bodenmanagement.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:00 GMTLinus Früh successfully defended his dissertation on the invasive mosquito species Aedes japonicus in Germany with a "magna cum laude" at the Ruhr University of Bochum on January 25th, 2021.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Erfolgreiche-Promotionsarbeit-zu-einer-invasiven-Stechmückenart-in-Deutschland-.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMosquitoesThu, 04 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMTEffective March 1, 2021, Martin Jank will assume the position of Administrative Director on the Executive Board of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). With his appointment, he replaces Cornelia Rosenberg, who has held this position since January 2015. Most recently, Martin Jank was chancellor of the Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF Film University. Prof. Frank Ewert remains as Scientific Director on the ZALF Executive Board.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Vorstand-Martin-Jank-Administrativer-Direktor.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousMon, 01 Mar 2021 10:00:00 GMTTogether with 20 project partners from 15 countries, the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is researching which incentives are decisive for farms to integrate biodiversity-promoting agricultural practices into their everyday operations. The research project also aims to clarify which agro-ecological and socio-economic effects can be achieved with the help of these incentive instruments and how effective communication can be established between actors from science and agriculture. The project of the EU funding program Horizon 2020 started on 1st November, 2020 and has a duration of five years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Auftakt-EU-Projekt-SHOWCASE.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeBiodiversityMon, 22 Feb 2021 12:00:00 GMTAgriculture is not only dependent on climate, but it can also influence it - when viewed over longer periods of time. Soil management plays a central role in adapting agriculture to climate change and slowing down global warming. What is needed to use soils sustainably in the long term is being investigated in the research project "Soil as a Sustainable Resource for the Bioeconomy - BonaRes". The research team will hold a workshop on "Soil Management of the Future" on March 04, 2021 (in German) and March 11, 2021 (in English), 9:00-13:30, respectively. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Workshop-Bodenmanagement-der-Zukunft.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeSoilMon, 15 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMTZALF scientists Stefan Sieber and Frieder Graef are among the top 10 authors in the field of food security research, according to a review in the journal Land, and thus among the most influential scientists in the field.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ZALF-Wissenschaftler-unter-den-Top-10-auf-dem-Gebiet-der-„food-security-research“.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityMon, 15 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMTThe Journal Agriculture is publishing a Special Issue entitled “Reconnecting People with Nature through Agriculture” and calls for submissions until 20 September 2021.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Call-for-Papers-zu-nachhaltigen-landwirtschaftlichen-Transformationen.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 08 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMTIn its November issue (Vol. 65, Issue 11), "CSA News" magazine picked up on the publication by Groh et al. (2020) and emphasizes the importance of lysimeters for improving agroecosystem modeling.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/ZALF/CSA-News-Magazin-greift-ZALF-Artikel-auf-.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 08 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMTWhat should the future of agricultural systems look like? What visions can guide them there? Representatives of the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) funding measure "Agricultural Systems of the Future" discussed these questions at the online workshop "Mapping Futures" on Thursday 28 January 2021. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) together with the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) in Großbeeren and the Institute for Space & Energy (Institut Raum & Energie) carried out the online workshop and opened new perspectives. They addressed an increased collaboration of agricultural- and food policy with regional circular economy, as well as the development of new networks between consumers and producers. In vivid small-group discussions, the participants aimed for ways to link different future visions in order to develop a joint vision approach and to initial elements for an implementation roadmap. In a next step, the Coordination Office, hosted by IGZ and ZALF, compiles the findings and develops a joint vision for the “Agricultural Systems of the Future”.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/agrarsysteme-der-zukunft.aspxUlf WeddigeNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 03 Feb 2021 14:00:00 GMTOn 26 November 2020, Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF, contributed to the panel at the EURACTIV Virtual Conference "The European Food System: The transition towards sustainability and climate mitigation". The panel discussed ways to achieve more sustainable farming systems in the EU while managing global food supply chains. The full discussion is now available online. Ewert took part in the panel in his function as the scientific advisory board chair of the EU’s Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI). This initiative promotes cooperation in research programming that work on solutions for ensuring food security, adaptation of agriculture to climate change and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The full panel discussion is accessible in a video and a podcast on the website of EURACTIV.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Ewert-EURACTIV-conference-food-systems.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeFood SecurityKlima60318665-660d-4070-a0e5-ea562d91f449Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:00:00 GMTAs part of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA 2021), Katharina Löhr and Stefan Sieber from the Working Group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries” hosted an expert panel on agricultural value chains.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Das-ZALF-beim-Global-Forum-for-Food-and-Agriculture-2021.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeFood SecurityThu, 28 Jan 2021 15:00:00 GMTAs part of the SMS Project and in collaboration with the Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission, ZALF organized the online Soil Cluster Day on 13.01.2021.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Soil-Cluster-Day.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilTue, 26 Jan 2021 13:00:00 GMTIn 2020, three scientists were hired on a tenure track basis at ZALF. With the help of this recruitment procedure, outstanding young researchers are supported on their career path and research quality at ZALF is secured in the long term. In a Classic Call, the following candidates were selected for topic-specific tenure tracks: Joana Bergmann's research as a Grassland Scientist includes the topics land use, biodiversity, plant-soil interactions, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in grasslands. As Landscape Experimentalist, Kathrin Grahmann will be responsible for the scientific coordination of the patchCROP landscape laboratory, as well as essentially for strengthening and consolidating the research in landscape experiments at ZALF and networking it nationally and internationally. As an Agro-Ecosystem Modeller, Ehsan Eyshi Rezaei mainly works on the development and application of crop models for the analysis of physiological processes and agroecosystems as well as for the assessment of climate change. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Drei-Stellen-im-Tenure-Track-Verfahren-im-Jahr-2020-am-ZALF-besetzt.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimaf140b38f-8248-4e48-98f2-1b1373d16c8dMon, 25 Jan 2021 18:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) participates in the Leibniz Research Network "Knowledge for Sustainable Development". Together with other institutions of the Leibniz Association and external partners, ZALF contributes to the generation of the scientific knowledge needed for the transformation towards a sustainable society. To address global challenges such as climate change, food security, resource scarcity and biodiversity loss, ZALF develops research approaches for sustainable agriculture of the future integrated in a landscape context.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Leibniz-Forschungsnetzwerk-nachhaltige-Entwicklung.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousKlimabc82f3e2-e443-433a-a35f-7bff04d4327fMon, 25 Jan 2021 18:00:00 GMTAgricultural long-term field experiments (LTFEs) are an important basis for soil and agricultural sciences. A compilation of metadata and research data from LTFEs in Germany shall enhance networking and simplify the access to the experiments. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Potenzialdauerfeldversuche.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 08 Jan 2021 15:00:00 GMTCornelius Kuhlisch successfully defended his dissertation on mosquito species in Germany with a "Magna cum laude" at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald on November 26th, 2020. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion-Cornelius-Kuhlisch.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMosquitoesThu, 07 Jan 2021 17:00:00 GMTThe recently approved ZIM cooperation network "DeepFarmbots" met virtually for its official kick-off on November 25. The central goal of the network is to develop and disseminate new agricultural robotics solutions for efficient and sustainable agriculture. In an interdisciplinary approach, agricultural robotics is to be linked with new deep learning methods and the synergy effects between the partners are to be deepened. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is participating in "DeepFarmBots" with research approaches to digitalization in agriculture. The network is funded by the Zentrale Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM - Central Innovation Program for SMEs) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. It brings together hardware and software developers, AI experts, research institutions and farmers. AI-based agricultural robotics for efficient and sustainable agriculture - this is the full title behind the name "DeepFarmbots". Our agriculture is facing enormous challenges: Much of current agricultural production is based on intensive, industrialized farming. This practice is unsustainable, damaging soil, water and air, and is also coming under regulatory pressure. In addition, staff shortages are a major problem for many farms. In this context, the use of robots can make an important contribution during the transition to high-yield and sustainable agricultural production. By combining robotics with new approaches from artificial intelligence, the precision, capabilities and autonomy of robotic systems can be significantly increased. ZALF brings to the project its many years of experience in the field of agroecology and in the development of new cropping systems. Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, head of the "Land Use and Governance" Research Area at ZALF, is investigating how agriculture can become more sustainable and resource-efficient with the support of robots, digital measurement technology and information. "Great potential lies in the development of sensors and the linking of information on the ecological footprint of a product from the field to the consumer", explains Bellingrath-Kimura. "This will allow us to grow and manage in a more site-appropriate and small-scale way, which will ultimately help promote biodiversity and other environmental aspects." The ZIM cooperation network "DeepFarmBots" brings together players from the fields of agricultural robotics, hardware and drives, sensor technology, IoT, AI, agroecology and agriculture. This results in a unique opportunity to comprehensively follow the development of agricultural robotic solutions across applications. The R&D topics to be pursued by the current 9 companies and 3 research institutions range from sensitive control and robust sensor technology for demanding environments to new machine learning methods for image processing, and swarm robotics. An important role is played by the exchange with the farmers involved in the network in order to incorporate the real needs and requirements from practice into the technical development. ifectis Innovation Promotion guides the cooperation between the network partners. Network manager Tatiana Rothmann from ifectis makes the point that the network is open to further partners. Interested companies and research institutions that would like to be involved in R&D projects and can contribute complementary expertise are just as welcome as potential users of the newly developed solutions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020-12-16_PM_DeepFarmBot_final.aspxS. Bellingrath-KimuraPress ReleaseAgriculture 4.0Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:00:00 GMTOn December 03, 2020, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) became the first institution of the Leibniz Association and the second non-university research institution in Germany to receive certification for the European sustainability label EMAS. With its environmental management according to the EMAS standard, ZALF is on its way to becoming a sustainable and climate-neutral research institution. In a first step, the site in Muencheberg was certified for this purpose. The European environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) goes well beyond legally required environmental standards. It helps organizations and companies reduce their "ecological footprint". As part of the voluntary EMAS certification, ZALF undertakes to systematically measure and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and the consumption of resources in its operations. For this purpose, environmental objectives were defined, a catalog of measures was developed and implementation was started. On December 3, 2020, the Administrative Director of ZALF, Cornelia Rosenberg, received the certification certificate from the Chief Executive Officer of the IHK (the Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Ostbrandenburg, Mr. Gundolf Schülke. Researching sustainability and acting sustainably Sustainability has high priority for ZALF and its employees. Research on sustainable agriculture of the future contributes to finding solutions for global challenges such as climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation and resource scarcity. "With environmental management in accordance with EMAS, we want to ensure that not only our research but also our operating processes are optimized even more intensively in future from a sustainability perspective", explains Rosenberg. "To this end, we have agreed on extensive measures in many areas of operation: Purchasing, the vehicle fleet, facility management, and the canteen are to make even more sustainable use of resources in the future." Nature conservation also plays a major role at ZALF. "We specifically support in-house projects that help to preserve biodiversity on the ZALF site", says Rosenberg. "A lot of potential for reducing the consumption of resources lies in our everyday work," adds Michael Berg-Mohnicke, who accompanied the introduction of EMAS at ZALF as Environmental Management Officer. "That's why we're now also providing all our employees with a sustainability guide that contains lots of advice on how to be more sustainable in their everyday work." Continuously monitoring and communicating progress The ZALF environmental team has developed an environmental statement in a multi-stage evaluation process. It initially records key performance indicators relevant to the main site in Muencheberg, Brandenburg, such as energy, water and material consumption, waste quantities and CO2 emissions. The environmental statement makes ZALF's environmental objectives and necessary measures transparent and assigns responsibilities for their implementation. EMAS-certified organizations are audited every three years by an independent external body. Internally, environmental objectives and measures are revised annually to continuously improve the organization's environmental performance. The other ZALF sites in Dedelow and Paulinenaue are to follow in 2022. Sustainability in all areas ZALF's environmental objectives include, for example, a more economical use of water, the reduction and better separation of waste, the reduction of paper consumption, the expansion of opportunities for in-house energy generation, and the reduction of CO2emissions, for example during business trips. ZALF employees are actively involved in the development and implementation of the measures. For example, a volunteer working group, together with ZALF's facility management, takes care of nature conservation on the ZALF site: Thus, flowering areas are specifically promoted, nesting boxes are set up and in one project solutions for the protection of amphibians are implemented.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Guetesiegel_EMAS.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousWed, 06 Jan 2021 15:00:00 GMTOn 30 November, the starting signal for the European research project "AGROMIX" was given in a three-day virtual kick-off meeting. The EU Horizon2020 project focuses on research into agroforestry and mixed farming systems. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Kick-off-Meeting-des-EU-Horizon2020-Projekts-„AGROMIX“.aspxKristina BackhausNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 16 Dec 2020 14:00:00 GMTAgriculture is a key socio-economic sector that both influences climate, and is exposed and vulnerable to climate change, extremes and variability. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/effects-on-crops.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeClimate ChangeMon, 18 Jan 2021 15:06:53 GMTBonaRes Centre for Soil Research bio economyevaluation midtermhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Halbzeitevaluation-BonaRes-Zentrum-Bodenforschung.aspxProf. Dr. Katharina HelmingNoticeSoilKlimad8cc2cb3-3e29-40b1-9ff1-6b1e95d94ef8Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:30:00 GMTIn different regions and sectors, there is a high interest of conventional farmers to convert to organic farming. At the same time, many organic farmers work on further enhancing the agricultural, environmental and nature conservation performance as well as the societal benefits of their farming systems. The EU needs to address the hindering factors and support further research as well as private initiatives of farmers, organization and market actors in the organic movement to fully utilize the sustainability potential of organic farming. To develop the action plan for the development of EU organic production, ZALF scientists suggest specific areas to focus on. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Position-paper-of-the-Leibniz-Centre-for-Agricultural-Landscape-Research-on-the-Action-plan-for-the-development-of-EU-organ.aspxKristina BackhausPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 03 Dec 2020 20:00:00 GMTMarijn van der Meij graduated with distinctionhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Marijn-van-der-Meij-promoviert.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 30 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMTLast week, apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith was re-elected as a member of the ARL Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association for another 10 years. The re-election took place at the last general meeting and is to be seen as an honour for excellent scientific work and engagement in the Academy. The ARL with its nearly 200 members represents a network of competence for sustainable spatial development. Main research topics are spatial structures and developments, their causes and effects as well as possibilities for their governance on a national and international level.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ARL_Mitglied.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 25 Nov 2020 14:00:00 GMTKick-off meeting EU Projekt ‘Soil Mission Support’: Towards a European research and innovation roadmap on soil and land managementhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Kick-off-meeting-EU-Projekt-Soil-Mission-Support.aspxProf. Dr. Katharina HelmingNoticeEcosystem ServicesKlima5134659d-65ab-4187-8c7e-d1f2ce54077fMon, 23 Nov 2020 12:00:00 GMTCovid19 and agriculture: Expert panel of the WG SusLand at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) https://www.gffa-berlin.de/en/fachveranstaltungen-2021/fachpodien/fachpodium-2/Katharina LöhrNoticeFood SecurityThu, 19 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMTThe joint application from ZALF and Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has been approved for funding by the Mobility Programme of the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion (SGC). The Programme is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC. The aim of the new Sino-German project is to develop a coordinated, efficient and sustainable management and financing mechanism for ecosystem services considering the contexts in Germany and China. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) in Germany and eco-compensation in China face many similar challenges (e.g. insufficient funding, environmental effectiveness and social equity) in creating management mechanism for behavioral change. In both countries, the market-based approaches are still under development, sharing the same constrains of over-relying on governmental payments. In Germany, many attentions have been paid to the management of human behavior through “soft” incentive-based measures combining with participatory management and collaborative decision making. In China, while the eco-compensation is predominantly relying on governmental financing and hierarchy structure, some recent innovative projects showed the promising potentials of digitally-driven approaches in facilitating alternative fund generating and wide participation. In order to study those key innovative components, this project will focus on the contract-based (e.g. result-based, cooperative) and digitally-driven approaches, collaborating with different actors (state and private and civil sectors) to deliver valuable ecosystem services. The ZALF working group of “Governance of Ecosystem Services” will coordinate the German side of the mobility program, while Leibniz University Hannover and Humboldt University of Berlin will make important contributions. The IGSNRR will coordinate the Chinese side, together with Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning and South China Agricultural University. The project is financed for three years between 01.01.2021-31.12.2023.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DFG_NSFC.aspxCheng ChenNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 17 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMTOn 2 November 2020, Ms Meike Weltin defended her dissertation with the title "Sustainable intensification: Farmers' adoption behaviour and environmental outcomes" at the University of Bonn with a "Summa cum Laude".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Promotion-Sustainable-Intensification.aspxAnnette PiorrNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 17 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), together with international partners, is organizing the Landscape 2021 Conference in Berlin Adlershof from 20 to 22 September 2021. The conference will focus on the question whether and how diversification in agriculture contributes to resilience and sustainability. The event thus addresses current research topics between the conflicting priorities of climate change, food security and sustainability. The event brings together scientists from various disciplines with multipliers from politics, society, and practitioners. Interested parties can still submit proposals for their own “Sessions” and “Masterclasses” up up until 15th November 2020. Ecologically and socially sustainable agriculture is a highly topical issue and touches on a wide range of topics from nutrition, species protection and climate to politics and society. After the cost-cutting competition under the paradigm of world market orientation which has led to specialization and homogenization in the use of agricultural landscapes, the question now is whether and how diversification can better combine ecological, social and economic objectives and make the agricultural landscape more attractive again. Following the successful first edition of the conference in 2018, Landscape 2021 will take place under the main theme “Diversification for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture” on the campus of Humboldt University Berlin in the district of Adlershof. The “Call for Sessions” is open until 15th November 20202020 for the “Sessions” and “Masterclasses” formats. Ideas for “Post-Conference Workshops” and stands on the “Marketplace” can be submitted until 1 March 2021. The registration forms for each format are available for download on the conference website: https://www.landscape2021.org. Contributions to the conference will include research from the natural and social sciences as well as interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to issues related to the diversification of plant and animal production systems and which are relevant to sustainable agricultural landscape research. In addition to classical “Sessions”, “Masterclasses” are also planned. This interactive format allows for intensive collaboration in a workshop atmosphere in order to demonstrate new instruments, methods or topics, learn from one another and discuss issues together. In the “Post-conference Workshops” format, workshops aimed at specific target groups can be offered on the day after the actual conference. A “Marketplace” will also be held as part of the support program of Landscape 2021. At this event, research products suitable for use in practice and politics will be presented, such as apps, decision support systems, knowledge systems. The “Marketplace” is aimed at a broad audience and key players from research and agriculture. These include farmers, representatives from politics and industry who develop solutions for practical applications, multipliers, and journalists. This also makes it an excellent platform for networking and new cooperation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020-10-12_PM_Landscape2021_Call_for_sessions_final.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 16 Oct 2020 13:00:00 GMTThe week from 5 to 9 October 2020 at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was dedicated to the promotion of young scientists. Supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and organized by ZALF, the “Agroecosystems 2020” Young Researchers Academy was held with a total of 20 participants. An intensive workshop program gave the young researchers an opportunity to network and receive individual advice on the structure, methodology and financing of their research projects. Within the framework of the Academy, the participants can also apply to the DFG for funding for their own research project. For one week, the participants of the “Agroecosystems 2020” Young Researchers Academy met at ZALF for workshops, keynote speeches and individual coaching in order to gather ideas for their own research projects and also to obtain successful funding applications from the DFG. The aim of the Academy is to promote young researchers from various disciplines who, after completing their doctorate, want to implement a project in the field of sustainable, resource-saving and environmentally friendly land use. The Academy’s participants can also apply for project funding from the DFG for their project as part of the program. If they are granted funding, they could lead their own research project for a period of two years and thus take an important step in their career. The Academy was initiated by Prof. Dr. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF and Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb, head of the ZALF working group “Microbial Biogeochemistry” and co-head of the “Landscape Functioning” Research Area. A total of more than 60 young researchers had applied to take part in the Academy. From these, 20 outstanding participants were selected through an evaluation procedure. 16 renowned experts from various disciplines were also invited to the Academy. After presenting their research project, the participants had the opportunity to have individual coaching discussions with some of these experts. Dr. Kathrin Grahmann, a junior researcher in ZALF’s Research Area 2 “Land Use and Governance”, participated in a total of six of these discussions. “This helps me to define my scientific research question more precisely and to focus the framework of my planned project on nitrate leaching in diversified agricultural landscapes. Speaking to one of the experts gave me the idea for the integration and application of a new scientific methodology. It is rare to get such varied feedback from successful scientists”, reports Grahmann. Dr. Christian Kraus, research assistant in the working group “Plant Protection in Viticulture, Mycology” at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Siebeldingen was also able to gather new stimuli: “I want to investigate the influence of mechanical pruning of vines on the roots of the plants. The coaching discussions showed me that the idea for my research question is basically good, but that I could still formulate my hypothesis and the funding application differently.” Professional exchange among the participants and synergy effects are desired in the Academy: “Interdisciplinarity is important in agricultural research and is what distinguishes ZALF. The topic of land use can be approached, for example, from the perspective of a microbiome researcher or an expert in robotics. For some of the Academy’s participants it was new to learn about the perspective of other disciplines with regard to their research topic. We welcome the fact that the young researchers learn from each other and cooperate with each other in their projects and for funding applications”, explains Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb. Following this workshop week in Muencheberg, the participants of the Academy will apply for project funding from the DFG. “Of the research projects presented here, all of which are excellent, about half can be funded by the DFG for two years following the Academy,” says Kolb. For the young researchers, a funding commitment would be an important milestone for their post-doctoral scientific career: With DFG funding, they would be able to lead their own research project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020-10-12_PM_DFG-Nachwuchsakademie-ZALF_final.aspxSibylle KrickelPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 16 Oct 2020 09:00:00 GMT Due to current circumstances, the first half of PhD Day 2020 was organized in an online-format on 10th September. The topic of the day was “Many researchers- one vision”: our doctoral candidates and other ZALF-researchers were invited to discuss how their individual research projects complement each other and how they contribute to ZALF's research strategy and narratives. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/2020_09_10_ZALF-NEWS_doktorandentag2020.aspxLea NitzNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 09 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMTAs of the end of September 2020, companies and private individuals can use the new online-marketplace at www.agora-natura.de to invest in biodiversity and ecosystem services in Germany. Through voluntary, flexible payments they can, for instance, contribute to the preservation of meadow orchards, the development of biodiverse agricultural fields or the implementation of protection sites for certain target species.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020_09_30_ZALF-PM_AgoraNatura_dt_ZALF_DUH.aspxHendrik Schneider, Tom BaumeisterPress ReleaseMiscellaneousWed, 30 Sep 2020 18:00:00 GMTAward for the improvement of scientific cooperation between Germany and Uzbekistan. Dr. Ahmad Hamidov received a "Certificate of Honour" for his significant contribution to the development of scientific cooperation between Germany and Uzbekistan. The award was presented by Mr Nabijan Kasymov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Federal Republic of Germany.​https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ehrenurkunde-hamidov.aspxJuliane SaßNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 29 Sep 2020 16:00:00 GMTVirtual Workshop as a partnerevent of EU Green Weekhttps://www.project-contracts20.eu/Julia LidauerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 25 Sep 2020 15:00:00 GMTThe Research Award "Transformative Science" of the Wuppertal Institute and the Zempelin Foundation goes to Dr. Jana Zscheischler. The scientist of the Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V. is awarded for her transdisciplinary and transformative approach as well as her research concept for sustainable land management. The prize is endowed with 25,000 euros and will be awarded on October 6th as part of the "Darmstädter Tage der Transformation“ ("Darmstadt Days of Transformation"). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020_09_18_ZALF-PM_Transformative_Wissenschaft_Preis_final_dt.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 18 Sep 2020 16:00:00 GMTHow can land use become more sustainable? And which development processes are required to resolve growing conflicts and competition over land use? These questions are addressed in a new volume entitled “Sustainable Land Management in a European Context – a Co-Design Approach”. The book was edited by current and former ZALF employees Thomas Weith, Tim Barkmann, Nadin Gaasch, Sebastian Rogga, Christian Strauss and Jana Zscheischler. The 350-page volume presents and discusses innovative solutions for land management in the European context. It emphasises and highlights co-creation processes within the co-design approach, reflecting collaboration among academics and other stakeholders in transdisciplinary research processes. The book provides an overview of the current state of different land use practices and the resulting need to manage land resources more sustainably. New system solutions and governance approaches in sustainable land management are presented from a European perspective. Novel approaches to sustainable land management emerge from the co-design of change processes and the development of new knowledge through co-creation processes. New insights and experiences in sustainable land management are presented to a broad readership of land system scientists, environmental scientists, social scientists and geoscientists.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Buchneuerscheinung.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 11 Sep 2020 09:00:00 GMTIn order to improve the connection between the activities of the BMBF funding measure "Agricultural Systems of the Future" and the European networks and their players, the online workshop "Building Networks" was held on September 3, 2020. It was hosted by the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research Müncheberg (ZALF), supported by the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) and the European network BIOVOICES. The aim of this workshop was to strengthen cooperation between the various research consortia and different actors in the fields of policy making, research funding, research and transfer networks as well as agricultural policy advocacy. At the same time, the consortia are thus given the opportunity to give their research a better European visibility. At the beginning, several keynote speeches provided important initial points for further action. Peter Wehrheim, Head of the Unit "Food Systems and Bioeconomy" of the European Commission in Brussels, gave an introduction to the current developments of bioeconomy strategies at the European level. The National Contact Point Life Sciences/Bioeconomy, represented by Dr. Jill Ebert and Mareike Schmitt from KoWi (Cooperation Centre EU of Science Organisations), highlighted different European platforms for bioeconomy as well as possibilities for participation in the conception of European research and innovation programmes. Susanna Albertini from the European Bioeconomy Network (EuBioNet) presented the work of her network and drew attention to the high relevance of knowledge exchange for promoting bioeconomy. Chiara Pocaterra from the co-organizer network BIOVOICES presented the work of this multi-stakeholder platform together with the opportunities and challenges it presents. Udo Hemmerling, Vice President of the German Farmers' Association, presented the perspective of farmers and outlined current political developments in Brussels. After the initial presentations, there was the opportunity for an intensive exchange and networking in smaller groups with the different actors. The discussion focused in particular on questions of participation in European programs and the visibility of research projects beyond the national level. The current developments and effects of COVID-19 were also part of the discussions of the expert team. According to Chiara Pocaterra, in addition to all the restrictions, these would also bring advantages for scientific exchange. Due to the new online formats more actors could be reached and thus involved in strategy processes in this way. This is demonstrated by the relevance of a diverse range of events, both personal and virtual workshops, in order to address as many different actors as possible. "By exchanging the many different perspectives, the online workshop was an important contribution to expanding the dialogue between the consortia and Europe," stated apl. Prof. Dr. Weith of ZALF. Consequently, it will be important to implement these aspects in future planning and to ensure continuity.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/AdZ_CCI.aspxThomas WeithNoticeSoilFri, 11 Sep 2020 08:00:00 GMTLandscape 2021 - Call for sessions, masterclasses, market place booths, post-conference workshops now openhttps://www.landscape2021.org/frontend/index.php?folder_id=3405&page_idJulia LidauerNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 03 Sep 2020 15:00:00 GMTA study led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) shows that crop failures in agriculture can result from many different extreme and not even not so extreme weather events such as drought, heat, heavy rain or unseasonal temperatures. While large-scale crop failures are mainly caused by drought, regionally occurring crop failures can be the result of a combination of different weather phenomena that can differ between years. The study “No perfect storm for crop yield failure in Germany” was published in the Environmental Research Letters magazine in July 2020. It contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of these interactions and helps to make more accurate forecasts for crop failures in the future. Extreme weather phenomena such as record heat waves, prolonged drought and heavy rainfall are increasingly leading to crop failures. Yield failures not only pose financial challenges for farmers, but in extreme cases, can also contribute to food prices spikes or supply shortages. Most recently, in 2018 and 2019, high temperatures and drought in parts of Germany led to record poor harvests. However, not all yield losses can be explained by such extreme weather events. A study led by ZALF and involving the universities of Potsdam, Bonn and ETH Zurich shows that crop losses can be caused by a range of extreme weather events and in some cases an unfortunate combination of unfavorable but not particularly extreme weather phenomena. For example, a summer drought has a particularly strong effect when the plants have already been stressed by unfavorable weather conditions in winter. ZALF’s research results help to model the complex interplay of these factors with the aim to generate knowledge to better protect farmers from crop failures and the resulting financial losses through the use of forecasts and adapted cultivation methods or plant breeding. Climate change is causing erratic weather patterns Against the background of climate change, the authors of the study assume that extreme weather events will occur more frequently, but that there will also be an increase in unusual combinations of weather phenomena occurring locally. In critical growth phases, even a few unusually hot days or long periods of drought can lead to yield losses. A lot of rain in a short period of time can wash nutrients out of the soil, favor the spread of plant diseases and delay field work. However, weather phenomena that are not extreme, but rather unusual in their combination and that occur regionally can also have a severe impact on yields. As an example, the authors cite the poor wheat harvest in France in 2016, which can be attributed to an excessively warm fall combined with an excessively wet spring. A model to predict the harvest supports agriculture The effects of unusual weather patterns in combination with individual extreme weather events have not yet been sufficiently researched. The present study contributes to illustrating that crop yield failures can be triggered by a number of extreme weather combinations that must be considered in assessing the risk of yield failures. In the long term, adapted cultivation methods, targeted plant breeding, diversification of cropping and farming systems, as well as novel insurance products for agriculture will be needed for farmers if they are to avoid serious losses of income. About the study The study “No perfect storm for crop yield failure in Germany” was published in the Environmental Research Letters magazine in July 2020. It examines the causes of regional differences in the yields of the four most important arable crops in Germany (winter rape, winter wheat, winter barley, silage maize) over the past 20 years. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020-07-30-PM_Webber_Crop_Failure.aspxHeidi WebberPress ReleaseSustainable Land UseKlima3c12e889-045f-456c-bfdc-5a5313df114bMon, 17 Aug 2020 08:00:00 GMTSave the date: Landscape 2021, 20-22 September 2021 in Berlin, Germanyhttps://www.landscape2021.org/frontend/index.phpHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 31 Jul 2020 08:00:00 GMTIn June 2020, ZALF working group SusLand (Löhr/Lozano/Morales) in collaboration with Center for Development Research (ZEF) – University of Bonn (UoB) organized an online seminar series on «Environmental and Peacebuilding Practices in Conflict-Affected Scenarios». Main question was how natural resource management can enhance sustainability and peace. The seminars included a presentation of ScalA-PB, as ex-ante-tool to assess agricultural interventions for sustainability and peacebuilding potential. Sustainable land use systems were introduced, as well as different methods to work with stakeholders in conflict affected environments. Presentations were given by representatives of ZALF, ZEF, Oxfam, Alliance Bioversity–CIAT, CIPAV, Instituto de Estudios Ambientales (IDEA), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) und Observatorio de Conflictos Ambientales (OCA), UNAL. Up to 77 participated per seminar. The Webinar series is available online. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Webinarserie_online.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 23 Jul 2020 08:00:00 GMTOn 12 June 2020, under new regulation and no-contact policies due to coronavirus, Mr. Eufemia successfully defended his dissertation at the Life Sciences Faculty of the Humboldt University of Berlin and is now entitled to use the title "Dr. rer. agr.". In his thesis entitled "A Framework for Community-based Governance in Grasslands and Savannahs of South America", Mr. Eufemia presented the conceptual framework for Community-based Governance (CBG) in Grasslands and Savannahs of South America. Through his PhD, the list of publication includes 3 cumulative works of the dissertation and 8 side articles, as both author and co-author, supporting the whole structure of the PhD : Eufemia, L. et al. (2019) Collective perception of anthropic and extractive interventions in the Colombian Llanos. Social Sciences 8, Article 259. (Article 1) Eufemia, L. et al. (2019) Community-based governance and sustainability in the Paraguayan Pantanal. Sustainability 11, 19, Article 5158. (Article 2) Eufemia, L. et al. (2019) Mechanisms of weak Governance in Grasslands and Wetlands of South America. Territory, Politics, Governance. (Article 3) (under review) Bonatti, M. et al. (2019) Social representations of climate change and climate adaptation plans in southern Brazil: challenges of genuine participation. Urban Climate 29, Article 100496. Graser M. et al. (2020) Peacebuilding in rural Colombia - A Collective Perception of the Integrated Rural Reform (IRR) in the Department of Caquetá (Amazon). Land 9(2), 36. Eufemia, L. et al. (2018) Synthesis of Environmental Research Knowledge: The Case of Paraguayan Pantanal Tropical Wetlands. Sustainable Agriculture Research, SAR, 7(4), 125-133. Bonatti, M. et al. (2019) Pathways to improve PAG in a Challenging institutional setting: The case of the Río Negro National Park in Paraguay. Human Ecology (under major revision). Eufemia, L. et al. (2018). Colombia's rural development must honour peace agreement. Nature, 560(7716), 29. Eufemia, L. et al. (2019). Colombia's inadequate environmental goals. Science (New York, NY), 364(6439), 444. Eufemia L. et al. Community-Based Governance Manual. Case Study: Municipality of Paz de Ariporo, Casanare (Colombia) (English/Spanish). ZALF: SusLAND. Müncheberg, Germany (2019) Eufemia L. et al. Fortalecimiento de La Gobernanza Comunitaria en el Pantanal Paraguayo (Distrito de Bahía Negra, Alto Paraguay, Paraguay). Reporte WWF Paraguay. Asunción, Paraguay (2019) Currently, he works at ZALF in two working groups within research Area 2 "Land Use and Governance": Biotic Interactions between Forest and Agricultural Land; and Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Diss_Defend_LucaEufemia.aspxLuca EufemiaNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 16 Jul 2020 08:00:00 GMTWebinar: Partizipation in NFDI4Agri - Community Workshophttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/veranstaltungen/Pages/default.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 30 Jun 2020 14:00:00 GMTThe Scientific Director of ZALF, Prof. Dr. Frank Ewert, has been invited to become part of the Scientific Group of the UN Secretary-General’s 2021 Food Systems Summit. The aim of the Food Systems Summit is to raise public awareness for more sustainability in global food systems. In addition, the summit is to initiate commitments aimed at reducing hunger and diet-related diseases worldwide in the long term. The Food Systems Summit contributes to advancing the United Nations' Agenda 2030. The Scientific Group ensures the scientific basis of the Food Systems Summit and resulting political decisions. The researchers contribute to the debates with the latest findings and research approaches that are relevant for more sustainable food systems. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/2020-06-24_ZALF_NEWS_UN-Ernaehrungsgipfel2021.aspxSibylle KrickelNoticeFood SecurityWed, 24 Jun 2020 15:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) invite applications for their international summer school CMRA2021: Modelling approaches for climate risk and climate change adaptations in the context of sustainable intensification in semi-arid West Africa. The summer school is planned for February, 2021 in Bamako, Mali. The summer school will host 26 early- career researchers from West Africa and Germany and international experts to critically assess the role of crop modelling as a tool for climate risk assessments and the identification of climate change adaption strategies to support more sustainable and productive cropping systems in semi- arid West Africa.. The summer school aims to enhance awareness and appreciation of the state of the art in crop modelling for addressing climate risk and sustainable intensification among the region’s next generation of researchers and agricultural policy makers. The training will emphasis recent model developments, methodologies for analysis, as well as key limitations in their use and emerging complimentary data driven approaches. Best practices for stakeholder engagement, study design, data processing, scenario formulation, model selection, model parameterization, and uncertainty analysis will be explored. A second aim is to provide students with experience in designing projects considering transdisciplinary perspectives on how and to which extent CSMs can be applied for impact in decision making processes and sustainability outcomes for a range of actors. These learning objectives will be achieved through a balance of lecture with international experts; group discussions with peers and lecturers; model demonstrations; applied tutorial exercises; group work in designing and implementing model based analyses and student presentations. Lectures will be given in either French or English. The summer school will take place at the ICRISAT headquarters in Bamako, Mali and is scheduled for February 21-28, 2021 with a COVID-19 dependent back-up date of September 5–12, 2021. Applications are due by July 1st, 2020. For details on how to apply please visit the CMRA 2021 website. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/CMRA_2021_Summer_school.aspxHeidi WebberNoticeMiscellaneousKlimab7144cc4-83e3-441f-bd1c-7b78ce3d4364Wed, 10 Jun 2020 09:00:00 GMTZALF together with ZEF (Center for Development Research (ZEF) - University of Bonn (UoB), organizes four webinars on ‘Environmental and Peacebuilding Practices in Conflict-Affected Scenarios: Concepts and Tools for Assessment’ in June 2020. It is possible to participate in selected or all four webinars. The webinars are part of the research project "Implementing sustainable agricultural and livestock systems for simultaneous targeting of forest conservation for climate change mitigation (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia,". This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/four_webinar_2020.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 03 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMTWith the hot temperatures and drought conditions in the last two years in Germany challenging arable crop production, it is particularly timely that the 4th Agriculture and Climate Change Conference will hosted next spring in Dresden. ZALF’s Heidi Webber will serve as the local co-chair of the conference that will bring together leading international experts to discuss climate change impacts on crop production and the promising adaptation pathways to ensure nutrition quality, yield and stability potential of crops, as well as contributing to mitigation efforts. Topics to be explored include: impact modeling; uncertainties, abiotic stresses; effects of CO2 on plant growth; Food and nutritional security in low income regions; Impacts of climate change on nutrition, quality and resource use efficiency; biotic stress, microbiomes and climate change; reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change; innovative breeding practices; and new crops for a new climate. Abstract submission for oral and poster presentations is now open until 4 December 2020. More details about the program and keynote speakers will follow in the coming months.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/4th_ACCC.aspxHeidi WebberNoticeClimate ChangeKlimafe7eb37e-5117-4ef1-ac4b-e493cb8305b2Thu, 28 May 2020 08:00:00 GMTInland waters such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Calculations that scale up the carbon dioxide emissions from land and water surface areas do not take account of inland waters that dry out intermittently. This means that the actual emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated – as shown by the results of a recent international research project led by scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Magdeburg and the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) and in cooperation with the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Muencheberg. The study was published in Nature Communications. “It all began in 2013, during a measurement campaign in Catalonia in Spain”, says Dr Matthias Koschorreck, a biologist in the Department of Lake Research at UFZ. Together with a Spanish team, he was studying the release of greenhouse gases in the catchment of a small river. "It was summer and parts of the riverbed were dry. On a whim, we decided to take some measurements in those areas too," Koschorreck explains. "The results surprised us – these dry, gravelly areas of the riverbed released unexpectedly high levels of carbon dioxide." Koschorreck and his colleague Dr. Rafael Marcé from ICRA in Girona (Spain), decided to investigate that further. Results from various locations in Spain and Germany all produced the same finding: dry inland waters released readily measurable and sometimes considerable levels of carbon dioxide. “We wondered whether this might be the case in other regions of the world, and whether greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters might be fundamentally underestimated," says Koschorreck. "In studies that scale up emissions of greenhouse gases from land and water surface areas, inland waters that dry out intermittently haven't previously been taken into account." To investigate these questions, in 2016 Koschorreck and Marcé together with a core team of six German and Spanish scientists launched the dryflux research project, with the aim of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from dry inland waters. As part of a workshop held at the UFZ's Magdeburg site, they developed a measurement and sampling concept for their study. They then engaged the help of their international networks. "Every participant at the workshop got in touch with research teams all over the world to see whether they would be interested in taking part in measurement campaigns on freshwater systems in their area," explains Koschorreck. "The response was amazing. Twenty four research teams from all over the world took part, which meant that we were able to collect data from 196 different sites on every continent except Antarctica.” Among them was the ZALF research team integrated by Florian Reverey and Dr. Gabriela Onandia, who contributed to the project with measurements performed in ten kettle holes in the AgroScapeLab Quillow, in the Uckermark region, Northeast Germany. Each team carried out three closed-chamber measurements in dry areas of at least three freshwater systems in their region – a river, lake, reservoir or pond. This involves placing a special measuring container with its open end downwards on the ground, separating the air inside the container from the ambient air. An analytical device is then used to measure the change in the amount of carbon dioxide inside the container. At the same location, the project partners also took samples of the dry sediment and measured its moisture, organic matter and salt content, temperature, and pH. The large, complex dataset was evaluated by Philipp Keller, a doctoral researcher in the Department of Lake Research at the UFZ and first author of the study, who came to some interesting conclusions. "We found significant carbon dioxide emissions from dry areas of inland waters across all climate zones”, says Keller. "So this really is a global phenomenon." The researchers also discovered that these emissions are in fact often higher than typical emissions from water surfaces of the same size. "We were able to show that dry areas of inland waters actually account for a significant proportion of total carbon dioxide emissions from these freshwater systems”, says Koschorreck. "If you take account of this in global calculations for inland waters, the carbon dioxide emissions increase by six percent." But what mechanisms are responsible for the release of carbon dioxide from dry inland water sediments? "Respiration processes of microorganisms", says Philipp Keller. "The more substrate available – the more organic matter in the soil – and the more favorable the conditions like temperature and sediment moisture, the more active they are and the more carbon dioxide is released.” From the results of the study, the researchers concluded that the factors responsible for carbon dioxide release are essentially the same all over the globe. "The interaction of local conditions like temperature, moisture and the organic matter content of the sediments is crucial, and it has a bigger influence than regional climate conditions”, Keller explains. So what do the results of the study mean for the future assessment of carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters? "Our study shows that carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated up until now", says Koschorreck. "We hope that our work will help ensure that dry areas of freshwater systems are included in future calculations. With the progression of climate change, more surface waters are probably drying out and thus, CO2 emissions will likely increase."https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/CO2-Emissionen.aspxGabriela OnandiaPress ReleaseWaterTue, 05 May 2020 10:00:00 GMTAs of April 1, 2020, Dr. Claas Nendel, long-time acting head of the research platform "Models & Simulation" and its predecessor institute, has been appointed professor of landscape systems analysis at the University of Potsdam by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg. The appointment to this position was made jointly with ZALF. ZALF congratulates Prof. Nendel on his appointment and wishes him every success and all the best for his further work at ZALF and the University of Potsdam.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Claas_Nendel.aspxClaas NendelNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 22 Apr 2020 14:00:00 GMTOn 4 March 2020, the “House of Agricultural Biome Research” was opened at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Muencheberg. The official ceremony, with around 200 guests, was also attended by Brandenburg’s Minister of Science Dr. Manja Schüle (MWFK) and Dr. Eva Ursula Müller from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). In the new building, the main focus of research is on the influence of micro-organisms on plant growth and climate change. With this laboratory and office complex ZALF is further expanding its international agricultural research. A total of 4 million euros were invested in the construction project by the EU within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Federal Government and the State of Brandenburg. The world population is growing rapidly. At the same time the demands on sustainable, environmentally friendly and highly productive agriculture are increasing. In order to do justice to both aspects, a further deepening of our understanding of the interactions of micro-organisms and plants on growth, diseases, soil fertility, site conditions and climate is required. With ten new laboratories and eight offices, the “House of Agricultural Biome Research” at ZALF now offers even better opportunities for this research. Scientists from the fields of microbiology, plant physiology, biodiversity research and biogeochemistry come together here under one roof for their transdisciplinary research. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Kulturbiomforschung.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeKlimaFri, 13 Mar 2020 16:00:00 GMTA strong demand from public authorities, agriculture professionals, and society in general, all over Europe, has spurred collaborative research in order to accelerate the agroecological transition. To face a challenge of this magnitude the joint declaration of intent “Towards a Chemical Pesticide-free Agriculture” aims to rethink the way research is carried out and develop new common research and experimentation strategies, not just at a national level, but throughout the whole continent. This declaration was signed yesterday by 20 research organizations from 16 European countries. Driven by the French Institute INRAE and its German counterparts ZALF and JKI, this unprecedented endeavor has brought the European research community together around this ambitious vision of an agriculture free of chemical pesticides. The declaration, formalized on 23 February at the Paris International Agricultural Show, and attended by the French minister of agriculture Didier Guillaume, establishes a European research alliance, aiming to build a scientific roadmap that will soon be presented to the European Commission, as a contribution to the European Green Deal. For almost 18 months, INRAE and its German partners from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the German Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI) have been building a dialogue among European researchers and stakeholders with the purpose of setting a common research strategy. Their objective was ambitious: to define a new transdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder research strategy that will allow them to offer solutions for the transition towards a chemical pesticide-free agriculture all around the continent. Today, 20 European research institutes signed a declaration of intent to share this bold vision. This agreement echoes the European Green Deal for a sustainable ecological transition in Europe, which was announced by the European Commission in December 2019 to encourage the adoption of ambitious measures. The measures announced involve multiple sectors—agriculture, food, and the environment—with the objective of developing a sustainable agriculture and producing healthy food, while maintaining productive and economically sound agri-food systems. Through their network, the 20 signatory organizations have already drawn up multiple common research avenues, such as establishing a better use of agro-ecological principles to develop disease resistant production systems, exploiting the high potential of plant selection, developing the use of new technologies and agro-equipment, and understanding the levers and obstacles of the socio-economic transition, among others. The roadmap being devised calls into question the current research methods by integrating systemic and multidisciplinary approaches. The new methods must reinforce the links between the production of knowledge and the experimentation process, both in the lab and in the field. The goal is an open science system, where researchers work closely together with the world of agriculture to implement changes promptly, sharing their work and its results all over the continent, including all types of agriculture, and integrating the variety of climates and soils in order to test the alternative solutions at a bigger scale. These 20 research institutions decided to act together to find alternatives to the use of chemical pesticides in Europe and to support national and European public policies.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2020_02_24_ZALF_PESTIZIDFREIE_LW_final.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseSustainable Land UseMon, 24 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMTSilica increases water availability for plants: Bayreuth researchers discover a way to enhance food securityhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/20200212_PM_SiliziumWasserverfuegbarkeit_UniBayreuth_engl.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseSoilThu, 13 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMTEarly Career Investigators "Agroecosystems 2020" https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Nachwuchsakademie.aspxProf. Dr. S. KolbNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 07 Feb 2020 08:00:00 GMTAlevtina Evgrafova, who is currently working in the Research Area 3, has successfully defended her PhD dissertation with the title Spatial patterns of permafrost-affected soil biogeochemical properties at multiple scales at the University of Bern on 14.01.2020.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Alevtina-Evgrafova.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilTue, 04 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMTOn 10.01.2020 Peter Weißhuhn defended his dissertation at the University of Potsdam in the discipline of landscape ecology with great success. As a DBU scholarship holder, the studied geoecologist did research at ZALF to assess the vulnerability of biotopes. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Verteidigung-Weißhuhn.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeBiodiversityFri, 31 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMTAn international summer school entitled: “Modelling approaches for climate risk and climate change adaptations in the context of sustainable intensification in semi-arid West Africa”, is planned for the summer of 2020. The summer school will take place in Bamako, Mali and is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation´s ´Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research Projects in SSA program. https://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/PB3/Volkswagen-Foundation.aspxKirsa FischerPress ReleaseModellingFri, 31 Jan 2020 13:00:00 GMTAnother success for Brandenburg’s non-university research institutes: The Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) in Grossbeeren and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Muencheberg were selected as the central coordinating bodies for “Agricultural Systems of the Future”. This underlines the nationwide competence of both institutions in the field of agricultural and nutrition research. Prof. Monika Schreiner and Dr. Philip Albers are responsible for the office at the IGZ and Senior Researcher Thomas Weith and Ulf Weddige are responsible at ZALF. The central coordinating office supports communication and cooperation between the eight successful consortia working on innovative solutions for future-oriented and sustainable agriculture throughout Germany. The Coordinating Office will be funded for five years with almost 1.6 million euros. The core tasks of the Coordinating Office are primarily to facilitate synergies between the eight research consortia through active networking. In addition, it contributes to increasing the national and international visibility of the research projects and to the dialogue on future agricultural systems in society as a whole. This is achieved, among other things, through strategic, target-group-specific technical communication. In addition, the Coordinating Office supports the research and implementation strategies of the consortia in the scientific accompanying projects. Through the “Agricultural Systems of the Future” program, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is setting the course for agricultural production in the sense of the bio-economy and a transformation process for society as a whole on the path to sustainable and resource-efficient agriculture.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/290120_PM_Agrarsysteme_der_Zukunft.aspxThomas WeithPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 31 Jan 2020 12:00:00 GMTOn 16 December 2019, FPM doctoral candidate Martin Schmidt successfully defended his dissertation on microclimatic and material gradients in transition zones between forest and field at the University of Potsdam. We congratulate Dr. Martin Schmidt on his achievement and wish him all the best for the future!https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/pages/FPD/Promotion_MSchmidt.aspxMartin SchmidtNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 22 Jan 2020 14:00:00 GMTMs Anna Michalczyk, external member of the Working Group Ecosystem Modelling has defended successfully her PhD thesis on modelling nitrogen dynamics in wheat-maize double cropping rotations in the North China Plain on 11.12.2019. She addressed the problem of excessive nitrogen application in chinese agriculture and their consequences for water pollution with nitrate. Above optimum fertilizer application and inefficient irrigation management led to low nitrogen use efficiency. Using a model based real-time recommendation on farmer´s field experiments, Anna was able to reduce N application rates while maintaining the yield level compared to other recommendation methods and farmer´s practice. At county scale she optimised water and nitrogen management with the model and could achieve a significant improvement of resource use efficiency. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Promotion_AnnaM.aspxMichael Berg-MohnickeNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 22 Jan 2020 14:00:00 GMTOutstanding young researchers in agricultural sciences can participate in the DFG Young Scientists Academy "Agroecosystems 2020" at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Starting at the end of January, participation in the academy will enable experienced experts to provide two years of support up to the point of independent project management in the field of resource-conserving and climate-friendly land use.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Nachwuchsakademie.aspxHendrik Schneider NoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 21 Jan 2020 17:00:00 GMTIn the frame of the SLUS research project at ZALF (PB2 SUSLand), PhD researchers Luca Eufemia and Héctor C. Morales together with 5 master students (HU Berlin, University Bayreuth) went on a research mission to Colombia in November 2019. The purpose was to comprehend governance models, drivers of conflict and deforestation in Caquetá (Colombian Amazon) and Cesar (Caribbean region). Interviews and two workshops were conducted, in Caquetá in cooperation with Universidad de la Amazonía, Red Caquetá Paz and Misión Verde Amazonía; in Cesar with International Centre for Tropical Agriculture and Universidad Popular del Cesar. Among the attendees were governmental bodies and representatives from farmers and indigenous communities. Participants discussed the common environmental challenges that Colombian people face after the peace agreement such as an increment in deforestation and land degradation. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kolumbien_Forschungsmission.aspxHector MoralesNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMTFrom 11.-13.12.2019 ZALF WG SusLand (Bonatti/Löhr/Sieber) conducted in collaboration with HU-Berlin an international Winter School on theory and methods of sustainability impact assessment at HU. Students from different different universities but also disciplines and countries deepened their knowledge on impact assessment in the context of sustainble development projects. The students were able to practice different approaches presented by different professors from Germany (ZALF, HU-Berlin, ZEF), Brasil (UFRJ, UFSC, Emprapa) and Sweden (SLU). The Winter School is a part of the research project "Implementing sustainable agricultural and livestock systems for simultaneous targeting of forest conservation for climate change mitigation (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia," which started in 2019 at ZALF under coordination of CIAT Colombia. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/winter_school.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 Jan 2020 10:00:00 GMTBioMove moves onhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/BioMove2_engl.aspxDr. M. MuellerNoticeBiodiversityMon, 20 Jan 2020 11:00:00 GMTThe “SALBES” project has been launched at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Partners from Germany, Estonia, Austria and Switzerland will work together over the next three years to develop concepts for the protection of biodiversity in four exemplary agricultural landscapes in Europe. Using computer-aided models, the researchers will look into the future of agriculture and calculate how agricultural intensification, climate change and the protection of species and habitats can be better harmonized in the future. The project is coordinated by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). Agricultural landscapes cover large parts of Europe. In Germany alone, more than half of the land is used for agricultural purposes. However, agricultural land is not only a prerequisite for our food production and a source of income for many people working in agriculture, it is also an important habitat for animals and plants that deserves protection. In order to achieve an even better balance between protection and use in the future, the partners in the “SALBES” project are developing possible future scenarios for agriculture. The aim is to determine realistic operating spaces both for producers and for nature conservation. How big is the safe operating space? What is the impact of climate change and a growing world population on agricultural production? What challenges will arise from this for biodiversity in the fields and in adjacent ecosystems? Using models to assess the impact of climate change and of farm economic decision making on biodiversity as well as interviews and workshops with actors from the pilot regions, the project will develop various scenarios for the future of agriculture over the next three years. In combination with the concept of a “Safe Operating Space”, these scenarios are intended to provide information on where the boundaries of the human use of agricultural landscapes lie and from what point in time biodiversity will be irreparably damaged. The “Safe Operating Space” is an internationally recognized concept that was first proposed by environmental researchers in 2009. Nine “planetary boundaries” define the safe operating space for humanity on earth. If these boundaries are transgressed, it can lead to an irreversible change in our environment. One of these planetary boundaries is the loss of biodiversity, which is considered as having already been transgressed by the founders of the concept. One reason for this is the change in land use in recent centuries, including the intensification of agriculture. However, the relationship between agricultural landscapes and biodiversity still raises many questions. Therefore, the researchers in the “SALBES” project want to determine a “safe operating space” for the interface between agriculture and biodiversity. On this basis, scientifically sound proposals for action could be developed for both policymakers and practitioners. Further information can be found here: https://salbes.eu/ Funding notice: The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2019_11_28_PM_SALBES_Final_dt.aspxPeter ZanderPress ReleaseBiodiversityWed, 08 Jan 2020 16:00:00 GMTOn 6 December 2019, Mr. Charles Peter Mgeni of the working group SusLAND defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and is now entitled to bear the title “Dr. rer. agr.”https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Erfolgreiche-Promotion-Charles-Mgeni.aspxTom BaumeisterNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Dec 2019 14:00:00 GMTOn 10th December 2019, Mr. Festo Richard Silungwe defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and is now entitled to bear the title “PhD” Globally, there is enough volumes of food produced yearly to feed the entire population, however, 11% of world population dwells in chronic hunger. The Major challenge remains to uniformity in terms of production and food availability spatially. Large percent of the hungry population is found in semiarid sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Large population of SSA are low income small holder farmers who depend on rainfed agriculture, which is performing poorly. Aggravated by lack of good set of farming practices reffered to as crop upgrading strategies (UPSs), the main agricultural production challenges in SSA are frequent drought, scarce and highly variable in rainfall, and degraded soils. Apart from employing suitable UPSs to enhance yield in SSA, biophysical models are required for finetuning their potential in improving food security and for addressing uncertainities under climate change for sustainable production. In his cumulative doctoral thesis, Mr. Silungwe applied a novel methodological approach of combining literature, experiments and modeling to integrate the UPSs in modeling for enhancing yield of pearl millet and improve food security for low income smallholder farmers in semia-arid SSA. At ZALF, Mr. Silungwe has been affiliated with the SUSLAND working group since 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PhD_Festo.aspxFesto Richard SilungweNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 18 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMTOn 12 December 2019, Mr. Cheng Chen successfully defended his dissertation at the Life Sciences Faculty of the Humboldt University of Berlin and is now entitled to use the title "Dr. rer. agr.". In his thesis entitled " Governmental Payments for Ecosystem Services Programs in China: The Institutional Settings and Market-based Approach", Mr. Cheng Chen focused on financial incentive instruments for ecosystem service governance. During his PhD, he had published seven peer-review papers. Currently, he works at ZALF in the projects AgoraNatura (BMBF, BMU), Peatwise (EU FACCE ERA-GAS) and InnoForest (EU Horizon2020).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PhD_Cheng_Chen.aspxCheng ChenNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 17 Dec 2019 12:00:00 GMTDFG funds the research project CropRhizoSOMhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/SOM_engl.aspxProf. Dr. S. KolbNoticeSoilMon, 16 Dec 2019 09:00:00 GMTKakhramon Djumaboev from International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Central Asia office visited ZALF as guest researcher during 5 November – 7 December 2019 to work with Dr. Ahmad Hamidov in the DFG-funded WEFUz project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Gastwissenschaftler.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 13 Dec 2019 12:00:00 GMTFrom the 01st of December established official at the Leibniz University Hannover: Prof. Bettina Matzdorfhttps://www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/mitarbeiter/Pages/matzdorf_b.aspxBettina MatzdorfNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 11 Dec 2019 10:00:00 GMTThis year the American Society of Agronomy honors Dr. Kurt Christian Kersebaum as ASA Fellow 2019. The award presentation took place on 12th November 2019 at the ASA Awards Ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/ASA-Award2019.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 10 Dec 2019 13:00:00 GMTOn 4 December 2019, Mr. Jonathan Steinke defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Life Sciences at Humboldt-University of Berlin, and is now entitled to bear the title “Dr. rer. agr.” The ongoing mobile phone revolution across the developing world offers a diversity of new opportunities for communication between smallholder farmers and agricultural advisory services. With proper methods, the strong heterogeneity among farmers – an important challenge for advisory services – could become a resource. In his cumulative doctoral thesis, Mr. Steinke tested three novel methodological concepts for systematic, mutual information exchange between smallholder farmers and advisory services through the mobile phone. At ZALF, Mr Steinke has been affiliated with the SUSLAND working group since 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Jonathan_Steinke.aspxTheresa HabermannNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 10 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMTOn 8 November 2019, Ms. Ina Opitz defended her dissertation at the Life Sciences Faculty of the Humboldt University of Berlin and is now entitled to use the title "Dr. rer. agr.". In her thesis entitled "Interactions in Alternative Networks for Food Supply: Motivations and effects" Ms. Opitz focused on new cooperation models between producers and consumers. She researched this topic with conceptual and empirical work in the context of two BMBF projects (INNSULA and FuFoCo) at the ZALF working group DESCO and published several articles in scientific journals. Dr. Opitz is now working at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Ina_Opitz.aspxTheresa HabermannNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 05 Dec 2019 09:00:00 GMTOn November 18-20 ZALF researchers Prof. Bettina Matzdorf and Cheng Chen have participated in the international workshop of “agricultural environmental governance in the digital era" in Shenyang, China. The workshop was jointly organized by Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and ZALF. Bettina Matzdorf gave a presentation on the online marketplace for ecosystem services “Agora Natura” and Cheng Chen talked about applying digital technologies in agricultural environmental governance. They had fruitful discussion about research interests and explored potential collaboration with their Chinese counterparts. Beyond the scientific exchange, two excursions to Gaoshan village in Yinkou city and facility agriculture farms in Shenyang city took place. The aim was to give participants the insights into the agricultural practices at the local level with both conventional and modern approaches in China. On 21 November, the ZALF researchers have participated another workshop in cooperation with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The topic of the workshop was incentive-based policy and eco-compensation. This workshop brought together experts from different universities and research institutes to exchange ideas and methods. Researchers from IGSNRR and ZALF exchanged ideas on opportunities and concrete mutual activities, such as joint research project, bilateral conferences and joint papers. From 25-29 November, Cheng Chen visited the Sino-German Agriculture center (DCZ) in Beijing, Facility Agriculture Research Center of IAE in Shouguang and Zhejiang Agriculture&Forestry University in Hangzhou. He had conducted in-depth interviews with stakeholders in potential research regions. The trip was financed by the German-Chinese cooperation programme from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), aiming at promoting the bilateral scientific exchange and cooperation between German and Chinese researchers.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ZALF-Forscher_besuchen_China.aspxCheng ChenNoticeEcosystem ServicesThu, 05 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMTIn two recently published articles, Ioanna Mouratiadou and colleagues find that the adoption of site-specific integrated agricultural management can assist in resolving trade-offs between agricultural productivity and climate, soil and water protection. Using a spatially explicit approach, they find that such management increases the amounts of residues available for bioenergy, while reducing soil organic carbon losses, greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching. A site-specific strategy integrating optimized fertilization, adaptation of residue removal to the humus balance and winter soil cover performs better than isolated agricultural management measures. The researchers conclude that in order to sustainably intensify crop residue exploitation for bioenergy, residue management needs to be designed in an integrated and site-specific manner. Such an approach can assist us in achieving the goals specified in the Paris Agreement, while protecting soil and water quality. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Usage_of_crop_residues_for_bioenergy.aspxIoanna MouratiadouNoticeAgriculture 4.0Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMTA new project on transforming the European food system towards a low carbon circular future applies a groundbreaking mechanism for maturing, combining, upscaling and multiplying sustainable food system innovations. The project has received EUR 7.5 million from the EU Horizon 2020 programme. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Foodshift-project.aspxKirsa FischerPress ReleaseFood SecurityThu, 28 Nov 2019 14:00:00 GMTIndonesia is currently one of the world’s regions with the most profound land use conflicts. Not only is the conversion of tropical rain forests to plantations a major issue but the country is also experiencing substantial land use change from settlement and infrastructure developments, leading to loss of valuable soils, agricultural areas, and forests. From September 7th to 19th, adjunct Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith visited the country as part of the research project ReGerecht in order to engage in an exchange with fellow researchers regarding topics such as regional justice and land use conflicts. The visit to Indonesia consisted of two parts. During the first week, first results from the research project ReGerecht were presented during a session at the international ISOCARP conference (global conference “Beyond metropolis” of the International Society of City and Regional Planners, September 7th to 13th in Jakarta and Bogor). The second week entailed a visit to Hasanuddin University Makassar with, among other things, a public presentation at the faculty of city and regional planning about “land use and regional development in Europe”, attended by 400 students. Later on, a meeting with the Dean of the University’s faculty of Engineering lead to a fruitful exchange about land use conflicts in coastal regions as well as opportunities for active future knowledge management.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Indonesien_2019.aspxThomas WeithNoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 28 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMTDr. Kurt-Christian Kersebaum, Agricultural Engineer in the Working Group Ecosystem Modelling at ZALF, was named as „Highly Cited Researcher“ for the second year in a row by the Web of Science. Last year he received the award in the category Cross-Field, this year in the category Agricultural Sciences. And already for the third year in a row Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director at ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at University Bonn, was also named as „Highly Cited Researcher“ in the category „Agricultural Sciences“. The Web of Science is one of the world's most important online literature and citation databases. Frank Ewert and Kurt-Christian Kersebaum are two of the few scientists in the field of Agricultural Research in Germany who are listed there. Thereby their research ranks among the most influential in this discipline. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Honor-for-ZALF-Researchers---Highly-Cited-Researchers-2019.aspxH. SchneiderNoticeAgriculture 4.0Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:00:00 GMTStefan Sieber, head of the working group SUSLAND, presented in São Paulo at the 8th German-Brazilian Dialogue on Science, Research and Innovation from 30. - 31. October the challenges and solution strategies for a global food security. In addition to the challenges of feeding 11 billion people in 2100, problems such as malnutrition and obesity are globally key challenges within the frame of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Sieber presented innovative research approaches to improve the food security situation at the regional level and discussed together with approx. 130 participants their further enhancement. Members of the Brazilian and German scientific communities discussed two days until 1st of November the potential strategies within interdisciplinary research fields. The goal of the dialogue was to exchange as many disciplinary perspectives as possible, including the social sciences and the humanities, as well as the natural sciences and technology.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Deutsch-Brasilianische_Konferenz.aspxStefan SieberNoticeFood SecurityWed, 13 Nov 2019 13:00:00 GMTDissertation Merlin Schaeferhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Diss_m_schaefer.aspxDr- M. MuellerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 30 Oct 2019 09:00:00 GMTAn any single location, there are typically more earthworms and more earthworm species found in temperate regions than in the tropics. Global climate change could lead to significant shifts in earthworm communities worldwide, threatening the many functions they provide. These are the two main results of a new study published in Science. The research was led by scientists from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and from Leipzig University. They brought together 140 researchers from across the globe to compile the largest earthworm dataset worldwide, encompassing 6928 sites in 57 countries. Earthworms can be found in many ecosystems. Where the soil is not frozen (permafrost), too wet, acidic, or completely dry (deserts), earthworms substantially shape the way ecosystems function. They dig holes, mix soil components and eat organic debris. By doing so, they drive a wide range of ecosystem services, such as nutrient provision, freshwater supply, carbon storage, climate mitigation or seed dispersal. It is for these reasons that earthworms are considered highly important “ecosystem engineers”. This importance is also reflected by the large amount of biomass that accumulates in earthworms: in fact, the total earthworm biomass is often larger than that of all mammals living in the same area. Although the great impact of earthworms on ecosystems and the services they provide to people are well known, little is known about how earthworms are distributed on a global scale. “Researchers have known for decades that for any given area in the tropics we would usually expect more species than in the same sized area in temperate regions,” says first author Dr Helen Phillips, researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Leipzig University (UL). “But until now, we had been unable to quantitatively investigate the same global patterns for earthworms, as there was no global earthworm dataset.” Phillips and her colleagues aimed to create a global map using as much data on earthworm diversity, abundance and biomass as possible. Working as part of an international sDiv (iDiv’s synthesis centre) working group, Phillips, senior authors Nico Eisenhauer (iDiv, UL) and Erin Cameron (Saint Mary’s University), as well as members of the working group contacted earthworm researchers from around the world and asked them to provide their data for compiling a whole new global earthworm dataset with open access for everyone. “Initially, we thought this is a crazy idea. But then, we were impressed how many colleagues were highly motivated to share their data for this exciting endeavour,” says senior author Prof Nico Eisenhauer, research group head at iDiv and Leipzig University. “We basically started from scratch in 2016 – only a couple of years later we could publish one of the largest datasets on soil biodiversity. This an amazing achievement of the lead author Helen Phillips and the many scientists that trusted in us.” The results of this huge effort show that patterns of belowground biodiversity do not match those observed for organisms living aboveground. Plant, insect or bird diversity (number of species within any given area) typically increases from high to low latitudes, meaning that the number of species is highest in the tropics. For earthworms, however, the researchers found the opposite pattern. In fact, highest local earthworm diversity was found in Europe, northeastern USA and New Zealand. Similar patterns were found for earthworm abundance (number of individuals per area) and earthworm biomass (mass per area) – also showing highest values in temperate regions. At the same time, earthworm species in the tropics seem to have smaller distribution ranges. “In the tropics, if you drive just a few kilometres, you may find a whole new set of earthworm species, while in the colder regions they remain more or less the same,” says Helen Phillips. “This could mean that while there are few species found in a single location in the tropics, the total number of species across the whole region may in fact be extremely high. But we don’t know yet.” The main reason for this uncertainty is that many tropical earthworm species have not yet been described. Thus, earthworms identified at different locations could belong to the same species or not – a question to be resolved. The researchers also assessed which environmental factors drive the number of earthworm species, as well as their abundance and biomass. They found that factors related to precipitation and temperature had the largest effects. “Based on these strong climate effects, we conclude that climate change could cause shifts in earthworm communities and change the functions and services ecosystems provide,” says Nico Eisenhauer. “Given their role as ecosystem engineers, we are concerned about potential cascading effects on other organisms like microbes, soil insects and plants.” ZALF scientists and co-authors of the publication, Dr. Monika Joschko and Dr. Maria Lee Kernecker, provided relevant data from many years of research, amongst others data of the "Lietzen practical experiment". The extensive data comes from a conventional farm (Komturei Lietzen GmbH) near Seelow. The long-term experiment started in 1996 and is still supervised by the Experimental Infrastructure Platform (EIP) at ZALF. Between 1997 and 2007, earthworms were examined and stocking densities and species composition were determined at 42 measuring points on a 74-hectare field, partly under conventional and partly reduced tillage, at 42 measuring points. There were clear spatial patterns, which were related to the soil properties and above all to the texture as well as the type of tillage. Reduced tillage promotes abundance and diversity of earthworms also on the sandy soils of our region. The results of the study have implications for conservation priorities: Biodiversity is usually an important criterion for the selection of protected areas. However, focusing only on aboveground diversity may result in insufficient protection of earthworms. Thus, belowground biodiversity needs to be included for a complete assessment – enabling conservationists to identify the planet’s true biodiversity hotspots. “It’s time for a paradigm shift in the conservation of biological diversity – because they are mostly dwelling in the soil, we easily forget about the amazing creatures under our feet,” says Nico Eisenhauer. “Earthworms may be cryptic and may not have the charisma of a panda bear, but they are extremely important for other organisms and the functioning of our ecosystems.” https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Regenwurm.aspxMonika JoschkoNoticeClimate ChangeKlimaf3a7915a-2577-4061-beb3-4ca88b9c8e73Fri, 25 Oct 2019 09:00:00 GMTZALF attaches great importance to environmental protection. In its own environmental policy, the Research Centre now describes the path towards more sustainable use of available natural resources.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/EMAS-Zertifizierung.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 22 Oct 2019 17:00:00 GMTMore than 700 participants from around the world are expected to attend. Clean water, fresh air, insects pollinating crops so that fruit and vegetables can grow – nature provides many things that are indispensable for our lives. The term “ecosystem services” refers to essential goods and non-material benefits that humans gain from nature. This topic is the focal point of an international specialist conference that will take place between Monday 21 October and Friday 25 October 2019. For the first time, the event will be held at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH). The 10th World Conference of Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) will be guided by the motto “10 years advancing ecosystem services science, policy and practice for a sustainable future”. On Monday at 10.30 a.m., the conference will – among other things – commence with an opening speech by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Wriggers (LUH Vice President for Research), in the main university building “Welfenschloss”, Welfengarten 1, Hannover. The venue for the following days will be Hannover Congress Centre, Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3. Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend. A detailed conference programme is available online: https://www.espconference.org/esp10 With more than 700 participants from 62 countries, ESP10 is the largest conference on the subject worldwide. Speakers include Dr. Klaus Töpfer (former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and former Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety), Prof. Dr. Robert Costanza (one of the “forefathers” of the ecosystem services approach; Australian State University), Dr. Christiane Paulus (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety), Anne Larigauderie (Executive IPBES Secretary), and Hans Bruyninckx (Executive Director of the European Environment Agency). The speakers will share their perspectives on the multifaceted application potential of the ecosystem services concept in the fields of science, politics, and society. The last day of the conference will focus on developing sustainable strategies for the future. For this, a member of the “Fridays for Future” movement has been invited to join a panel discussion. ESP world conferences are held every two years. In addition, regional conferences take place on a regular basis. In collaboration with Ecosystem Services Partnership, this year’s conference is organised by the Institute of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology (led by Prof. Dr. Benjamin Burkhard), the Institute of Environmental Planning (both at LUH), Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V., Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IÖR) in Dresden, Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, as well as the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) in Halle-Jena-Leipzig.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/ZALF_PressemitteilungESP_Konferenz.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseEcosystem ServicesMon, 21 Oct 2019 08:00:00 GMTAround 18 scientists from ZALF presented current research findings during this year’s Tropentag conference at the universities of Kassel and Goettingen. From the 18th until the 20th September scientists from different working groups of ZALF presented key findings from 20 research studies using poster and oral presentations. ZALF contributions focussed on the topics innovation in agriculture, agronomy, nutrition, crop modelling and governance in countries in Southern Africa and South America. Tropentag is an annual interdisciplinary conference and a central platform for knowledge exchange between scientists at different career stages. Main topics of the Tropentag concern research findings in tropical and subtropical agricultural research, resource management as well as rural development. The Tropentag conference is hosted by different European universities and supported by organisations and institutions under the patronage of ATSAF e. V.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Tropentag_2019.aspxJohannes HafnerNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 14 Oct 2019 15:00:00 GMTOn 18th September, doctoral researchers presented their current research projects to all interested colleagues and invited guests in the annual ZALF PhD Day. 16 doctoral researchers showed their scientific works in many diverse and interesting ways, including oral presentation, hand-on explorer tour and elevator pitches. The topics cover broad geographic sites and research scales, from mosquito to online market platform. The theme of this year’s PhD Day is science communication. Confronting with challenges from climate change and the growing influence of fake news, people need to be much more alert by scientific facts. Dr. Wiebke Rössig gave a speech on the practise of science communication with public in Natural History Museum Berlin. Lara Lahaye from Agrathaer and Hendrik Schneider from ZALF PR had inspired an active discussion with the audiences. One of the new features of this year is the career talk. Participants were invited to express their concerns and describe the challenges they face as they seek a place in today’s scientific workplace. ZALF PostDoc Representatives Dr. Jana Zscheischler and Dr. Meike Grosse host one World Café considering the academic positions to keep researching and publishing. On the other hand, Katharina Luther and Agatha Riehm from the Economic Development of Brandenburg State (WFBB) advised on the working outside of academia, outlining the potentially interesting companies for ZALF PhD Researchers. The joint barbecue was a perfect ending to the day. The PhD Day 2019 is organized by the ZALF PhD representatives Marlen Krause and Cheng Chen.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ZALF-PhD-Day.aspxTheresa HabermannNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 02 Oct 2019 15:00:00 GMTNew Letter in Science: Germany's wolves in the crosshairshttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6458/1089.1Julia LidauerNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 23 Sep 2019 08:00:00 GMTThe "Handbook of Soil-Related Impact Assessment," published by the Impact Assessment Working Group at ZALF, provides a collection of methods and guidelines to facilitate sustainability assessments of agricultural crop management and to contribute to a standardisation of assessmentshttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Handbook.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSoilTue, 03 Sep 2019 15:00:00 GMTLaunch of BMEL Krumensenke project New approach to foster carbon and nitrogen storage in soils - thanks to almost forgotten tillage method https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/krumensenke_en.aspxProf. M. SommerPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeMon, 02 Sep 2019 10:00:00 GMTDr. Ahmad Hamidov acquired a new DFG project on the topic of: “Sustainability assessment of the Water–Energy–Food nexus for irrigated agriculture: Examples from river basins in Uzbekistan (WEFUz)”.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/DFG-project-Sustainability.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseFri, 30 Aug 2019 09:00:00 GMTProf. Frank A. Ewert is the Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg, Brandenburg. He is also Professor of Crop Science at the University of Bonn. In the interview he answers questions on the current situation of agriculture and calls for an intensified public discourse on how a sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture of the future should look. Prof. Ewert, we are seeing more and more problems in the fields: extreme weather events such as heat, drought, hail and floods, strongly fluctuating yields, nitrate limits being exceeded and much more. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is currently calling for urgent changes in its Special Report on “Climate Change and Land”. What is the situation with regard to agriculture in Germany and how quickly are these changes possible? The challenges facing farmers today are extremely complex and diverse. The social pressure to act is increasing. But the agricultural sector has not been inactive in the last decades. Stricter national and European requirements have had to be complied with as well as global market fluctuations. However, the pressure has not been as intense as it is today. Society wants food at reasonable prices. At the same time, its ecological footprint, i.e. negative environmental and climate impacts, should be reduced, for example through a reduction in the consumption of fertilizers and pesticides as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions. We also want to maintain and develop ecosystem services and biodiversity that our agricultural landscapes provide for society: these include the pollination via insects, clean air and water, attractiveness for tourists, recreational effects etc. Without the right framework conditions politically and in civil society, without a new way of rewarding such important services, farms cannot overcome these challenges. We will not be able to achieve all our goals immediately; we must agree in a public discourse on what we want to do, in what order and how we want to go about it, and what we are prepared to do without if necessary. The debate about less meat in our diet or the reduction of food waste and losses, as called for in the current IPCC Special Report “Climate Change and Land”, are good examples of this. It is therefore of central importance that we as researchers work together with politicians and interest groups on a common strategy and conduct an objective discussion that also includes consumers. More about this interview on ZALF homepage.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/IPCC-Sonderbericht-2019.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeClimate ChangeKlimad4392d71-acd8-436c-adfb-861d9a300673Wed, 21 Aug 2019 08:00:00 GMTFilm Tip: Documentary of ZALF project Scale-N in Tanzaniahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd9KwznYrLM&tConstance RybakNoticeFood SecurityWed, 31 Jul 2019 16:00:00 GMTOn 18th of September 2019 it is time again: ZALF warmly invites you to the PhD Day! The PhD Day is an important date of the annual ZALF events calendar. It is a great occasion for cur-rent and recently graduated ZALF PhD researchers to get connected. The PhD Day also explicitly invites interested doctoral researchers of other institutions and students, who would like to inform themselves about agricultural landscape research as well as the career path of doing of a PhD. On that day, numerous ZALF PhD candidates will present their research in a well-understandable way. PhD researchers, who recently joined ZALF, will present their topics in short elevator pitches. Moreover, an Explorer Tour will take the participants to a visit of the Long-term Field Experiments on the ZALF campus. In addition, this year’s PhD Day will focus on the topic of Science Communication. A special session will deal with the importance and potential formats of successful science communication to the public. We are very much looking forward to the keynote presentations of Dr. Wiebke Rössig, Head of Participation and Open Science at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, as well as Mirjam Kaplow, Head of Communication of the Leibniz Association. Another highlight of this year’s PhD Day programme will be the Career Talk that will allow PhD can-didates to inform themselves about job opportunities after completing the PhD. In easy-going discussion groups, participants will get in touch with competent contact persons to talk about possible career steps in academia as well as in companies. At the end of the day we will invite you to join a barbecue on the beautiful ZALF campus. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/PhD_Day_2019.aspxMarlen KrauseNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 25 Jul 2019 08:00:00 GMTIn the project INPEDIV - Integrative Analysis of the Impact of Pesticides and Land Use on Biodiversity in Germany - it is to be determined whether the biodiversity losses in the German landscape are largely side effects of the use of pesticides. Which animals and wild plants live on the pesticide-treated fields? And what effects do the pesticides have on the nature around them? To answer these questions, Benito Schöpke and colleagues from Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) carry out research in the area close to Eberswalde northeast of Berlin. In the current edition of IQ Magazine, a podcast from BR, he talks about the project and biodiversity in the field.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/podcast.aspxBenito SchöpkeNoticeBiodiversityMon, 22 Jul 2019 09:00:00 GMTDissertation Gabriele Schiro https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/schiro.aspxDr. M. MüllerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 17 Jul 2019 12:00:00 GMTThe project “Agricultural System of the Future: DAKIS – Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System”, coordinated by ZALF, had its kick-off meeting on 14th June in Berlin with 38 participants. Together with nine other research institutions, the scientists are working on a vision of the digital agriculture of tomorrow. A digital decision-making system for practical use will deploy robotics, sensors and computer models to make crop farming systems more economically efficient and at the same time more environmentally sustainable. After a keynote by Dagmar Weier of the Projektträger Jülich (PTJ), Ms. Bellingrath-Kimura presented the visions and goals of the DAKIS project.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DAKIS.aspxLea NitzNoticeAgriculture 4.0Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:00:00 GMTJohannes Hafner of the working group “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries“ (ZALF) presented the results of integrated agroforestry systems in semi-arid Tanzania at the World Congress on Agroforestry 2019 at Montpellier. Innovative wood-based cooking systems and integrated agroforestry systems can reduce the dependency of smallholder farmers on off-farm firewood sources. At the 4th World Congress on Agroforestry 19th-22nd May the ZALF Ph.D. student Johannes Hafner represented the working group SUSLAND and presented results of integrated agroforestry systems in semi-arid Tanzania. Together with the ZALF-Fellow Dr. Anthony Kimaro, country director of ICRAF Tanzania, Mr. Hafner demonstrated potentials for smallholder farmers to be energy self-sufficient considering drivers of firewood demand and supply at household level. The World Congress on Agroforestry is a key international conference, which provides the platform for researchers and other stakeholders of agroforestry systems to share latest research findings on agroforestry around the world. The conference is supported by international stakeholders like the CGIAR system, ICRAF and CIFOR.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/WCA_2019.aspxJohannes HafnerNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 25 Jun 2019 14:00:00 GMTProf. Dr. Steffen Kolbhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/kolb_en.aspxProf. Dr. Steffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 20 Jun 2019 10:00:00 GMTOn Tuesday, 11th June, more than 90 participants came to the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg for the Lupine Field Day to find out more about the yield potential of lupine and soy varieties and innovative cropping systems. The field day gave a very good insight into ZALF's legume research. In his speech, the Scientific Director Prof. Ewert emphasised the important role of legumes. In the afternoon, lupin fields were also visited on nearby farms. "The field day was better attended than ever before and there was a lot of positive feedback", Dr. Moritz Reckling was pleased to report. The event was organised by ZALF together with the lupine promoting association "Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Lupine" (GFL). In addition to many farmers from the region and from the Brandenburg Farmers Network accompanied by ZALF, participants came from the Lupine Network, experts from consulting, trade and science, as well as international partners from Finland, Serbia, Romania, Austria and Switzerland from the EU project 'Legumes Translated'.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Lupinen-Feldtag.aspxTom BaumeisterNoticeLegumesTue, 18 Jun 2019 15:00:00 GMTIn June, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will launch its coordinated project Contracts2.0 within the framework of the EU funding programme Horizon 2020. Over the next four years, the 27 partners from research and practice from 12 different EU countries will work together on innovative contract models to incentivize farmers for the increased provision of environmental public goods. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the achievement of the environmental objectives laid down in the European Common Agricultural Policy depends on the implementation of so-called agri-environment-climate measures (AECM), organic farming and animal welfare measures. The new contract models for AECM that are being developed as part of the project are intended to spur the interest and intrinsic motivation of farmers to carry out these AECMs more intensively. However, the project also aims to show what the future framework conditions in agricultural policy will have to look like so that the models developed can also be implemented on a larger scale. “Our aim is to provide farmers with better incentives to integrate environmental measures into their farms. We are therefore developing new contract models that will make it both more effective and simpler to align the profitability of the farms with the sustainability goals”, says Prof. Bettina Matzdorf, who is heading the project at ZALF together with Dr. Claudia Sattler. So far, farmers have generally preferred the production and supply of food or biomass, so-called private goods, for financial reasons, which in turn can lead to negative environmental influences such as soil erosion, nitrate leaching or the loss of biodiversity. The new contract models will be designed to reduce these negative effects. Specifically, four types of new contract models will be examined: result-based environmental payments to farmers, cooperative contract models between several farmers, payments linked to specific land tenuresystems, and contract models that link actors along the value chain. In the coming years, an inventory and analysis of existing contract models will be carried out before new models are developed and finally tested in the field during the project runtime. A total of 11 so-called Contract Innovation Labs will be set up in nine different countries – three of these also in Germany. The new contract models will be developed on-site together with practitioners. A number of additional Policy Innovation Labs will be set up in order to find out how future agricultural policy will have to be shaped to make such models feasible. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 818190. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Kick-off_contracts2_0.aspxJulia LidauerNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 18 Jun 2019 09:00:00 GMTSrijna Jha from the team “Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries (SusLAND)” at ZALF attended and presented two posters at the 4th European Climate Change Adaptation Conference on 28th May 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. The first poster was titled “Green Revolution Technologies And Sub-Saharan Africa: Analyzing The Constellation Of Constraints For Scaling-Up Agriculture”, which discussed the adoption, scaling-up and associated constraints for use of fertilizers, improved cultivars and small-scale irrigation in Tanzania. The second poster was titled “Household Adoption Of Water Conservation Technologies In Tanzania”, which provided a conceptual framework and discussed the model for adoption of water conservation technologies in Tanzania.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/CCA-Conference2019.aspxSrijna JhaNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 12 Jun 2019 15:00:00 GMTResearcher Héctor Camilo Morales from the working group "Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries" from ZALF presented his work about environmental peacebuilding in Colombia at the Latin America-Caribbean Conference in the Federal Foreign Office on 28th May. The panel main subject was about educational and research cooperation between Germany and Latin America. The panel presented and discussed selected findings from collaborative research projects focused on current conflict and violence dynamics as well as experiences in conflict transformation and crisis prevention in Colombia and Central America. Mr. Morales is developing a set of indicators to measure the impact of land use systems interventions on peacebuilding. He undertakes his research within the SLUS research project that started 2019 at ZALF. The SLUS project "Implementing sustainable agricultural and livestock systems for simultaneous targeting of forest conservation for climate change mitigation (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia," is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/LAM_2019.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 07 Jun 2019 15:00:00 GMTImproving the efficiency of resource-use is a central topic in agricultural research with strong implications for global food provision and the protection of natural habitats and resources. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Rebound-Effekte.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 22 May 2019 15:00:00 GMTThe peace agreement of 2016 ended the decade long war in Colombia. To build the peace, it is now necessary to create new livelihoods for people living in rural areas that were heavily affected by the conflict. This is the goal of the new research project “Implementing sustainable agricultural and livestock systems for simultaneous targeting of forest conservation for climate change mitigation (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia (SLUS)”. It involves researchers of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). To promote the start of the project and discuss its work in Colombia, ZALF is organizing the research event „Colombia Day“ on its campus in Müncheberg on 24th May, 2019.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/20190520_PM_ColombiaDay.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 May 2019 08:00:00 GMTDeutsch-französische Forschungsinitiative zu Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer pestizidarmen Landwirtschaft in Europa Ist eine Landwirtschaft ohne chemisch-synthetische Pflanzenschutzmittel möglich? Um diese Frage zu beantworten, gehen deutsche und französische Forscherinnen und Forscher jetzt gemeinsam voran: Das Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V. hat mit dem französischen Nationalen Institut für Agrarwissenschaften (INRA) sowie dem Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) eine in dieser Form einzigartige europaweite Forschungsinitiative ins Leben gerufen. Das erklärte Ziel: den Einsatz von chemisch-synthetischen Pflanzenschutzmitteln bis 2050 auf ein Minimum zu reduzieren. Am 17. Mai 2019 treffen sich Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der europäischen Spitzenforschung nun in Berlin, um ein Strategiepapier und eine Roadmap zu entwickeln, Forschungslücken zu identifizieren und sukzessive zu schließen. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Pestizidarme-Landwirtschaft.aspxHendrik Schneider Press ReleaseBiodiversityKlimaThu, 16 May 2019 11:00:00 GMTSummer School in Tashkent: Sustainability Assessment of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Irrigated Agriculture - Interdisciplinary Approaches in Central Asia (WEFCA)https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Sommerschule.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 14 May 2019 14:00:00 GMTThe roundtable "Spatial justice: state, positions and future challenges", was an important contribution of ZALF at the Open Science Meeting of the Global Land Programme on April 26, 2019 in Bern. The session was chaired by apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith (ZALF, AG CCI). Together with Prof. Dr. Köck (UFZ) he gave a short introduction and moderated the discussion. More than twenty participants discussed views on the topic and developed perspectives for research and practice. It became clear that "Spatial Justice" will, as in the future, have a major impact on land use issues. Therefore, new forms of cooperation have been agreed under the GLP and the new ReGerecht-Project, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Reserach.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/round_table.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 14 May 2019 09:00:00 GMTThe international research project SUNEX, funded by Belmont Forum and Joint Programming Initiative Urban Europe, aims at formulating sustainable urban FWE Nexus strategies by optimizing the synergies between food, water and energy systems. The applicability will be tested in the four cities Berlin, Bristol, Doha and Vienna.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Sunex-Stakeholder-Event-in-Doha-Qatar.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 10 May 2019 13:00:00 GMTThe project “Agricultural System of the Future: DAKIS – Digital Agricultural Knowledge and Information System” coordinated by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was launched in April. Together with nine other research institutions, the researchers are working on a vision of the digital agriculture of tomorrow. A digital decision-making system for practical use will deploy robotics, sensors and computer models to make crop farming systems more economically efficient and at the same time more environmentally sustainable. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is providing a total of EUR 7.4 million over a period of five years. Global agriculture is facing major challenges. The world’s population is growing – to over nine billion people by 2050. While available farmland is declining worldwide, particularly due to erosion, desiccation and flooding, climate change is increasing the risk of crop failures caused by extreme weather conditions. Much more will therefore have to be harvested on less fertile soil in the future. At the same time, the use of fertilizers, chemical pesticides, water and energy must be reduced in order to save resources and reduce the environmental impact. How can agriculture meet these challenges, i.e. become more efficient, more sustainable and more adaptable to climate change all at the same time? “In order to produce more food in the long term, we have to strike a balance between intensifying production on the one hand and sustainability aspects on the other”, says Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, head of the project and agronomist at ZALF. “Digitization now gives us the tools to shape this middle ground.” In the DAKIS project, the researchers want to develop an information and management system that is so far unique throughout the world, and which combines the optimization of production with environmental and nature conservation requirements in new crop farming systems. “With the DAKIS system, the agriculture of the future becomes reality”, says Prof. Bellingrath-Kimura. “We are addressing the solutions to the major challenges facing agriculture: climate change, food security and sustainability, for the first time in a holistic, digital information and decision support system, which combines real-time data with simulation, social requirements and economic factors.” North and South Germany: two types of agriculture as test regions The application is to be developed and tested in two very different agricultural test regions, in Passau in Bavaria and in the Uckermark in Brandenburg. While the Uckermark is characterized by low annual precipitation and a large-scale agricultural landscape on soils with average yield potential, the district of Passau has significantly higher annual precipitation and soils with high yield potential in a very small-scale agricultural landscape. First of all, a status quo of the two regions will be established: What services are currently provided by agriculture, i.e. how much food is produced for humans and animals, how many renewable raw materials are produced? What regulatory services are available, such as floodplains, carbon dioxide release and storage capacities, or the pollination performance of crop plants? Which animal and plant species live in the regions and under what conditions? Finally, cultural aspects will also be covered, such as the recreational function, environmental education and tourist aspects of agricultural landscapes. Of great importance for the later DAKIS system: What effects do cultivation measures have on species diversity and the ecosystem services mentioned above, i.e. services provided by the landscape for the benefit of society? In the next step, the researchers will determine the regional demand for these ecosystem services in society. From the findings they will then derive how a central management and information system can translate this demand into concrete land use strategies and agricultural recommendations for action. These are the demands placed on agriculture. The networked agricultural landscape: sensor technology and real-time monitoring A wireless sensor network comprising static sensors and partially autonomous robots will be set up at the same time in both test regions. The system continuously records important landscape parameters, such as soil composition, plant population or meteorological data, and links these to satellite-based observation. In this way, changes in the landscape can be continuously monitored and fed back into the decision-making system. The ideal farm: from computer model to reality With the help of this data as well as the social demands placed upon agriculture, computer models calculate the “ideal farm” adapted to the region, which perfectly balances the relationship between production maximization, ecosystem services and technical feasibility. The models take economic factors into account: DAKIS is also intended to support, for example, the planning of long-term investments, such as the purchase of irrigation systems or agricultural machinery. At the same time, the cropping systems are examined for their economic efficiency, for example with regard to weather conditions. The use of resources such as water, fertilizers and pesticides is reduced to a minimum. Also, the system should make small-scale cultivation, so-called spot farming cultivation, possible. With this shift in the cultivation system away from increasingly large fields with monocultures and heavy agricultural machinery towards smaller and more diverse field units, two significant developments could be countered: the decline in the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes and the very limited cultivation portfolio leading to the extinction of certain crops. Cross-farm networking in agriculture using DAKIS will also create new opportunities for cooperation and the division of labor. Ultimately, the system should be able to simulate both agricultural yields and ecosystem services in real time. DAKIS in action The results from the monitoring system and the simulations are linked in the DAKIS interface with legal, political and social parameters. Agricultural knowledge is also stored as a building block in the DAKIS decision-support system. All the data streams are brought together on an intuitive user interface, condensed into recommendations for action and visualized in a way that is easily comprehensible for practical use. This will then be tested and further developed in both test regions with a focus on two typical types of use, grassland and arable land. From the outset, the researchers will also be investigating how the measures can be implemented using innovative technology, such as robotics, and how potential acceptance barriers can be overcome in practice. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2019-04-11_PM_DAKIS_FINAL.aspxHenrik SchneiderNoticeAgriculture 4.0Fri, 03 May 2019 12:00:00 GMTOn 18 April 2019, the new High-Performance Computer Cluster (HPC) at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) will commence operations. Following a 6-month construction period and investments of 1.78 million euros, it was inaugurated today. It has 20 times the performance of the previous computing capacities and replaces an outdated computing infrastructure. In particular, the new cluster will enable complex calculations, such as the simulation of grain yields of entire countries or continents taking climatic changes into account, to be carried out with new data quality and speedhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Modernes-High-Performance-Computer-Cluster-nimmt-Betrieb-auf.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseModelling7c159f7c-8d31-4992-a4bb-c99ae21281ebSun, 14 Apr 2019 12:00:00 GMTCrop models simulate the growth of agricultural crops and help predicting yields. They are used to estimate the impact of projected climate change on agricultural production and to virtually test possible adaptation strategies. While the direct consequences of climate change are often communicated to the broader public as an increasing sum of hot days and tropical nights, or in the form of prolonged droughts, crop models translate the simulations of climate models into figures relevant for production.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Warum-funktionieren-Ertragsmodelle.aspxDr. Claas NendelNoticeModellingKlimabe432422-44ee-4a06-adeb-34c950666d97Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:00:00 GMTZALF invites you to “Colombia Day” on May 24, 2019. As part of a new ZALF project in Colombia researchers are investigating to what extent sustainable land use systems and food security can positively contribute to supporting the peace process in Colombia. A delegation from the National University in Bogota, Colombia, will visit ZALF. During this visit there will be a public workshop with lectures and discussions regarding: - the interdisciplinary networking of research activities with Latin America; - exchanges of current research approaches and current political developments; and - further planning of future research initiatives. Colombia Day is a part of the research project "Implementing sustainable agricultural and livestock systems for simultaneous targeting of forest conservation for climate change mitigation (REDD+) and peace-building in Colombia," which started in 2019 at ZALF. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kolumbien-Tag.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 04 Apr 2019 15:00:00 GMTUN Environment report points on linkages between environmental degradation and human healthhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/UN-Umweltbericht.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeMiscellaneousSat, 30 Mar 2019 13:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is a partner of the project Scaling-Up Nutrition (Scale-N), which is concerned with improving the nutritional situation of people in southeastern Africa. Representatives of the Scale-N project had the opportunity to present the kitchen garden intervention at the top-class breakfast event UNEA 4, which took place on 13th March in Nairobi / Kenya. The UNEA 4 aimed to conceptualize the way humans produce and consume food in the nexus of the greatest global challenges. The year 2020 is dedicated to overcome these challenges by reconnecting nature, prosperity and wellbeing with a global "New Deal for Nature and People". The event brought together senior decision makers from the public and private sectors to discuss integrated solutions and the scaling up potential of nature based solutions. Four speakers were invited and Dr. Hadijah Mbwana presented the Scale–N project outcomes focusing on how kitchen gardens can empower women via establishing sustainable food systems and simultaneously supporting biodiversity.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2019_03_25_Scale-N.aspxC. RybakNoticeFood SecurityMon, 25 Mar 2019 10:00:00 GMTFour researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) were accepted for funding by the ‘Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft’ (DFG) last year. Dr. Maria Kernecker and Dr. Moritz Reckling have successfully acquired two projects within the framework of the DFG Junior Scientists Academy "Agricultural Ecosystem Research and Plant Production". Dr. Kernecker is researching the forest effects on grassland biodiversity under different management conditions. She investigates the question whether grassland management or landscape composition are more relevant for biodiversity. Dr. Reckling investigates the influence of the climate on the yield stability of grain legumes such as peas, field beans and soybeans. To this end, he will analyse international long-term experiments in Europe using innovative statistical methods and simulation models. Dr. Ahmad Hamidov and Dr. Daniel Puppe were also successfully accepted by the DFG. In his project, Dr. Hamidov investigates the conflicts and interactions between energy production, agriculture and soil salinisation in relation to water use in Uzbekistan. The BiSiAL project, which is led by Dr. Puppe, aims to contribute to a basic understanding of the silicon cycle of agricultural systems by producing detailed silicon deposits of different sites. The highly qualified young PostDocs can continue to focus their research within the framework of DFG funding and thus make an important contribution to agricultural landscape research at ZALF. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/DFG-Nachwuchswissenschaftler_ZALF.aspxLea NitzNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 25 Mar 2019 10:00:00 GMTFenland expert of ZALF at the "Ökofilmtour" in Brandenburg https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Oekofilm.aspxProf. Dr. Jürgen AugustinNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 19 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMTWhat are the benefits of organic farming for the environment and society? This question was posed by scientists in a recent study published by the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, the Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was responsible for the topics related to “Biodiversity”. 75 studies from 26 countries were evaluated. Dr. Karin Stein-Bachinger, Almut Haub and Frank Gottwald from ZALF analysed the effects of organic agriculture on arable flora, field margin vegetation, field birds and flower-visiting insects in comparison with conventional farming for their contribution to the current Thünen Report 65. 86 % of the pairs of comparisons described in the studies indicated clear benefits for vegetation. Animal species benefited in 49% of cases. The team sees the main reasons for this in the severe restriction of external inputs, such as the renunciation of mineral nitrogen fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, as well as the optimized recycling. Structural elements in the surrounding landscape, such as hedges and field margins, which are used by many species as partial habitats, also have a significant influence on biodiversity. They can have a significant impact on the effects of land use. However, within the framework of comparative studies between organic and conventional farming, there only have been few studies on this subject until now. For their study, Stein-Bachinger and her team identified 801 studies that appeared on this topic between 1990 and 2017. On the basis of strictly defined criteria, 75 studies were selected and the 312 comparison pairs described were statistically evaluated. The team looked at the species richness and abundance with which individual species occurred. The results show that organic farming can reduce various environmental impacts at the same time and thus makes a relevant contribution to solving current environmental and resource policy challenges. “The studies also show our increased knowledge of the causal relationships between management measures on the one hand and impacts on the environment and biodiversity on the other”, says Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF. However, it is important to continue research on the influence that the surrounding landscape structure, in particular, has on the biodiversity of cultivated areas and the interactions that exist, according to Ewert.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Bestandsaufnahme_der_Forschung.aspxH. SchneiderNoticeBiodiversityMon, 11 Mar 2019 08:00:00 GMTMichael Stübgen (MdB, CDU), Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), visited a Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) project in the East African country Tanzania on March 1st and 2nd. Since 2015, a team from ZALF and the University of Hohenheim has been working jointly with partners from science and practice on local solutions related to agricultural production in the Scale-N project. The aim is to reduce malnutrition through education and technical innovation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Scale_N.aspxHenrik SchneiderNoticeFood SecurityThu, 07 Mar 2019 14:00:00 GMTIn February 2019, the Integrated Priority Project (IPP) “Small Water Bodies in an agricultural landscape: Ecosystem services of spatial and temporal within-field transition zones (SWBTrans)” was launched at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). It will fill knowledge gaps about the “Smart Use of Heterogeneities of Agricultural Landscapes”, one of the ZALF’s focal topics. The three-year project is funded by the ZALF budget and combines the expertise of four working groups.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/SWBTrans-Intelligente-Nutzung-Heterogenitaeten-Agrarlandschaften-Erstes-IPP-ZALF.aspxKatrin JürgensNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 22 Feb 2019 14:00:00 GMTThe food security project Vegi-Leg, which is carried out in Tanzania (TS) and Mozambique (MS), has had an excellent start: From 4th to 6th February 2019, project participants mainly from the University of Lurio (MS), the University of Hohenheim as well as the Sokoine University for Agriculture (TS) met in Morogoro, Tanzania. The aim of the project funded by the BMEL is to optimize the processing of African leafy vegetables and pigeon peas in order to avoid processing losses of micronutrients as much as possible. The participants discussed productively the timing and content of the questionnaire, but also defined success criteria and expected output as a team. The three-year project will be conducted in four villages (2 in MS, 2 in TS) and the data will allow four doctoral students to complete their dissertations.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Kick-off_Vegi-Leg.aspxH. HoffmannNoticeFood SecurityTue, 13 Jan 2026 03:55:23 GMTThe five fact sheets published by the Scaling up Nutrition (Scale-N) project detail the implemented agricultural innovations. These include 1. the education about home gardens for vegetable production, 2. the implementation of various educational components for healthy food consumption, 3. the expansion of an SMS-based trading system for agricultural products by including nutritional messages, 4. the establishment of a centre for professional vegetable trade and processing, and 5. the implementation of various components for soil improvement through compost production. These initiatives have been undertaken in close consultation with local people and represent in sum excellent ways to address nutritional deficiencies and improve malnutrition. The success of the individual components is still being investigated, but initial results show that the local nutrition status has improved. The Scaling-Up Nutrition project (Scale-N) is concerned with improving the nutritional situation of people in south-eastern Africa. The focus is especially on central and eastern Tanzania, where help is given to self-help through economic as well as nutritional interventions, whereby the results and changes are scientifically recorded and investigated in detail - the project thus follows the action research approach. Initial results now show that in the period of the project, an improvement of various blood parameters of the affected population could actually be achieved and that, above all, the training components promise long-term success. Scale-N is sponsored by BMEL.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Scale-N_Factsheets.aspxHarry HoffmannNoticeFood SecurityTue, 12 Feb 2019 09:00:00 GMTProject launch: Microbes strengthen plants’ own defences against extreme weather events https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Microbes.aspxDr. habil. Steffen KolbPress ReleaseSoilThu, 07 Feb 2019 16:00:00 GMTTrans-SEC Documentary on youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1udpzjg5d14&t=5sStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 05 Feb 2019 07:00:00 GMTSummer School WEFCAhttps://comm.zalf.de/sites/summer-school-wefca/SitePages/Home.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 31 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMTOn 8th/9th January 2019 the workshop on “Rethinking the governance of European Water protection” took place at UFZ Leipzig. Scientists from various European countries discussed the state-of- the- art in European Water Governance and new ideas for its further development. In four panels on topics like „Rethinking plurality and implementation obstacles“, „Rethinking perceptions and assessment“, „Rethinking sector integration, coordination and public participation“, „Rethinking water protection objectives and instruments“, and „Rethinking Research“ the social scientists exchanged their ideas and research experiences. During the following group working phases they planned joint follow up activities, e.g. various publications of workshop results, a joint project proposal and further meetings. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Europaeische-Wasserpolitik-auf-dem-Pruefstand.aspxBarbara SchröterNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 30 Jan 2019 14:00:00 GMTIn January 2019 apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith took part in an one week expert meeting of the programme “Vocational Education in Central Asia” financed by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) at Almaty / Kazakhstan. He presented and discussed „System solutions for sustainable production in cultural landscapes“. About thirty participants from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan und Kirgizia attended the meeting organized by GWT Dresden. In future new ways of collaboration will be possible based on personal networks developed during the workshop.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Fuer-die-GIZ-in-Almaty.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 29 Jan 2019 09:00:00 GMTEuropean seed companies neglect the resistance to climate change when breeding wheat varieties. Especially in Germany, but also in other European countries, the cultivated varieties are susceptible to weather extremes such as heat, drought or heavy rain, reports an international team of researchers in the "Proceedings" of the US National Academy of Sciences ("PNAS"). The background is the rather one-sided breeding for characteristics such as high yield, stalk stability or disease resistance.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Weizensorten-anfaellig-Wetterextreme.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeClimate ChangeKlima027d377b-f339-459b-9d7b-2433952f52e7Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:00:00 GMTNow Available: The Trans-SEC Book of Participative Research - Approaches for implementing food securing upgrading strategieshttps://www.zalf.de/de/forschung_lehre/publikationen/Documents/Broschueren/Trans-SEC-Book-2018_ISBN%20978-3-943679-60-1.pdfStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 09 Jan 2019 14:00:00 GMTThe German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has supported six German-African Research consortia with a total budget of 45 M Euro. The projects started early 2013 and will be phased out by end of 2018. 270 participants came to the conference in Naivasha, Kenya on the 3rd and 4th of December 2018. The Conference aims at disseminating these outputs widely in the target regions of the research and beyond the immediate GlobE consortia. These GlobE research networks have yielded a vast number of outputs, including technical, organizational, institutional, and social innovations, resource management and development strategies, indicators to assess innovations and strategies regarding ecological, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, benchmarking frameworks, management recommendations, dissemination materials and strategies, and policy recommendations. The work group SusLAND at ZALF coordinated the Trans-SEC project, which was presented successfully. An additional exhibition demonstrated GIS applications, documentaries and a poster presentation. It was followed up by a dialogue session on science-practices interfaces.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/GlobE-Conference.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 09 Jan 2019 09:00:00 GMTLast month’s 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity discussed the pressing issue of biodiversity conservation and its relation to food security. Brazil was a participant with a right to vote, although it had acted merely as an observer in negotiations on the 2010 Nagoya Protocol, which it had failed to ratify because of its agribusiness and other interests. In our view, Jair Bolsonaro’s incoming government is likely to stand by those interests, despite the need to protect one of the world’s most biodiverse countries (see also Nature 563, 5–6; 2018). The government now taking shape is committed to relaxing requirements for environmental licences and loosening environmental regulations. The newly appointed minister of agriculture has called for measures such as the ‘pesticide package’ (bill number 6.299/2002), which would weaken the criteria for pesticide approval — despite the concerns of United Nations rapporteurs Hilal Elver (on the right to food) and Baskut Tuncak (on toxins). And, in a further blow to biodiversity, Bolsonaro has promised to open up the Amazon for agribusiness, with no indication that he intends to support traditional communities. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07611-7Lea NitzNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 07 Jan 2019 08:00:00 GMTForesight, Assessment und Governance - 9 projects exchanged about socio-economic research in BonaRes: On 26 and 27 November 2018, the sixth workshop of socio-economic researchers in BonaRes was hosted by the BonaRes Centre in Berlin. The meeting aimed at presenting and exchanging results of the BonaRes research achieved during the first funding phase and at discussing research plans for the second funding phase of the BonaRes program. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/BonaRes-6--Workshop.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 12 Dec 2018 14:00:00 GMTIn the new “Vegi-Leg” project, researchers from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are working with partners from Germany and Africa to find solutions to improve malnutrition in Tanzania and Mozambique. In particular, new possibilities for the processing of foodstuffs, which will help make them more durable, are to be developed with the local people. The three-year project is coordinated by ZALF and is part of the “Global Food Security” development program of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The number of people worldwide who are malnourished now stands at 815 million, according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Report 2018. This includes rural population groups in Tanzania and Mozambique. Those affected often suffer from micronutrient deficiencies as a result of malnutrition. “One reason for this is that nutrient-rich plant foods, such as green- leafy vegetables, can be harvested abundantly during the rainy season, but up until now have either been stored inadequately or not at all during the dry season”, says nutritionist Dr. Constance Rybak, project manager at ZALF. In view of this seasonal food shortage, the research team in the “Vegi-Leg: Implementing innovative processing technologies for nutrient-dense plant foods (African indigenous vegetables and legumes) to safeguard perennial nutrition security– an East African and Southeast African country comparison” project aims to develop new and improved processing technologies to ensure the preservation of nutrient-dense plant foods. This is done in close cooperation with local companies, scientists and, above all, actors from subsistence agriculture, i.e. people who only grow for their own needs in order to secure the family’s livelihood. The project focuses on green leafy vegetables as provitamin A suppliers and pigeon peas as sources of protein. It is also about the transfer into society: In order to assess the initial situation, a basic survey is conducted in which nutritional habits and current options for the cultivation, preparation, processing and storage of nutrient-rich foodstuffs are investigated. Furthermore, researchers are collecting anthropometric data, such as the height and body weight of women and children, who often have a poor nutritional status due to cultural reasons. The jointly developed processing methods will later also be introduced into the communities in training workshops on preparation and processing techniques. Therefore, the project is also addressing methods for transferring knowledge into the local society. The researchers want to evaluate the impacts of the developed processing technologies by conducting a final survey in the participating villages. Additionally, monitoring activities after project lifetime are envisaged in order to continuously further develop and disseminate the solutions developed.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Vegi_Leg.aspxH. SchneiderNoticeFood SecurityFri, 07 Dec 2018 09:00:00 GMTDr. Kurt-Christian Kersebaum, Agricultural Engineer in the Working Group Ecosystem Modelling at ZALF, was named as „Highly Cited Researcher“ 2018 in the category Cross-Field by the Web of Science. And for the second year in a row Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director at ZALF and Professor of Crop Science at University Bonn, was also named as „Highly Cited Researcher“ in the category „Agricultural Sciences“. The Web of Science is one of the world's most important online literature and citation databases. Prof. Frank Ewert is one of the few scientists in the field of Agricultural Research in Germany who is listed there. Thereby his research ranks among the most influential in this discipline. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Auszeichnung-fuer-ZALF-Wissenschaftler.aspxH. SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 06 Dec 2018 15:00:00 GMTThe global challenges on food and agriculture are formidable: Climate change, biodiversity loss and migration, pressure on water and nutrient cycles, soil degradation combined with over-, under- and malnutrition. How can around 10 billion people feed themselves in 2050 with a healthy and sustainable diet? Dr. Vandana Shiva, alternative nobel price laureate, author and activist and Norbert Lemken, Director on Agricultural Policy at Bayer Crop Science have never before talked to each other in person about their visions and perspectives. They will sure be different und insightful. Together with the expert for resource efficiency and agronomist Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), and moderated by Benny Haerlin from the Foundation on Future Farming (ZSL), the panel guests will discuss agriculture of the future. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Podiumsdiskussion.aspxLea NitzNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMTInvited by several scientific institutions of Indonesia, apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith visited Indonesia from 21st October to 2nd November, starting with a keynote address at the first SoRes / SiReS conference in Bandung. The conference brought together scientists from different disciplines to talk about current challenges of sustainable development. Lectures at universities in Bandung and Yogyakarta for Studium Generale could be realized. In addition, the project area of PhD student Roni Susman in Patimban was on the list. In Subang and Bandung talks were held with representatives of planning authorities additionally. In the resource-rich country, where many people fight for their everyday existence, an enormous diversity of land use conflicts can be noticed. Solving them in a complex social context poses a major challenge. Here questions of power, ownership and resource responsibility arise in the context of difficult societal situation. The development of approaches towards sustainable land use therefore will be deepened in cooperation with various scientific institutions as well as within the scope of the supervised doctoral thesis.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Indonesien-Aufenthalt.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 07 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMTPhD-thesis successfully defendedhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/groh_j_engl.aspxPD Dr. H.H. GerkeNoticeSoilMon, 05 Nov 2018 12:00:00 GMTZALF pursues the open data strategy for research data and is pleased to announce first open access data publication of a long-term field experiment (LTFE) for free reusehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Dauerfeldversuche.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseZALF pursues the open data strategy for research data and is pleased to announce first open access data publication of a long-term field experiment (LTFE) for free reuseFri, 02 Nov 2018 10:00:00 GMTWhat is the impact of agriculture on insects and what do insect-friendly use systems look like? Researchers in the project “FInAL – Promotion of Insects in Agricultural Landscapes” have been addressing these questions since October. The joint project, funded with around 5 million euros by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and coordinated by the Thünen Institute, is the first to examine large sections of the landscape in order to find out how the diversity and functionality of insects can be selectively increased. The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is providing a landscape laboratory in the Havelland Luch, northwest of Berlin. A total of three areas, representing the typical agricultural environments of Germany, are to be researched. Over the next three project years, the researchers will develop insect-friendly cultivation systems in the landscape laboratories, which cover several square kilometers. The main focus is on renewable raw materials, i.e. plants and plant residues that are used as materials or to generate electricity, heat and biofuels. The influence of near-natural habitats, such as blossom strips and other biotopes, is also being investigated. The researchers are also looking for ways of achieving greater diversity in vegetation and thus in insect fauna on grassland. The measures will be developed jointly with the farms in order to improve their implementation in practice. As a result, tried and tested proposals are to be developed to identify ways of making agriculture more insect-friendly. The special feature of this research project lies in the long-term perspective of promoting insects in the overall context of landscape structures and agriculture. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2018_10_18_PM_FInAL_bmel_final.aspxH. SchneiderNoticeBiodiversityTue, 30 Oct 2018 12:00:00 GMTDissertation successfully defendedhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/prom_hoffmann.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 30 Oct 2018 10:00:00 GMTIn the frame of her dissertation project, Katharina Löhr analysed how to optimize processes and functioning of transdisciplinary research projects. This included the design and testing of a conflict management (CPM) system in a transdisciplinary and international research setting. The Viadrina component model on conflict management served as the conceptual frame. As case study served the Trans-SEC project (PB2), which is coordinated by ZALF (Stefan Sieber/Frieder Graef). Results show positive effects of CPM on project members’ communication and conflict behaviour as well as on interpersonal trust and perceptions of work effectiveness. This suggests that CPM-System is a tool that benefits collaborative projects and that can help project managers to facilitate organizational functioning and project success.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Loehr.aspxKatharina LöhrNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 18 Oct 2018 15:00:00 GMTUrban areas and the countryside are usually seen as opposites. However, often sustainable landscape development and infrastructure policies can only be realized through joint efforts. For this reason, the new project “ReGerecht – Integrative Development of a Just Balance of Interests between City, Suburbs, and Rural Areas”, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, was launched in September. The kick-off meeting was held at ZALF (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/ReGerecht-Auftaktveranstaltung.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 17 Oct 2018 15:00:00 GMTToo hot and too dry: the summer of 2018 saw losses in arable crops of up to 50 percent in some regions of Germany. As such weather extremes are likely to increase in the future, adapting agriculture to climate change is crucial. Important strategies include agronomic management and breeding of more tolerant crops. For plant breeders it is essential to know whether plants are more vulnerable to heat or drought. An international research team led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is providing new answers to this question. The team´s current study has just been published in the scientific journal "Nature Communications".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PM_2018_10_Neue-Erkenntnisse-ueber-Duerre-Hitzeanfaelligkeit.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseClimate ChangeKlimac5fbc812-7e8c-4a2c-b74a-e7dc93788904Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:00:00 GMTSTEP-UP will increase food security through equitable commercial relationships between markets within the frame of sustainable agricultural production. STEP-UP is coordinated by ZALF and will support smallholder producers to access relevant technologies, innovations and management practices for the transition to commercialized production. LEAP-Agri (http://www.leap-agri.com/) is a partnership between 30 partners including 24 funding organisations from nine African countries (i.e. Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda), nine European countries (i.e. Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Nederland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Turkey) and an international organization (i.e. CIHEAM-Bari based in Italy). This partnership operates under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, and its EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue on science, technology and innovation, which includes the implementation of the jointly funded EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership focusing on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (endorsed by the EU-Africa Summit 2014).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_10_12_NEWS_LEAPAgriconsortium.aspxLea Nitz / ZALFNoticeFood SecurityFri, 12 Oct 2018 12:00:00 GMTMore than 220 participants from the fields of science, politics and society accepted the invitation of the Leibniz Association and took part in the conference on the United Nations Goals for Sustainable Development on 14 September in Berlin. The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) was closely involved in the organisation and structuring of the conference https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Leibniz-Konferenz-zu-Nachhaltigkeitszielen-der-UN.aspxKirsa FischerPress ReleaseSustainable Land UseWed, 10 Oct 2018 11:00:00 GMTFirst international BioMove Symposium “Bridging Biodiversity with Movement Research“https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/biomove_sy.aspxGabriele SchiroNoticeBiodiversityMon, 08 Oct 2018 16:00:00 GMTExcellence Strategy: ZALF involved in the "PhenoRob" Excellence Cluster One of the major challenges in agricultural research is to increase crop production, despite limited farmland, while at the same time reducing the ecological footprint. To achieve this, the Cluster of Excellence "PhenoRob - Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production" is researching new methods and technologies to observe, analyse, better understand and target plants. To this end, fields are monitored from the air and from the ground. Computers process these sensor data in such a way that robots can automatically control and treat individual plants. This should help make agriculture more efficient, gain new insights into plant growth and avoid the use of chemical aids. "This is a great success and will enable us to maintain close ties with cutting-edge basic research in addition to our application-oriented research. We are contributing here to a central future topic in the field of sustainable cropping systems and are thus also strengthening Brandenburg as a science location with a strong focus on environmental and agricultural science," explains Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF. Funding for the new clusters of excellence begins on 1 January 2019. The funding period is seven years, with a second funding period of seven years following a successful re-application. According to the administrative agreement, the 57 clusters will receive a total of approximately 385 million euros in annual funding, 75 percent of which will be provided by the federal government and 25 percent by the respective host state. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PhenoRob-Exzellencluster-2018.aspxHendrik Schneider NoticeAgriculture 4.0Klima0fda8038-ab95-4597-9146-e2bd8a930c78Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:00:00 GMTThe SusLand working group celebrated the successful promotion of Michelle Bonatti on September 3, 2018. Her work on the "Social Learning Tools (SLT) to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" was awarded Magna cum Laude at the Humboldt University in Berlin. The ZALF congratulates the newly-born doctoral candidate! Ms. Michelle Bonatti will work as a post-doc in a new project of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/Promotion_Bonatti.aspxM. BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 25 Sep 2018 09:00:00 GMTAs of June 1st 2018, Dr. Claas Nendel has been officially appointed a member of the Integrative Research Institute on Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Dr--Claas-Nendel-zum-Mitglied-in-IRI-THESys-ernannt.aspxPRNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:00 GMTDr. Claas Nendel (Co-Head of the Research Platform "Models & Simulation") was awarded for his excellent achievement as reviewer on Publons’ global reviewer database. He received the “Publons Peer Review Awards 2018” for placing in the top 1% of reviewers in agriculture science. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Dr--Claas-Nendel-.aspxPRNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 18 Sep 2018 15:00:00 GMTOver the next two years, the Robert Bosch Foundation will be supporting 20 young scientists as part of the "Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership" with this year's focus on "Food Systems / Food sovereignty" through various seminars and start-up funding. Despite Europe-wide applications, three young scientists of the ZALF have prevailed and competed on 26th June with 27 other researchers for the available places. In individual interviews, group assignments and so-called "pitches" (the individual presentation in three minutes), the candidate's leadership qualities were analyzed in detail, in order to to assess their skills and knowledge in the areas of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking and research. The announcement of the results is expected in mid-July.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_07_NEWS_Bewerbung_Boschstiftung.aspxDr. Harry Hoffmann / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 03 Sep 2018 13:00:00 GMTAm 14. September 2018 findet die erste Leibniz-Konferenz zu den Zielen für nachhaltige Entwicklung (Sustainable Development Goals) im Haus der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft in Berlin statt. In 2015 von den Vereinten Nationen beschlossen, sollen diese einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung auf ökonomischer, sozialer und ökologischer Ebene dienen.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Leibniz-Conference-on-Sustainable-Development-Goals.aspxKirsa FischerNoticeSustainable Land UseWed, 22 Aug 2018 15:00:00 GMTLaunch of MoPlaSa research project: Controlling the seabuckthorn fruit fly without chemicals https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PM_Sanddornfruchtfliege.aspxDr. Sandra LerchePress ReleaseBiodiversitySat, 18 Aug 2018 09:00:00 GMTCorrespondence in Nature: Land use must abide by peace agreement Colombia’s rural development must honour peace agreement A resolution signed in June to allow agricultural development on 35% (40 million hectares) of Colombia’s land could risk compromising the government’s 2016 Peace Agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces (see also Nature 558, 169–170; 2018). The agreement places strict controls on the transformation of national lands and environmentally important areas. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/ZALF/Kommentar-Magazin-Nature-Kolumbiens-laendliche-Entwicklung-muss-Friedensabkommen-gerecht-werden.aspxJulia Lidauer / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 14 Aug 2018 10:00:00 GMTOn the subject of "Utilizing protein plants successfully", a technical discussion and field day with more than 30 participants from practice and research took place at ZALF on 19th June. Dr. Ing. Ruge-Wehling of JKI spoke about the development of innovative breeding strategies in order to increase the cultivation importance of lupins, eg. the development of selection markers (identification of resistance to anthracnose) for lupine breeding.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_06_19_NEWS_feldtag_eiweisspflanzen.aspxRalf Bloch, Julia Lidauer / ZALFNoticeLegumesTue, 07 Aug 2018 11:00:00 GMTWhat is sustainability in science? How to integrate responsible research with the paradigm of freedom or research? What ethical aspects need to be considered? Such questions were addressed at the 4th ‘research for sustainable development’ SISI Symposium in Munich, Germany, 17th July.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Freiheit-verpflichtet-ZALF-beim-4-SISI-Symposium-des-BMBF.aspxKatharina HelmingNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 25 Jul 2018 11:00:00 GMTWhat is SMART and why? A view on smart farming in 7 European countries Agritechnica-Forum „crop production live“ on 17.11.2017 in hall 15 The forum focused on presentations and discussions on technologies and trends that reconcile the necessary increase in productivity of arable and crop farming with resource and environmental protection Members of the Smart-AKIS project team of DLG (Dr. Klaus Erdle) and ZALF (Dr. Maria Kernecker, Friederike Borges) with the support of an expert of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony (Philipp Bues) contributed a panel presentation on the topic "What is SMART and why? A look at smart farming in 7 European countries".https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_07_11_NEWS_agritechnikaforum_smart.aspxJulia Lidauer / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 13 Jul 2018 14:00:00 GMTLong droughts, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, cold and late frost – extreme weather events cause substantial damage in the agricultural sector. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) are investigating in a new project to what extent such extreme weather events can be better predicted and damage prevented or limited. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2018_07_10_PM_EMRA-Extremwettermonitoring.aspxDr. D. DeumlichNoticeClimate ChangeWed, 11 Jul 2018 11:00:00 GMTIn a keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Katharina Helming explained the multifunctional significance of the soil, which is not only the basis for the production of 95% of food, feed and raw materials for bioenergy worldwide, but also plays an essential role as carbon storage for climate protection, stores water and nutrients and acts as habitat for a myriad of organisms.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/Sondersitzung-AGRAR.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeSoilTue, 03 Jul 2018 08:00:00 GMTAfter more than 2 years of work, the EU Smart-AKIS Network invited stakeholders, researchers, advisers, politicians and representatives from the European Commission to its final conference presenting main findings on the adoption of Smart Farming Technologies in European agriculture. The conference took place in Brussels on June the 27th.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/2018_07_03_PM_smartakis_conference.aspxAngelika Wurbs / ZALFPress ReleaseMiscellaneousTue, 03 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMTZALF at the European IFSA Symposium in Greece From 1st until 5th July ZALF participates in the European IFSA Symposium in Greece. Under the motto “Farming System Assosciation Farming systems: facing uncertainties and enhancing opportunities” the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (Crete) invites experts from the industry and science to discuss, how more sustainable agricultural systems for the future can be designed and implemented.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_07_NEWS_IFSA-Symposium.aspxMonika Meiser / ZALFNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 02 Jul 2018 10:00:00 GMTOn June 20th 2018, Dr. Annette Piorr and Dr. Ingo Zasada, researchers from ZALF were invited by the European Parliament (EP) to an expert hearing to talk about Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture to the members of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/ZALF-Studie-im-EU-Parlament-vorgestellt.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeUrban AgricultureFri, 29 Jun 2018 08:00:00 GMTZALF leads and presents the S123 session, “Decision Support Tools For Assessment of Interventions for Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation & Food Security ” at the Adaptation Futures conference 2018 in Cape Town, South Africahttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_06_NEWS_Adaption_Futures_Conference.aspxSrijna Jha, Viola KranichNoticeFood SecurityThu, 28 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMTOn 6th June, the ZALF PhD Day took place: 19 doctoral researchers presented their work in science slams, hands-on tours as well as elevator pitches and showed how science can be presented in an exciting and creative way. Especially the diversity was impressive: Some researchers have study sites at ZALF, others in countries like Iran, Vietnam or Tanzania, while researching at all scales from microscopic fungi and grains of sand to large-scale land use changes. We thank all presenters for their contributions. The keynote speech by Dr. Frauke Schocker on the concept for good scientific practice at the Borstel Research Centre inspired a debate on scientific integrity. The joint barbecue was a perfect ending to an intense day. The PhD Day is organized by doctoral researchers and serves as a platform for exchange between them as well as with colleagues and guests of other research institutes.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PHD-Day-2018.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 28 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMTClosing Ceremonies of the Trans-SEC Project This short film captures the closing ceremonies of the Trans-SEC Project from 18th -23rd April 2018 in the villages Idifu, Ilolo, Ilakala and Changarawe in Tanzania. The German-Tanzanian co-operation was led by Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) on the German side and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) on the Tanzanian side. The five year project aimed at improving the food situation of the vulnerable rural population in Tanzania. Throughout the ceremonies both project-participating small holder farmers as well as researchers presented their experiences and research results. Speeches and gestures of reflection and gratitude were given by both project-management and village representatives. https://vimeo.com/277053667Hendrik SchneiderNoticeFood SecurityTue, 26 Jun 2018 15:00:00 GMTZALF researcher invited to give a seminar at FAO on “Engaging community voices in the development of food security and nutrition projects: a social learning approach.”https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_06_NEWS_FAO.aspxMichelle BonattiNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 13 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMTMost of the fens in Germany have dried up and can no longer fulfil important environmental functions. A pilot project in Brandenburg has now for the first time tested their rewetting using purified waste water from sewage treatment plants.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/3-2017/Pages/Moore.aspxZALF Presse- und ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitNoticeSoilKlima82b3fa4d-ad93-49d8-8e76-8bbf06d4041aTue, 12 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMTSusLAND organizes German-African PhD student meeting together with the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) In order to specifically support the young scientists it finances, the BLE organized a conference in Berlin in mid-May with the active support of the Susland Working Group. The goal was to promote the communicative abilities of the 25 PhD students through a two-day presentation course. The 4-day workshop also improved the ability to publish and provided insights into the world of Open Data and Open Science. The aim was also to give the students the opportunity to network among themselves. There was also a reception in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) with a welcome by MinDirig dr. K. Heider, as well as a Reichstag tour with Harald Ebner (B90 / Greens). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/2018_06_NEWS_SusLAND.aspxJulia LidauerNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 12 Jun 2018 10:00:00 GMTThey come to Europe using a wide variety of routes and transports: invasive mosquito species are on the rise, not only in Germany. They are successfully populating new areas, also because climate change provides them with more favorable living conditions. Researchers have been recording these developments since 2012 in the Mosquito Atlas project. With the aid of mathematical models, they are now going one step further and are making computer-aided predictions about their future distribution.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/3-2017/Pages/Muecke.aspxZALF Presse- und ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitNoticeMosquitoesMon, 11 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMTWomen in the natural sciences - Tackling the Gender Gaphttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/3-2017/Pages/Interview.aspxZALF Presse- und ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 11 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMTMillions of people live in big cities. The food they eat, usually has to be transported over hundreds of kilometres. A study is now investigating which metropolitan areas could organize their food supply more regionally.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/3-2017/Pages/Grossstadt.aspxZALF Presse- und ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitNoticeFood SecurityMon, 11 Jun 2018 16:00:00 GMTWithout them there would be no apples, no tomatoes, no strawberries: However, there are fewer and fewer polinattors like bumblebees and bees buzzing around. In their search for the causes, researchers are taking a closer look at the ecosystem of arable land.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/3-2017/Pages/Bienen.aspxZALF Presse- und ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitNoticeAgricultural Landscape39c45945-d5d5-4d78-8501-715e374818b7Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:00:00 GMTFoundation stone ceremony for the “House of Agricultural Biome Research” in Muencheberg. On 5 June, the foundation stone ceremony of the new “House of Agricultural Biome Research” took place at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) with guests from politics, science and industry. In the new building, the research on the impact of microorganisms on crop plant production and climate change will be intensified. With the construction of the laboratory and office building on the campus in Muencheberg, ZALF is strengthening international agricultural research in the state of Brandenburg in the 90th anniversary year of the research institution. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Grundsteinlegung-Haus-der-Kulturbiomforschung.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeKlimaTue, 05 Jun 2018 11:00:00 GMTAwards: Outstanding Contributions in Reviewinghttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/funk_e.aspxDr. Roger FunkNoticeAgricultural LandscapeTue, 05 Jun 2018 10:00:00 GMThttp://share1int:801/de/aktuelles/BilderAktuellMeldungen/Meldungen/PB1/Vadose.JPGhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/gerke_e.aspxDr. Horst GerkeNoticeSoilMon, 04 Jun 2018 11:00:00 GMTOn 9th May 2018, the Research Platform “Models & Simulation” celebrated the successful promotion of Evelyn Wallor to PhD. Her work on the modeling of drained and cultivated fen soils was awarded with a "Magna cum Laude" certificate at the Humboldt University in Berlin. ZALF congratulates its freshly graduated scientist.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Erfolgreich-Promoviert.aspxDr. C. NendelNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 15 May 2018 14:00:00 GMTThe death of insects is very much on everyone's lips and was also the topic of this year's "Day of Insects", which was held on 22nd March for the nationwide networking of biodiversity and insects. On the eve of the event, Dr. Doreen Walther put the participants and the public in the right mood for the conference with her presentation "Insects: annoying or useful?". The narrow line between "useful" and "harmful" as well as "annoying" and "dangerous" insects was discussed using the example of blood-sucking mosquitoes, potentially threatening humans and animals in Europe by carrying pathogens. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/news_2018APR_tagderinsekten.aspxJulia LidauerNoticeMosquitoesWed, 02 May 2018 13:00:00 GMTShoes, travel, cars – there is now an online marketplace for almost everything. Researchers at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) want to transfer successful, Internet-based business models to previously largely unexplored territory: nature conservation. At the Hanover Fair from 23-27 April, at the joint Berlin-Brandenburg stand, Hall 13 Stand C10, they are presenting the “AgoraNatura” project, their idea for an online marketplace in which companies and private individuals can invest in nature conservation projects whose benefits have been scientifically proven.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/pm_2018APR_agoranatura.aspxViola KranichPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 27 Apr 2018 15:00:00 GMTFour Leibniz institutions met at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) on 23th of March to discuss migration related to Climate Change, Food Security and Violence. The scientific consortium leaded by ZALF is working to bring together an interdisciplinary expertise network in order to apply for a research project to understand the drivers of migration in terms of crisis and related policies. The project, called “M3 Multidimensional Framework and Response Matrix for Migration”, has been financed in a pre-phase by the Leibniz Association through “Leibniz Research Alliance Crises in a Globalised World”. The objective of this fourth meeting was to get an overview of what has been done and to plan the next steps. Five Master Students of three differents universities in Germany are conducting field work in three different pilot countries: Colombia, Tanzania and Myanmar. The objective is to generate data for a research proposal on migration. The institutes involved are Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) and German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) as external cooperation partner.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/news_2018APR_SusLAND.aspxIzabela Liz SchlindweinNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 19 Apr 2018 15:00:00 GMTEuropean joint study in the scientific journal Nature Ecology & Evolution: Standardizing experimental environmental research https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Standardizing.aspxDr. Marina MüllerPress ReleaseBiodiversityWed, 18 Apr 2018 09:00:00 GMTSecond Cohort of Doctoral Candidates for DFG Research Training Group BioMove https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/biomove_e.aspxDr. M. MuellerNoticeBiodiversityTue, 17 Apr 2018 09:00:00 GMTDr. Daniel Puppe from the WG “Si Biogeochemistry” raised a DFG project on the role of biogenic silicon in agricultural landscapes (BiSiAL, own position for 3 years). https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/puppe_e.aspxDr. Daniel PuppeNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 21 Mar 2018 09:00:00 GMTMarcus Herbrich defended his Dissertation at U Potsdamhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB1/Dissertation-Marcus-Herbrich.aspxProf. M. SommerNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 12 Mar 2018 09:00:00 GMTDr. Dilfuza Egamberdieva, ZALF-associated scientist (guest scientist) has been elected as a member of the committee "High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition, Committee on World Food Security, UN". http://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/news-archive/detail/en/c/1103100/ https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/HLPE-Projekts_online.aspxDr. Dilfuza EgamberdievaNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 23 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMTAn international group of experts has positively evaluated the BonaRes Centre.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB3/BonaRes-auf-einem-guten-Weg.aspxKevin UrbaschNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 05 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMTA new research project on ecosystem services of grassland has been launched at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg. The focus is on satellite data, which has recently been made available free of charge through the Copernicus programme. This data, which has a high temporal and spectral resolution, will be used to feed modern simulation models which in turn provide decision support for grassland management through simulations.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Projektauftakt-Satellitengestuetzte-Information-Gruenlandbewirtschaftung.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseModellingFri, 19 Jan 2018 12:00:00 GMTKurt Christian Kersebaum, agricultural scientist at the Research Platform “Models & Simulation” at ZALF, has been appointed as vice leader of the “Model Applications in Field Research“(MAFR) community of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Kersebaum is an expert for agro-ecosystem modelling with focus on water and matter dynamics, crop growth and climate change. In 2019 he will take the community chair for one year.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Model-Applications-in-Field-Research.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseModellingKlima22b10002-fb41-412f-bee2-4f5fa76ce6ebFri, 19 Jan 2018 09:00:00 GMTFor more than five years (2011-2016), German and Brazilian universities, the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have developed sustainable land management strategies for the southern Amazon as part of the research project CARBIOCIAL. The results of the research project have now been compiled in a special issue of the science journal "Regional Environmental Change". https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPM/Landnutzungsstrategien-Suedamazonien.aspxDr. Claas Nendel, Anna HampfNoticeBiodiversityKlima4cd7fdf4-6468-4fea-9cec-47b1b2e10b35Thu, 18 Jan 2018 16:00:00 GMTA new research project kick-off meeting titled “Resources management in the salinized and drought stress-endangered irrigation areas of Central Asia for adapting to climate change (BioWat)” was held in Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME) during 4–5 December 2017.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Kick-off-Meeting-in-Taschkent-(Usbekistan)-zum-Projekt-BioWat.aspxKatrin JürgensNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 17 Jan 2018 19:00:00 GMTLecture about "Knowledge in regional development processes" at ZALF presents current views on regional development in China. It combined conceptual ideas with implementation options and showed practical examples from Chinese regions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/PB2/China_Besuch.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 11 Jan 2018 08:00:00 GMTThe employees of the experimental infrastucture platform prepare themselves with great commitment for the new year.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/erfolgreiches-Jahr-2018.aspxDietmar BarkuskyNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 20 Dec 2017 08:00:00 GMTNew International Science Conference in Berlin Landscape 2018: Food Security, Climate Change, Sustainability From 12 to 16 March 2018, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in cooperation with international partners will be organising the “Landscape 2018” conference for the first time in the Berlin Adlershof Science and Technology Park. With the leading topic of “Frontiers of agricultural landscape research”, the week-long event provides a platform for leading international scientists and scholars from a wide range of disciplines and facilitates interdisciplinary exchange with multipliers from politics and society. Three parallel specialist sessions, more than 75 lectures and 70 posters address the current state of research on the central challenges of globalised agriculture: climate change, food security and sustainability. Three technical excursions, a workshop day and a campus tour at ZALF round off the conference programme. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Landscape-2018.aspxHendrik Schneider Press ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeKlimaTue, 19 Dec 2017 18:00:00 GMTAt the EIP site in Dedelow, preparatory work begins on the development of an innovative, automatic measuring system. For this purpose, on the CarboZALF-D area a gantry crane facility will be constructed, which will enable the automated measurement of gas flows of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in conjunction with the continuous recording of plant growth parameters.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/EIP/Neuartiges-Messsystem.aspxDr. Gernot VerchNoticeAgricultural LandscapeFri, 01 Dec 2017 11:00:00 GMTLeibniz Institutions are engaged in various initiatives in Africa: Whether it’s about development aid, technology and knowledge transfer or capacity building. In order to better visualize the collective commitment the initiative “Leibniz in Africa” was introduced on 28th November. As part of a gala during the 23rd annual conference Prof. Kleiner, president of the Leibniz Association, presented four best practice protagonists, who are exemplary for the engagement of “Leibniz in Africa”. Along with their projects they will be presented on a new Website and in a new brochure. Among them is the ZALF scientist Dr. Stefan Sieber of the Institute of Socio-Economics.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Interview_Sieber.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 30 Nov 2017 12:00:00 GMTListen to researchers discuss their challenges and experiences when applying QCA methodology. The panel discussion was organised in the frame of the Berlin Young Researchers' Workshop on the Study of Cooperatives (27-30 March 2017). The Workshop was organised by the Berlin Institute for Co-operative Studies (BICS) of Humboldt-Univestität zu Berlin in partnership with the German Interdisciplinary Working Group of Institute for Co-operative Studies (AGI).https://youtu.be/u8gmrumJVv4Hendrik SchneiderNoticeModellingWed, 15 Nov 2017 15:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), the start-up CybeleTech and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) join farmers in the development of a software app for agriculture. The EU project “BARLEY IT”, launched on 1 October 2017, aims for helping farmers in determining the optimum amount of fertilizer for the final spring application, which farmers use to control the final quality of malting barley.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/PM_start-EU-Barley.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseModellingWed, 08 Nov 2017 11:00:00 GMTDawit Ashenafi Ayalew aus Äthiopien begann seinen Forschungsaufenthalt am 1.November für drei Monate. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Dawit_eng.aspxDr. D. DeumlichNoticeClimate ChangeMon, 06 Nov 2017 15:00:00 GMTIn the project Trans-SEC ten agricultural innovations have been identified, tested and evaluated towards scaling up of success stories for small-scale farmers in Tanzania. Now each agricultural innovation has been summarized in a comprehensive fact sheet on 4 pages with pictures for better visibility and serve as a guide from objectives, implementation requirements towards lessons learnt. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Trans-SEC_Factsheets.aspxStefan SieberNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 01 Nov 2017 14:00:00 GMTThe 2017 BRAGFOST in Potsdam opens the opportunity for cooperation with Brazil. About fifty participants from both countries discussed the chances and challenges for cooperation. Topics like governance of land use, forms of urban-regional cooperation, knowledge management as well as urban agriculture were highlighted. The meeting was realised as the Brazilian-German Frontiers of Science and Technology Symposium (BRAGFOST 2017) by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Zusammenarbeit_Brasilien.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 01 Nov 2017 12:00:00 GMTReal evapotranspiration (ETr) is an important part of the water balance equation. In situ measurements of ETr are carried out by using weighable lysimeters, soil water budget method, Bowen ratio method, scintillometers, surface renewal (SR) and eddy covariance (EC) method. From all these techniques, the EC method is currently considered to be the most appropriate technique for a precise determination of ETr at field scale.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Institutkolloquium-am-28-11-2017.aspxDr. M. WegehenkelNoticeModellingFri, 27 Oct 2017 10:00:00 GMTDr. Rafael Battisti was recently selected as awarde for the Brazilian national prize "CAPES de TESE 2017" in the area of agricultural sciences for his dissertation, which he completed in 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Preis-fuer-beste-Doktorarbeit.aspxDr. C. NendelNoticeModellingFri, 27 Oct 2017 10:00:00 GMTWaldfragmentehttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/DFG-Projekt-Waldinseln.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseMiscellaneousThu, 26 Oct 2017 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Special-Issue-Landscape%20Microbiology.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 11 Oct 2017 15:00:00 GMTCall: Master thesis for food security projects in Tanzaniahttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Ausschreibung_Masterarbeiten.aspxStefan SieberNoticeFood SecurityWed, 11 Oct 2017 15:00:00 GMTScientists from LSA attended the international conference Trends in Agrophysics that took place in Saint Petersburg from 26th to 29th September. Associated with the festivities of the 85th anniversary of the hosting Institute for Agrophysics scientists from Germany, Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Serbia, Moldavia, Belarus, Tadzhikistan and Russia exchanged their research results on new technologies in agriculture, e.g. precision agriculture, dynamic modelling and decision support, and discussed future prospects. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Konferenz-in-St--Petersburg.aspxClaas NendelNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 09 Oct 2017 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Ash%20dieback.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 27 Sep 2017 09:00:00 GMTIGA talk, organised by the Berlin / Brandenburg Regional Group of the Association of Urban and Regional Planners (SRL) in Germany with apl. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weith (ZALF). Topic: urban-rural interrelations and options for cooperation. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/IGA-Talk.aspxThomas WeithNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 22 Sep 2017 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Verteidigung-Isabell-von-Rein.aspxSteffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 26 Jul 2017 15:00:00 GMTOn 22nd June 2017 the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research celebrated its 25th Anniversary together with around 250 guests from research, politics and the professional world. During midmorning, a scientific symposium took place on the campus in Müncheberg. Additionally, projects, laboratories and technology were presented as part of a campus tour. In the afternoon, co-workers, sponsors and partners with the ZALF executive board and guests viewed a revue of 25 years of agricultural landscape research during the festive opening ceremony in the ZALF greenhouse and looked together into the future of the research site. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/25-Jahre-ZALF-Symposium-und-Festakt.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 23 Jun 2017 19:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Winderosionprocesses.aspxZALFNoticeSoilThu, 22 Jun 2017 11:00:00 GMTChina - again. Prof. Thomas Weith held one of the opening lectures at the conference "Global Transformation and China's Reform of Urban and Territorial Planning" with the other lectures hold by Professor David Harvey and Professor Joris Scheers on May 21st at the Nanjing University (China). On invitation he talked about "Changes in spatial planning knowledge in Germany - connecting local and global views". The two-day conference dealt with the consequences of the United Nations' new Sustainable Development Goals and the related HABITAT process. About thirty speakers from ten countries also discussed the question of how to solve current regional and land-use problems in China. In addition to scientific exchange at the conference, apl. Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith also held talks with representatives of the Academy of Sciences and the Southeast University on the agenda to deepen the long-standing cooperation. To be continued...https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Aufenthalt_in_Nanjing.aspxThoams WeithNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 31 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT"We can learn a lot from each other and should continue our exchange." After his two-week stay in May at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, this positive result was drawn by apl. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith. With an own presentation on "Governance of Land", the participation in a workshop on "Governance research at the WSL", as well as in many discussions, current findings have been exchanged and possible connecting links for future research activities were identified. Questions such as the emergence and solution to diverse land-use conflicts, or the transdisciplinary inclusion of different knowledge stocks in problem solving processes in agricultural landscapes, ought to be discussed in an international context. The cooperation should be continued.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Wissen_teilen.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 17 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTKai Nitzsche defended his dissertation at the Humboldt-University Berlin and will proceed his career in Japan supported by a Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Verteidigung-Kai-Nitzsche.aspxDr. Steffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 15 May 2017 08:00:00 GMTOn April 27, 2017, PhD candidates of the theme cluster "Transformation Research" of the Heinrich Böll Foundation met with experts from ZALF e.V. in Müncheberg to discuss the role of agriculture in the transformation process towards a more sustainable society. At the end of the day, the research group of the Heinrich Böll Foundation discussed the general conditions and possibilities for a more sustainable use of cropland and how agriculture can contribute to the mitigation of climate change.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Gesellschaftliche-Transformation.aspxAnna HampfNoticeMiscellaneousKlimaf6eb0ccb-ede2-4d80-b94e-22116a77a290Wed, 10 May 2017 13:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/DFG-Project-Gerke.aspxZALFNoticeSoilWed, 10 May 2017 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Bonares2en.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 04 May 2017 09:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Bonares1en.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 03 May 2017 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/HNEE.aspxZALFNoticeSoilThu, 27 Apr 2017 15:00:00 GMTCo-Production of Knowledge in Agricultural Landscape Research, ZALF-Colloquium, April 11, 2017 with discussion about knowledge, agricultural landscape, sustainable land use, transdisciplinary https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/ZALF-Colloquium.aspxThomas WeithNoticeAgricultural LandscapeThu, 13 Apr 2017 14:00:00 GMTThe German Council of Science and Humanities appoints Dr. Egamberdieva to a member in a working group on Internationalisation of German Researchhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Internationalisation.aspxDr. Steffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 12 Apr 2017 14:00:00 GMTInitiated by the Japanese-German Research Exchange Program with support by Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura and Prof. Dr. Yayoi Kaneko, Hannes König took the opportunity to visit TUAT on behalf of our institute and ZALF for one week. The aim of this visit was to strengthen the collaboration between ZALF and TUAT and to discuss concrete plans for mutual research activities.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSE/aktuelles_2017MAR_TUATworkshop.aspxHannes KönigNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 12 Apr 2017 10:00:00 GMThttp://www.mueckenatlas.de/ZALFNoticeMosquitoesWed, 12 Apr 2017 08:30:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/presentation.aspxZALFNoticeModellingThu, 06 Apr 2017 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/LSA-Kolloquim-am-21-04-2017.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 30 Mar 2017 15:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/LSA-Colloquium-on-14-03-2017.aspxZALFNoticeModellingTue, 14 Mar 2017 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/DIR/Pflanzenforschung-Wissenstransfer-zwischen-Indien-und-Deutschland-.aspxZALFNoticeFood SecurityFri, 10 Mar 2017 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/pm_2017_mar_Evaluierung.aspxZALFPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeThu, 09 Mar 2017 11:00:00 GMTThe farmers of the neolithichttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Feld-Magazin/1-2017/Pages/archaeologie.aspxHendrik SchneiderNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 08 Mar 2017 11:00:00 GMTIs grassland with high levels of biodiversity more resistant to adverse environmental changes such as drought? Scientists from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) want to investigate this hypothesis using remote-controlled drones. For this purpose, the DFG project “pETchy: Patterns of Evapotranspiration Changing throughout the Year” is launched on 1 March 2017 as part of the DFG “Biodiversity Exploratories” priority programme.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LWH/Drohnenflug.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseWaterKlima4f9ae516-050c-47d4-9380-4beefab978f0Wed, 08 Mar 2017 09:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Institutskolloquium-am-02-03-2017-in-LSA.aspxZALFNoticeModellingMon, 27 Feb 2017 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/soarial.aspxZALFPress ReleaseSoilMon, 20 Feb 2017 10:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/Seiten/LSA/Institutskolloquium-am-06-02-2017-in-LSA.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 14 Feb 2017 13:00:00 GMTThis January, associate professor Xin from the Southeast University of Nanjing and Dr Li from the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences visited the Institute of Socio-Economics at ZALF. In intensive talks with extracurricular professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Weith, opportunities for intensifying cooperation were discussed, especially with the research area „Co-design of Change and Innovation“. „By cooperating with China“, professor Weith said, „We have the unique opportunity to exchange experiences and solutions for land use challenges and to mutually discuss new perspectives“.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Besuch-aus-China-am-ZALF.aspxWeith, T.NoticeSustainable Land UseThu, 09 Feb 2017 09:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Leue_en.aspxDr. Martin LeueNoticeSoilMon, 06 Feb 2017 14:00:00 GMTThe aim of the joint research project is to better understand nitrogen elimination in grassland soils, particularly on which microorganisms are present, how they act in the soil, and a basic understanding of connections and interactions that occur with plant physiology. Microorganisms are essential to understand the conversion of nitrate to ammonium. This process of the nitrogen cycle creates a soluble form of nitrogen for plant nutrition.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Stickstoffumsatz-Boden.aspxDr. Steffen KolbPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeMon, 30 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/LSA%20So%20bericht.aspxZALFNoticeModellingThu, 26 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LWH/LWH-Kolloquium-Januar-2017.aspxZALFNoticeTue, 24 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/International_Kolloquium.aspxZALFNoticeClimate ChangeFri, 20 Jan 2017 11:00:00 GMTThe Research Training Group BioMove funded by DFG got together in November 2016 in Bad Belzig to discuss the one-year results of the 12 PhD projects.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Status%20report%20in%20DFG%20BioMove.aspxDr. Marina MüllerNoticeBiodiversityMon, 16 Jan 2017 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/LWH/DFG_en.pdfZALFNoticeBiodiversityMon, 16 Jan 2017 10:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Kolloquium_2017_01_09.pdfZALFNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 11 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/soil-dust.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeKlimaMon, 09 Jan 2017 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Bericht%20Bioma.aspxZALFNoticeModellingTue, 03 Jan 2017 16:00:00 GMTDFG funds two new projects on N and methane cycling in managed landscapes at LBG starting in 2017.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/New-Projects-funded-by-DFG.aspxSteffen KolbNoticeAgricultural LandscapeWed, 21 Dec 2016 11:00:00 GMTListing of upcoming colloquia in LBGhttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Colloquia-in-2017.aspxDr. Steffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 21 Dec 2016 10:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/MiLa.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:00:00 GMTChina is not just a nation with a long and great tradition, but also a nation with multiple challenges regarding land-use, land-use governance and land-use impacts. That is one of the reasons to - once again - getting in touch with our Chinese colleagues, getting an idea of the situation on-site and exchanging ideas. Therefore apl. Prof.Dr. Thomas Weith, Prof. Dr Katharina Helming and Dr. Katrin Daedlow from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) attended the "Global Land Project 3rd Open Science Meeting" and further events in China from late October until November 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Landmanagement-in-China.aspxThomas WeithNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 06 Dec 2016 19:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/LSA/Kolloquien_2016.pdfZALFNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 30 Nov 2016 01:00:00 GMTThe ”Ecosystem Services Conference 2016” took place from the 19th till the 23th of September at the Belgian University of Antwerp. The conference brought together 600 participants from science, politics and the professional sector to discuss topics of ecosystem services and natural capital. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/ESP_EU_Konferenz_Antwerpen_2016.aspxESP DeutschlandNoticeEcosystem ServicesWed, 23 Nov 2016 15:00:00 GMT"Solidarity in a competing world - fair use of resources" was the primary subject of this year’s TROPENTAG. Approximately, 730 scientists from over 62 countries met from the 19th to 21st of September, 2016 at Tropentag, held at the University of Agricultural Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna. The annual Conference on Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural and Natural Resource Management (TROPENTAG) dealt this year with prospective procedures for solidarity and the fair use of increasingly scarce natural and non-renewable resources around the world. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Tropentag_BOKU_Wien.aspxHeike SchobertNoticeFood SecurityTue, 08 Nov 2016 15:00:00 GMTIn our workshop, we would like to discuss our research approach with those actors who are various ways involved in land use management and its development. Our aim is to fit our research strategy to their experiences, views and concerns. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Erster_Stakeholderworkshop_VITAL.aspxProject VITALNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 08 Nov 2016 15:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Wissenschaft-im-Dialog-Huelsenfruechte-im-Rampenlicht.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseFood SecurityFri, 04 Nov 2016 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LWH/aktuelles_2016OKT_Disputation-Tobias-Hohenbrink.aspxLiane WascherNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 03 Nov 2016 16:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Exkursion_Gerke.aspxZALFNoticeAgricultural LandscapeMon, 10 Oct 2016 15:00:00 GMTA resilient development of river basins faces increasing water-borne challenges such as securing water quality and provision, mitigating the effects of droughts, and protecting against flooding. Nature-based solutions, understood as actions which are inspired by, supported by, or copied from nature, can help societies address ecological, social and economic challenges in sustainable ways. In April 2016, the “PlanSmart” research group got started to explore innovative approaches for addressing water-borne challenges through planning and implementing nature-based solutions in river basins and urban regions.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Nachwuchsgruppe_PlanSmart.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 15 Sep 2016 17:15:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Verbraucherbefragung_Gefluegelhaltung.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 15 Sep 2016 17:00:00 GMTDr.-Ing. Christian Strauß, Scientific Coordination Project Sustainable Land Managament – innovative system solutions, chairs the special session “Governance of land use: between place and flows” which will be part of the 2017 Annual conference of the International Academic Association on Planning, Law and Property Rights. The conference will be held in Hong Kong from February 19th till 24th 2017. Scientists and practitioners are invited to contribute to the call for papers which runs until October 14th 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Konferenz_Hong_Kong.aspxChristian StraußNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 15 Sep 2016 16:00:00 GMTThe research project “NatApp“ at the Institute of Land Use Systems is engaging with the question: How can this digitalisation be actively applied in assisting measures for nature- and environmental protection? A survey aims to monitor individual options of farmers about opportunities in digital operation management and agricultural funding which will be integrated into the research work. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSE/aktuelles_2016SEP_digital_landwirtschaft.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 12 Sep 2016 09:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/LSA/160829DraftMicroclimateMicrobialActivitiy.pdfZALFNoticeMiscellaneousWed, 31 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMTResearchers of german-french consortium CHLOROFILTER meet at ZALF from 17 to 18 November 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Chlorofilter-am-ZALF.aspxDr. Steffen KolbNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 18 Aug 2016 10:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Colloquia-2017.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 12 Aug 2016 10:00:00 GMTFrom Juli 22 until September 2016 Dr. Shajeste Gholami, Assistant Professor at the University of Razi, Kermanshah, Iran, is guest at LBG. During her stay, they are working on several collaborative publications, e. g. on the spatial variability of biogeochemical parameters, and also on soil biological results from the long-term experiment V140/00 in Müncheberg.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LBG/Visitors-from-Iran-in-LBG.aspxDr. Monika JoschkoNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 12 Aug 2016 09:00:00 GMTFor several years there has been close cooperation between ZALF and ICRAF in Kenya and Tanzania. ICRAF belongs to the group of international CGIAR Consortion Research Centres. The collaboration began in 2007 with the BMZ/GIZ /BEAF projects ReACCT and Better-IS. After these successful projects (Resilient Agro-landscapes to Climate Change in Tanzania (ReACCT) and Biofuel Evaluation for Technological Efficiency Using Renewables Integrated Strategies (Better-iS)) the cooperation continues within trans-SEC.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Internationale-Zusammenarbeit.aspxFrankeNoticeMiscellaneousMon, 01 Aug 2016 11:00:00 GMTNitrogen budget calculator (a tool to calculate Nitrogen budgets in organic forage systems), Legume estimation trainer (a learning tool for a better estimation of the legume proportion in forages​), ROTOR (a tool to plan crop rotations in organic farming systems​), SOLID DSS (diet planning tool for organic and low-input dairy farms)https://www.zalf.de/en/forschung_lehre/software_downloads/Pages/default.aspxJ. BachingerNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 29 Jul 2016 15:00:00 GMTOn 6 July 2016, Meike Weltin and Dr. Jens Rommel from the Institute of Socio-Economics of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) were honored with the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Award. Ms. Weltin received the award for the best master's thesis in which income diversification strategies of European farm households are examined. Dr. Rommel was awarded for the best dissertation on the use of economic experiments for institutional analysis in an environmental context. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Thaer-Auszeichnung.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousThu, 07 Jul 2016 11:00:00 GMTA new research project has begun at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V. which relies on the cooperation of citizens: scientists are using a Smartphone application of the technology start-up PEAT. With the aid of the app, “Plantix“, it is possible to discover crop diseases quicker and to fight them more efficiently. The “software“ identifies crop diseases and pests based on photos and provides tips on how to treat or control them. The database currently includes 175 frequently occurring crop diseases and pests as well as 40,000 photos. The identification algorithm of the app improves with every image which records a success rate of over 90 per cent as of approx. 500 photos per crop disease.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Plantix.aspxZALFNoticeUrban AgricultureWed, 29 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMTOn July 11, 2016, scientists from all over Brandenburg and Berlin presented their research results at the “Long Night of Science” to thousands of visitors. The Institute of Land Use Systems had prepared something special. In the house of the Leibniz Association guests were invited to join hands-on experiments in order to answer the question: Why soya beans and lupines are considered to be fertilizer factories of nature?https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/ZALF/Lange-Nacht-der-Wissenschaften-2016.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousTue, 21 Jun 2016 14:00:00 GMTOn May 30, 2016 the certificate of appointment was handed over to Dr. Christoph Merz by the vice president of Freie Universität Berlin, Prof. Dr. B. Schütt. Since 1994 Dr. Merz is cooperating with the working group for Hydrogeology at FU Berlin. Since 2010 he has the licence to teach in the special field hydrogeology at the Department of Earth Sciences. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LWH/aplProf.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 10 Jun 2016 09:00:00 GMTOn May 19, 2016, the Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V. together with agrathaer GmbH and Komturei Lietzen in Märkisch Oderland organized a field day on the occasion of 20 years „On-Farm Experiment Lietzen“, focussing on reduced tillage.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/pm_2016MAI_feldtag_lietzen.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseAgricultural LandscapeTue, 07 Jun 2016 10:00:00 GMTOn July 23rd the PhD day at Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) offers the opportunity for students and young scientists to gather, exchange and discuss information on various research topics around sustainable land use and agricultural landscape research. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/ZALF/Open-Science-PhD-Day.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 03 Jun 2016 09:00:00 GMTSoil degradation caused by erosion is one of the major environmental threats in agricultural land use. In contrast to soil erosion by water and wind, the scientific knowledge about erosion caused by tillage operations is still limited. Therefore, leading international scientists were invited for a worldwide unique field experiment planned and organized by Prof. Fiener (University Augsburg) and Prof. Sommer (Institute of Soil Landscape Research, ZALF) from April 4th to April 7th 2016.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/BLF/Meldung_Bearbeitungserosion.aspxZALFNoticeSoilWed, 13 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMTFor three days more than 300 scientists from 47 nations have exchanged ideas in Berlin-Adlershof, scientists who are using computer models to understand agricultural systems. The symposium has brought together two major research networks standing for the latest modelling approaches and extensive knowledge in that field. It was hosted by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg, Brandenburg (Germany).https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/Pressemitteilungen/PM2016/20160321_PM-iCROPM_EN.pdfDr. Hans-Peter EndePress ReleaseModellingKlima74a07bb5-eb5c-4613-8a19-7f053d8a644eWed, 23 Mar 2016 10:00:00 GMTIn “AgoraNatura“, ZALF’s Institute of Socio-Economics and Institute of Land Use Systems develop a web-based market for ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity. “AgoraNatura“ is a science-based project that aims at developing and establishing a German internet platform to connect providers and beneficiaries/demanders of biodiversity and ES. In particular, Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf, Carolin Biedermann, Dr. Claas Meyer, Dr. Claudia Sattler, Sarah Schomers, and Michaela Reutter (Institute of Socio-Economics) analyse the demand of business and citizens for biodiversity and ES as well as institutional aspects of designing a web-based market. Dr. Gert Berger and Holger Pfeffer (Institute of Land Use Systems) focus on the development of tenders, their operationalization, and the monitoring of implemented measures. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Agoranatura.aspxProf. Dr. Bettina MatzdorfNoticeEcosystem ServicesWed, 23 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/SO/Agenda_EU-Expert_Meeting_2016.pdfZALFNoticeSustainable Land UseTue, 15 Mar 2016 11:00:00 GMTThe Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) has signed a Partnership Agreement with the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) on 3 March 2016. The TUAT is a governmental university specializing in the field of agriculture and technology which is recognized with its internationally oriented research and education of young scientists (no. 7 of the universities in Japan and within the 100 best agricultural universities in the world). Six Professors of TUAT visited ZALF and exchanged research approaches and opportunities for cooperation with ZALF staff members. Actual cooperation projects such as the exchange of scientists and students are planned for the next few years.https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/aktuelles_2016MAR_tuat_workshop.aspxHendrik SchneiderPress ReleaseMiscellaneousFri, 04 Mar 2016 11:00:00 GMTThe presented physical model shows the water cycle of a landscape. The model was jointly developed by PhD students and senior scientists of the Institute of Landscape Hydrology of the ZALF to illustrate hydrological issues. Using an aquarium enables to visualize the different ways of water flowing through a landscape in a limited space. In this way, important hydrological basics can be comprehended and understood. The model shows, how water behaves on and under the Earth’s surface. The landscape in the aquarium captures elements of landscapes that can be found in Northern Germany.https://www.zalf.de/en/forschung_lehre/publikationen/Pages/wasserkreislauf.aspxChristian Lehr, Tobias Hohenbrink, Marcus Fahle, Marco Natkhin and Philipp RaunekerNoticeWaterMon, 29 Feb 2016 09:00:00 GMTAiming at building a German multi-stakeholder community of practice on ecosystem services, the founding meeting of the Innovation Network Ecosystem Services Germany was hosted by the Deutsche Umwelthilfe in Berlin on November 5th 2015. The organizers from Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research Centre (ZALF), the German Centre for Integrated Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, the Leibniz University Hannover, and the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) invited interested stakeholders from science, politics, economy and civil society to discuss common interests and potential activities for the implementation of the ecosystem services approach and the development of solutions for protection and sustainable use of ecosystems in Germany. https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/SO/Ecosystem-Services-Partnership-Germany.aspxZALFNoticeEcosystem ServicesMon, 29 Feb 2016 08:30:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/Pressemitteilungen/PM2016/20160105_PM_iCropM2016_dt.pdfZALFPress ReleaseModellingTue, 05 Jan 2016 10:00:00 GMThttps://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/LSA/Masterarbeit.aspxZALFNoticeMiscellaneousSat, 02 Jan 2016 09:00:00 GMTDr. Steffen Kolb is the new head of the institute LBGhttps://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles/DokumenteMeldungen/LBG/20151119_ZALF-Inst_LBG_Leiter_Kolb.pdfDr. Hans-Peter EndeNoticeMiscellaneousFri, 20 Nov 2015 10:00:00 GMT