KennisOnline

Robots grow sugar beets after consulting the farmer

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature funds important research at Wageningen University & Research. With their expertise in food, nature and agriculture, our researchers can make a substantial contribution to the work of policymakers and public institutions. Curious to learn more? In text and video, we highlight some of the most compelling research projects.

KennisOnline Magazine (10)

Longread

A green peek in the life of a European in 2120

What will the future bring if nature is made a guiding principle in urban and landscape planning? Building on NL2120, scientists and Wageningen students sketched a hopeful future for all of Europe: EU2120. What will the daily life of an average European look like in 100 years?

Climate-proof futures

Longread

Extracting drinking water, salt and energy from seawater

Generating eight gigawatts of electricity from hydrogen: that’s the government’s goal for 2032. This is a staggering task, since the current method is far from ideal, says Irma Steemers-Rijkse of Wageningen University & Research. In the SeaHydrogen project, she aims to combine various processes into a single, total concept that will be used to produce drinking water, salt and energy.

Longread

A single dashboard for all biodiversity data

Researchers at Wageningen Environmental Research are trying to create the most comprehensive picture they can of the biodiversity of new agricultural systems.

Biodiversity and resilient ecosystems

Longread

How can we preserve the European dark bee in the Netherlands?

A remarkable species is kept frozen at the Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN) of Wageningen University & Research: the European dark bee. In collaboration with various other organisations, the CGN strives to preserve the only indigenous bee species in the Netherlands, for a future with robust agriculture and a high degree of biodiversity.

Biodiversity and resilient ecosystems

Longread

A rapid test to monitor antibiotic use in livestock farming

Antibiotics must be used with restraint if we are to prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria, and that applies to livestock farming, too. This is why farmers keep a record of the amount of antibiotics they use. Currently, however, these records are checked slow and expensive laboratory tests. Scientists at Wageningen are developing a rapid test which will give immediate results. It’s efficient, but can be confronting.

Global Health

Longread

Food transition causes great uncertainty for farmers and fishers

The food transition is putting a lot of pressure on agriculture and the fishing industry to change the way they work. Two Wageningen scientists have investigated the impact of those changes on farmers, fishers and their communities. “The social aspect of this story hasn’t really been told before now.”

Sustainable food systems

Longread

How residents of priority neighbourhoods create their own green spaces

Residents that create and maintain their own green spaces with the assistance of a landscaper. Why is this so effective, especially in so-called priority neighbourhoods? Researcher Carmen Aalbers of Wageningen University & Research uses her expertise to answer these questions in the Nieuwe Hovenier (New Landscaper) project. Now that this project is nearing its conclusion, she shares her successes.

Climate-proof futures

Longread

A contagious animal disease outbreak: now what?

If a contagious animal disease were to break out in the Netherlands tomorrow, Wageningen University & Research would spring into action. By testing rapidly and offering reliable advice, WUR helps the government keep outbreaks like avian influenza and bluetongue disease in check. But what does this process look like in practice?

Global Health

Longread

The quest for climate-resilient urban trees

Ravesloot embarks on a project to test and classify plants on a large scale. Aim: come up with a list of climate-resilient trees that tolerate the climate change effects.

Climate-proof futures

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