German forests go online
Which kinds of forests can grow in Germany? Not all sites are suited for every tree-species. Forests in the mountains differ from forests at the coast or in the lowlands. The Thünen-Institute Forest Ecology and Forest Inventory and the Working Committee for Forest Site Research have generate a geo dataset of forest landscape units, which is now online available - an important tool for answering many questions in forest ecology and forest economy.
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Farm fair of the Institute of Organic Farming
On May 17, the Thünen Institute of Organic Farming opened its gates for a big farm and spring fair in Wulmenau (Schleswig-Hostein). The programme was attractive for families and all visitors interested in organic farming. Games, food and beverages were provided, and a “market of possibilities” with more than 60 booths offered information and regional, organic or fair traded goods.
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Helping goats thrive despite fewer concentrates
Ruminants feed primarily on grass and other grassland plants and are thus not in direct competition with humans for food. However in the case of today’s high performance breeds, concentrate feeds are also on the menu. In how far these can be reduced in the case of goats without significant sacrifices in milk yield or animal weight is currently being studied in the Thünen Institute for Organic Farming.
Soil investigations have started in Mecklenburg
How much carbon is stored in German agricultural soils? An important question with respect to assess the climate change. The “German agricultural soil inventory”, executed by the Thünen Institute, wants to answer this question. On more than 3000 sampling plots distributed all over Germany, Thünen staff members investigate the organic carbon stock as well as other important soil parameters. With a first investigation near the village Bützow, the inventory programme has now reached the Federal State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Efficient use of the raw material wood
The demand for wood will increase significantly within the next years. Therefore, the efficient use of wood in wood-based panel materials will become more attractive. Scientists at the Thünen Institute in cooperation with the Department of Wood Science of the University of Hamburg have developed a technique to produce three-layered panels with wood-based surfaces and a foam core in a one-step process. The advantages: less use of wood and reduction of weight.
Controlling Pasture Parasites – Online Decision-Making Aids in Practice
Infections with intestinal and pulmonary parasites are unavoidable in organic pasture husbandry with ruminants. With a combination of skilful pasture management and other measures, medication levels can often be reduced. A new, Internet-based decision-making aid keeps farmers informed and provides them with support to optimize their pasture husbandry.
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Research vessel CLUPEA gets into service
CLUPEA, the newest state-of-the-art German fisheries research vessel, got into service in Rostock harbor on April 4, 2012. The vessel replaces a 60 years old cutter with the same name. The new CLUPEA will mainly operate in coastal fishing areas of the Baltic Sea. Pelagic and bottom trawl nets, set nets and long lines, biological sample trawl and plankton nets as well as oceanographic sensors will be used.
Saving valuable wood material
Wood with special grain can realize extremely high prices, if it is usable for certain causes, i.e. for instrument making. The current world record holds a Sycamore log from Bavaria, which has been sold for more than 44,000 Euro. This log has now been processed in the USA (YouTube file). The Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics has kept the genetic material of this tree as well as of other valuable trees via grafting and micropropagation to save the material for breeding.
Focus on school milk
The school milk demand is declining constantly. Possible causes and the impact of certain factors like the price were investigated by the Thünen Institute in co-operation with the Max Rubner-Institute (MRI) in the pilot project “Focus on school milk”. Results as well as recommendations are presented in an article in the magazine “Wissenschaft erleben”. The final report of the project parts covered by the Thünen Institute has been published recently and is available for download on the Thünen website.
Annual Report 2011 online
The annual report 2011 of the Thünen Institute is now online. It provides information on the tasks of the 15 institutes and lists the scientific publications of this year. In addition, the report includes information on the structure, the consulting services, events, scientific collaborations as well as the Thünen-member’s teaching activities at universities.
German Agriculture in 2021
The potential impact of increased bioenergy production on German agriculture and the development of farm incomes in different farm types in the respective scenario are investigated in a newly published study of the Thünen Institute. The “vTI-Baseline 2011-2021“ provides a projection of expected developments and primarily serves to facilitate the analysis of alternative agricultural policy options.
Members of Parliament seek information on the German Forest Inventory
At its March meeting, the German Parliamentary Commission for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection requested information about the third German Forest Inventory, currently in progress. Dr. Thomas Riedel from the Thünen Institute of Forest Ecology and Forest Inventory provided the members of Parliament with an overview of the project and answered their questions. The focus was on methodological aspects, quality assurance, the European harmonization process and the first time documentation of the condition of forest habitats in accordance with the FFH Guidelines.
One Year after Fukushima: The Situation in the Pacific
A strong earthquake and subsequent Tsunami lead to a series of accidents in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi on March 11, 2011. A nuclear meltdown was the consequence and large amounts of radioactive substances were released and landed, among other places, in the Pacific. To what extent the Pacific fish are contaminated one year after the catastrophe and what this means for consumers is explained on our “Frequently Asked Questions” page.
Butanediol from renewables
2,3-butenediol is a chemical which may serve as base for the production of solvents or polymers. Chemists from the Thünen-Institute work in an international collaboration on the production of this base chemical from various renewable resources. Recently, an important breakthrough was achieved: 2,3-butanediol could be produced in high concentration with special bacteria in a fermentation process. This offers a new perspective for an efficient production of this chemical from renewable instead of fossil feedstocks.
Peatland Protection in Germany
Which role plays the re-wetting of peatlands for climate protection? Is it possible to maintain biodiversity on peatlands under agricultural use? Which re-wetting projects demonstrate success stories? These questions were discussed at the conference “Peatland Protection in Germany” held on 27. – 28. February in Braunschweig. The conference was hosted by the Thünen Institute and the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf.
High populations of prawns in the North Sea
Recent investigations have revealed high populations of prawns (Crangon crangon) in the southern North Sea. Every year in January, scientists of the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries in Hamburg monitor the distribution and frequency of North Sea prawns on two cruises with the Fisheries Research Vessel SOLEA. The results indicate that the populations in the coastal areas of Germany and the German Bight are on a high level.
Catching Cod with Nets and Cameras
The television special report “The Fish Chasers (Die Fischfahnder)” was rebroadcasted on January 29, 2012 at 9:45 and 19:30 on "EinsFestival", the ARD Digital Station. A camera team accompanied scientists from the Thünen Institute for Sea Fisheries on a research cruise on the North Sea on the Fisheries Research Vessel “Walther Herwig III.” Filmmaker Antje Boehmert and scientists Gerd Wegner and Matthias Kloppmann provide information on life and work on board as well as scientific background.
Interview with Antje Boehmert (in German)
Interview with Gerd Wegner and Matthias Kloppmann (in German)
Peatland protection mitigates climate change
Drained peatlands are „hotspots“ for greenhouse gas emissions: The Thünen Institute calculated that they emit about 40 % of Germany´s greenhouse gases from agriculture and land use. Peatlands, however, only make up 8 % of the area used for agriculture. What role do peatlands play in climate change? How can peatland use be made more climate-friendly? These questions are addressed in an article in the latest issue of the science magazine „ForschungsReport“.
International Year of Forests 2011
Diverse biotope, recreation area, source of the renewable material timber, climate regulator: forests have many functions. To this end, the United Nations had declared the year 2011 as the "International Year of Forests". A welcome opportunity for the Thünen Institute to give some information on interesting forest and timber facts and on its research activities.