Longreads Wageningen University & Research
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Is something up with soil?
21 November 2022 - Longread - Over the past few years there’s been more and more discussion among farmers, advisers, government agencies, funders and the media about agricultural soil, and soils in general. This is a positive development. Agricultural land is the foundation of food production and also fulfils several other important functions, such as water buffering, carbon sequestration and strengthening biodiversity. But some reports seem to suggest there’s something fundamentally wrong with our agricultural land. What’s the real story? What do we know about our soils? -
Biodiversity
18 November 2022 - Longread - Meadows filled with flowers, a rich North Sea, a green residential area... The concept of biodiversity is receiving increasing attention. It often features in discussions about climate, farming and housing. But what does it really mean? Why is biodiversity important and how can we protect it? We study these and similar questions at Wageningen University & Research, often in collaboration with other parties. In this way we contribute to applications for agriculture and nature conservation, but also climate adaptation, sustainable economic growth and health. We do this from many different perspectives, ranging from botany, microbiology, and animal ecology to economics and the social sciences. -
Long-term weather app helps farmers with climate adaptation
03 November 2022 - Longread - Climate change severely impacts farmers in developing countries, and the consequences for our food supply are increasingly felt. This issue features prominently on the agenda of the climate summit in Egypt from 6 to 18 November. Waterapps is a long-term weather app developed by WUR, which helps farmers adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. -
Food from the printer
07 October 2022 - Longread - Printing food sounds futuristic, but that future is approaching fast. And Wageningen is at the forefront; the latest success is a 3D plant-based ‘meat’ printer. ‘The world of food is going to look very different in 10 years’ time.’ -
How WUR Student Challenges help ideas and students grow
04 October 2022 - Longread - Pioneering for a better world attracts many to Wageningen University & Research. For students from all over the globe, a WUR Student Challenge is the ultimate introduction. This innovative educational concept is celebrating its five-year anniversary. -
Meat in a database
28 July 2022 - Longread - Organic meat is more expensive than non-organic meat. But does it taste better too? Wageningen researcher Hans Spoolder wants to answer this question in the mEATquality project. For this European project, data is being collected in different countries. A data warehouse will be set up, where all the data can be collected. “It is essential that everyone measures the same thing and submits data in the same way.” -
Search for alternative and sustainable proteins from plants, microorganisms and fungi
27 July 2022 - Longread - How do you make climate-friendly cheese without cows, but with microorganisms? Or products from pulses that don’t taste like cardboard. And how can fungi help to improve the nutritional value of products to supply low-income countries with sufficient protein? These are three examples of alternative protein sources that WUR is researching to guarantee food security. -
Dealing with the double-edged sword of tourism to maintain coral reefs
26 July 2022 - Longread - Coral reefs are beautiful nurseries of marine biodiversity and attract an increasing number of tourists. But, along with climate change, increasing tourism is putting pressure on the coral reefs. Together with residents, resorts and local universities, scientists from Wageningen University are studying how to balance tourism with nature conservation. -
‘Nature-inclusive construction will become the norm’
20 July 2022 - Longread - Building projects are no longer just ‘grey’ but increasingly also ‘green’ and ‘blue’. Space is deliberately created for nature on, around or in the building, with the ultimate aim of having a greater range of plant and animal species in the city. But research shows that it is not always easy in practice. -
Good research starts with data protection
18 July 2022 - Longread - Researchers love their data. Well, ‘their data’: it inevitably includes a lot of other people’s data. What can you do to keep that sensitive information as private as possible?