Longreads Wageningen University & Research
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Collecting data safely with a fleet of drones
15 July 2022 - Longread - Welcome to Wageningen Airport. The WUR drone fleet is not limited to making test flights around campus, but it is a frequent flyer abroad too. But whether the WUR drones are flying over the tropical rainforests of French Guiana or along the Dutch coast, the rules are always observed. This includes privacy regulations. -
Limiting the effects of drought rather than the causes
14 July 2022 - Longread - Drought is more than simply a lack of water. The impact that drought has depends on how we deal with the phenomenon and some groups of people are more vulnerable to drought than others. New research in Brazil is developing and testing tools to create a better drought monitor – one that monitors not only the availability of water, but also the actual impact of a lack of water. The aim is to enable better management of drought. -
Rough outline: how WUR will become carbon neutral by 2050
23 June 2022 - Longread - From heat pumps, solar and wind energy to insulation, LED lighting and energy-neutral new buildings. The outlines for a carbon neutral energy supply at WUR are clearly visible in the Rough outline of WUR Energy Transition 2050. -
Using science to protect porpoises
23 June 2022 - Longread - Large numbers of porpoises swim in the Dutch waters of the North Sea these days. That does not necessarily mean they are thriving, say WUR marine biologists, who have been studying the protected marine mammal since 2006. “You can only protect an animal properly when you understand how it functions.” -
Crickets and mealworms for everyone
16 June 2022 - Longread - Insects are a source of high-quality protein and can be cultivated easily. That’s why WUR researcher Teun Veldkamp explores the possibilities of using insects in food for humans and animals. “Insects can be cultivated on waste streams from the food processing industry, which makes them much more sustainable than fishmeal and soya.” -
Technologies for development: the silver bullet?
01 June 2022 - Longread - Mobile technologies can offer great solutions in the fight against diseases, but nevertheless face-to-face communication remains equally important. Co-design of these technologies – involving users in the design of digital innovations – proved to be key. -
Mushroom mycelium as a promising future source of protein
30 May 2022 - Longread - Picture the scene: cavernous factory buildings or tunnels containing vast quantities of mycelium (the network of fungal threads that produce mushrooms) growing on olive pulp, wood chips or cocoa pods. Researchers at Wageningen University & Research are investigating how mushroom-forming fungi could become an alternative source of protein for food. 'These magical organisms offer a world of untapped potential.' -
Sustainable protein from tomato leaves, fungi and insects
27 May 2022 - Longread - WUR researchers are looking at how we can produce proteins in a sustainable and circular manner. Ideally, this would be done in a way that avoids competition between humans and animals for their food. The production of protein from tomato leaves, fungi and insects is one example of how this might be achieved. -
Sustainable tuna fishing and empowering local fishermen in the Western Pacific
24 May 2022 - Longread - The Western Pacific is home to the largest stock of tuna in the world. Since tuna is one of the most valuable fish species, the area attracts many fishing vessels, putting it at risk of overfishing. The BESTTuna programme explored how to improve the ecological management of this stock, while ensuring that surrounding island states benefit from sustainable tuna fishing in their waters. -
AquaConnect for purification of salt, brackish, waste water and the retention of storm water
22 March 2022 - Longread - AquaConnect focusses on the purification of salt water, brackish water and wastewater, but also on the retention of storm water. In which abundant rainwater, which now mostly drains into surface water and then into the sea, is reused. “We would like to collect this storm water or allow it to infiltrate the soil for later use”, says Rijnaarts, Professor of Environmental Technology at Wageningen University & Research.