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News from A new study published in PNAS, led by the United States Department of Agriculture and involving several researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leipzig University, investigated how the relationship between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and grassland biomass changes when one or more nutrients are added.

A new study published in the journal PNAS examines how the relationship between mean annual precipitation and grassland biomass changes with the addition of one or more nutrients. Researchers from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leipzig University were also involved in the global analysis, which was led by the US Department of Agriculture.

Mediterranean hunter gatherers navigated long-distance sea journeys well before the first farmers To the point Malta reached earlier than previously thought: Researchers have found evidence that hunter-gatherers arrived on the island by boat as early as 8,500 years ago - around 1,000 years before the first farmers.

News from Researchers have found that so-called conservative species, which are most efficient at using nutrients, water and energy, generally grow faster under real-world conditions than acquisitive, or supposedly fast-growing, species. The findings, published in Nature, broaden our understanding of which trees have the greatest potential to mitigate CO2 emissions.

A new study in the journal Nature shows that so-called conservative species, which use nutrients, water and energy most efficiently, generally grow faster under real conditions than acquisitive, supposedly fast-growing species. The results contribute to a better understanding of which trees have the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions.

In early March, representatives of the global community will gather in the Indian capital, New Delhi, to promote the development towards a sustainable world: no poverty, no hunger, health and well-being. However, according to the latest United Nations progress report, the world is falling behind in the fight against hunger.

A study by the University of Bonn and the CABI Centre in Kenya shows that milk, eggs and fish are good for child development The consumption of milk products, eggs and fish has a positive effect on childhood development in Africa. This has been demonstrated in a recent study by the CABI's regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and the University of Bonn.

International research team led by Göttingen University define optimal shade trees in agroforestry   Agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and shrubs into farming, are vital to achieving sustainable cocoa production in West Africa where 70 percent of the world cocoa is produced. Climate change induced drought means that it is ever more critical to adapt farming practices and find new approaches.

International research team investigates sustainable increase in macadamia nut production An international research team led by the Universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim has gained new insights into how the interaction between bees, bats and birds significantly increases the quantity and quality of macadamia nuts.

International research team finds pollinators and predators promote profitable, sustainable farming   An international research team led by the universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim in Germany has gained new insights into how the interaction of birds, bees and bats significantly increases the quantity and quality of macadamia nuts.

Research network investigates how future potato varieties can be adapted to climate change Heat, drought and flooding - nature is under stress, and so is the potato. As a staple food, there is a particular interest in making potatoes climate-ready. An international team led by the University of Vienna and with the participation of the University of Bonn has now investigated how this can be achieved in the four-year EU project ADAPT.

A study of the University of Bonn investigated how visitors can be motivated to accept smaller portions of meat We eat too much meat in Germany and this not only has a negative impact on health but is also damaging for the environment and climate. Cafeteria owners are increasingly open to the idea of serving smaller portions of meat - especially for cost reasons.

Researchers at Göttingen University find climate traffic light system prevents consumer deception A research team led by the University of Göttingen found that the label 'climate neutral' makes food appear significantly more climate-friendly than it actually is. Even when information about how the damage to the climate is being offset was explained, this did not stop consumers having the wrong perception about the product.

Take some carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen plus electricity from renewable sources - a bacterium and baker's yeast need little more to produce proteins for human nourishment and the essential vitamin B9 in a conventional laboratory bioreactor system. This was the result achieved by a research team led by Professor Lars Angenent from Environmental Biotechnology at the University of Tübingen during the further development of his power-to-protein system.

Researchers confirm positive effects of organic farming and flower strips for bee colonies   Honey bees are valued both for their honey and their ability to pollinate crops. However, populations are suffering from the loss of areas of wild flowers in intensive farming, pesticide applications and from the influence of pathogens, so it is all the more important to understand what keeps them healthy.

Further action needed according to a University of Bonn study on child and adolescent nutrition A high-sugar diet is seen as a risk factor for obesity and chronic illness. University of Bonn researchers have analyzed data on sugar intake among children and adolescents in a long-term study, finding that intake has been declining steadily since 2010-but is still above the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A research team at the University of Tübingen has found that most glyphosate that ends up in European rivers likely does not come from herbicides, as previously assumed; instead, it may be the result of additives to detergents. For the study, Professor Carolin Huhn of the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and colleagues from the Geoand Environmental Center conducted a large meta-analysis on data from European and US water protection authorities.

Researchers at the University of Göttingen investigate consumer acceptance   Companies and institutes are currently working on biotechnological processes for the production of dairy products without the use of cows: In so-called precision fermentation, egg and milk proteins are produced with the help of bacteria, yeasts or other fungi.

News from Two new papers published by researchers from Leipzig University and its partner institutions shed light on the complex relationships between biodiversity, soil and climate. They show how human influences and climate change are jeopardising our environment and emphasise the need for integrated solutions that promote sustainability and social justice.

A study from the University of Bonn has investigated how to achieve high crop yields while also protecting the environment Leaving some weeds between crops can help to combat pests on agricultural land, according to a new study carried out by the University of Bonn. This step has particularly positive effects in combination with other measures: the cultivation of different types of crops and planting strips of wildflowers.