FELD 01/2022

www.quer-feld-ein.blog

www.quer-feld-ein.blog www.quer-feld-ein.blog Initiated and coordinated by ZALF, currently 18 scientific institutions communicate facts, news and ideas about the agriculture of the future in an easily understandable manner at www. quer-feld-ein. blog. What do sustainable cropping systems look like? Is our consumer behaviour still up-to-date? What does digital progress accomplish on the field, and what does organic farming achieve? LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE OF PLANT GENETICS AND CROP PLANT RESEARCH (IPK) »UNDERGROUND BOOM« While human nutrition is mainly centred around carbohydrates, proteins and fats, it is all about nutrients for plants. Current research focuses on respective mechanisms in the plant and is now concerned with the measurement of nutrients. Nicolaus von Wirén and Diana Heuermann know the relevant nutrients, how they are taken up by plants, and how roots communicate with their environment. LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AT THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH (LSB) MODERN WHEAT — DECLARED INNOCENT? More and more people are affected by coeliac disease, wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity or wheat sensitivity. This raises the question of what changed after 120 years of wheat breeding. A study by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research is tracking down the cause. RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR FARM ANIMAL BIOLOGY (FBN) »TRACKING COWS« The movement patterns of cows in their barn reveal where they prefer to »hang out«, which distances they cover, how long they are busy foraging, or how many hours they spend in their resting places. Conclusions can thus be drawn about the health and well-being of the animals, and the husbandry conditions can be adjusted accordingly. Dr. Nina Melzer explains why measurement accuracy plays such an important role in animal welfare. LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON SOCIETY AND SPACE (IRS) COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES Coworking spaces, FabLabs, Maker Spaces & Repair Cafés — although the rise of so-called collaborative workspaces began in the large metropolitan cities, they are now also increasingly common in more rural areas. Which role do they play there? Are there differences to urban collaborative workspaces? An international network of different institutions explores the question of how collaborative workspaces improve life and work in the countryside. POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE IMPACT RESEARCH (PIK) E. V. CLIMATE CHANGE MAKES IT HARDER TO GET A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE In the future, Ethiopia may produce less exceptionally high-quality coffee and more mediocre, rather blandtasting varieties. This is the result of a new study by an international research team that examined the effects of climate change on Africa’s largest coffee-growing region. Their findings are relevant both for the country’s millions of smallholder farmers, who generate more income from speciality coffee than from regular coffee, as well as for baristas and coffee connoisseurs around the world. GERMAN INSTITUTE OF HUMAN NUTRITION POTSDAM-REHBRÜCKE (DIFE) CLIMATE-FRIENDLY MEALS: THE DAWN OF THE VEGAN AGE? Our body needs proteins, which can be provided by both animal and plant foods. Why are proteins so important? How can we provide everyone with enough protein without harming the climate? The querFELDein podcast »Climate-friendly protein supply of the future« approaches this topic from two different perspectives: from the nutritional and the agricultural point of view. 38 39