2008

22 Dec 2008	Opportunities for sustainable soya cultivation
	The ongoing expansion of soya production in developing countries is giving rise to international concern regarding the management of natural resources. Research carried out by Wageningen UR, focusing... more
	Policy brief on bio-energy from agriculture
	A policy brief is released discussing the main implications of energy crops production for the environment and EU rural development and in the context of international development. The brief outlines... more
19 Dec 2008	Effects of the credit crisis on the agricultural sector investigated (press release)
	At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, LEI Wageningen UR has provided an overview of the effects and possible consequences of the credit crisis on the Dutch... more
11 Dec 2008	‘Green list' of 7,000 African useful plants a step closer
	Today, Thursday 11 December 2008 the PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) Foundation presented two new books, on Timbers and Medicinal Plants of Tropical Africa, and launched the freely... more
10 Dec 2008	Eco-label provides better protection for fish stocks than does the WTO
	The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a foundation dedicated to maintaining the health and viability of our oceans, has more of an impact in the area of overfishing than all the agreements entered... more
4 Dec 2008	Less spraying due to better disease prediction
	Researchers of Wageningen UR have created a computer model that shows the effects of weather on the distribution of Phytophthora infestans spores. As a result, the number of sprayings required to... more
28 Nov 2008	Asia and Latin America are crucial to the future of the world food supply
	The demand for animal feed in Asia and the capacity of Latin America to produce sufficient amounts of agricultural commodities are crucial to the future of the world food supply. This was one of the... more
27 Nov 2008	Acid also controls Listeria
	The European regulations requiring the use of heat treatment when preserving food to control the life-threatening bacteria Listeria monocytogenes are effective. This was the conclusion of a study... more
	Publication on Sugarcane Ethanol
	Sugarcane Ethanol -Contributions to climate change mitigation and the environment is the title of a new book edited by Peter Zuurbier and Jos van de Vooren, and published by Wageningen Academic... more
	Students in the picture
	On Wednesday 26 November, two women PhD students were each awarded a 1500 euro grant by the Storm-van der Chijs fund for promoting the careers of women scientists at Wageningen UR. Maria... more
25 Nov 2008	Call for nominations Alumni Awards 2009
	The Executive Committee of the WUF is calling for nominations for the Alumni Awards 2009. Remarkable achievements within the field of Wageningen University, deserve special attention and public... more
24 Nov 2008	Call for nominations Alumni Awards 2009
	The Executive Committee of the WUF is calling for nominations for the Alumni Awards 2009. Remarkable achievements within the field of more
21 Nov 2008	Succesful exotics are better armed
	Climate change has led to plants and animals shifting habitats, with species that like warmth moving further north. Some exotic plants do so well in their new environment that they become invasive.... more
	Cisgenic potato resists Phytophthora
	Plant Research International (PRI), part of Wageningen UR, conducted a successful field trial last summer with potatoes that had been made resistant to Phytophthora with the aid of cisgenesis. Prof.... more
20 Nov 2008	New European Masters degree in Consumer Affairs
	On 19 November 2008 European Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva officially launched the first ever European Masters in Consumer Affairs. The Masters will be an EU-backed degree programme, offered... more
13 Nov 2008	Bacteria break down flax lignans into 'bite-size' pieces
	By using certain human intestinal bacteria to break down flaxseed husks, food supplements can be created which could temper the effects of menopause. This was the conclusion of the Wageningen food... more
	Make use of farmers knowledge about drought
	Picture: Erosion in Ethiopia / photo: LineairLarge-scale anti-erosion projects in Africa often fail because farmers don’t see the use of them. They are based on the insights of scientists who see... more
	Bacteria use biological trick to break down benzene
	Benzene is difficult to break down in deeper soil layers were no oxygen is available. PhD student ir. Sander Weelink of Wageningen University found a solution to this problem. He isolated a strain of... more
11 Nov 2008	New construction on the Wageningen Campus to be finished in 2013
	A second education building for Wageningen University is going to be built on the Wageningen Campus. The Supervisory Board of Wageningen UR has approved the plans of the Executive Board for the... more
10 Nov 2008	Book Launch: Ethiopian Seed Supply
	On October 28 the Ethiopian State Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, H.E. Yaekob Yalla, has officially received the first copy of the book ‘Farmers, seed and varieties: Supporting... more
	Preventing Type 2 Diabetes requires more than diet alone
	The occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) can be effectively postponed or even prevented entirely. However, long-term and large-scale research has shown that a healthy lifestyle is... more
	Cattle chase ticks away
	Cattle in nature reserves reduce the nuisance caused by ticks and also lower the risk of Lyme's disease. This is because the cattle change the vegetation, and thereby the habitats of the wood mouse... more
6 Nov 2008	Fibre is good for the heart
	Men older than 40 who eat large amounts of nutritional fibre have a reduced risk of heart attack. Every additional 10 g of fibre in the diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease by 17%. This... more
31 Oct 2008	Soybean and maize imports threatened by EU GMO policy
	Importing soybean and maize into the EU is going to become more difficult. This is the conclusion of a quick scan by LEI, into the economic consequences of the current EU policy for genetically... more
	India lacks a rock-solid foundation for the free trade agreement with the EU
	India is rapidly taking stronger positions in the global political arena and the world economy. For the EU this has led to start negotiations on a free trade agreement, aimed at a mutual opening up... more
30 Oct 2008	Toxoplasmosis controlled by freezing
	Researchers of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR are calling for a safer meat chain by freezing the meat of animals infected with Toxoplasma. This kills the parasite. As a result, the higher... more
29 Oct 2008	Dutch-Malaysia Cooperation to reduce CO2-emmissions
	The Netherlands and Malaysia have joined forces to dispel the confusion that has arisen surrounding greenhouse gas emissions from oil palm cultivation in tropical peatland areas. Dutch Minister... more
28 Oct 2008	New leaflets on sustainable crop protection strategies in maize and wheat
	Scientists from PRI and PPO and from other research institutions in Europe have collaborated within the EU project ENDURE to produce another two practical leaflets on maize cropping and wheat.... more
	Belgium's agricultural trade with developing countries, tested for sustainability
	At the request of the Flemish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, LEI has shed light on the sustainability of the agricultural trade between Belgium and four developing countries. The aim of the... more
27 Oct 2008	Scientists develop extra healthy purple tomatoes
	Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, supported by scientists from Plant Research International of Wageningen UR in the Netherlands, have developed extra healthy purple tomatoes.... more
23 Oct 2008	Safer food through rapid tests for chemical contaminants
	Safer food through rapid and cost-efficient tests for detecting chemical contaminants in food and animal feed. This is the major goal of a new European research project called CONff IDENCE. The... more
	Catch quota is not a suitable instrument for good fishery management
	The management system of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU has not been very effective. It has been unable to reverse the overfishing. This is because the instrument of catch quotas and its... more
	Chemicals from grass and sugar cane
	Complex protein fractions from grass, wheat, sugar cane and maize can be used as feedstocks for the chemical industry by means of biorefining. PhD student Ben Brehmer of Wageningen University made... more
10 Oct 2008	New agreement FAO-Wageningen University and Research Centre
	Mobilizing science for development 10 October 2008, Rome – The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) today signed an agreement to... more
8 Oct 2008	Proactive monitoring of contaminants in food is highly cost-effective
	Inaugural address of Prof. Michel NielenHormones in beef, pesticides on fruit and toxic substances on grain produced by fungi are examples of unapproved substances in food products or their undesired... more
3 Oct 2008	Water ration for Indian rice farmers
	The Indian government can sharply reduce the water consumption of rice farmers in the state of Tamil Nadu without reducing the income of the farmers. This was the conclusion of the PhD thesis of Dr.... more
30 Sep 2008	New project on Trade, Agricultural Policies and Structural Changes in India’s Agrifood System; Implications for National and Global Markets (TAPSIM)
	The structural changes in India and in the global agrifood systems are crucial for understanding the impacts on trade for India, including its trade with the EU. This understanding is useful for... more
29 Sep 2008	Disastrous summer for the Brent goose in Siberia
	The Brent geese that migrate to the Wadden sea this year will have very few young birds with them. This prediction is based on the research conducted by Bart Ebbinge and Bart Nolet and their... more
25 Sep 2008	ICES Outstanding Achievement Award for Wageningen IMARES scientist Niels Daan
	Niels Daan (Wageningen IMARES) was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of sustained, outstanding performance, exceptional contributions, and leadership. This Award is the highest... more
	Seeds of cancer are sown in youth
	At a young age, the seeds are sown for cancer at an older age. One out of every three Dutch residents will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. In addition to smoking and a lack of... more
	New approach to potato blight
	Together with British and American scientists, Wageningen plant researchers have developed a new method to quickly identify genes that can make potatoes resistant to Phytophthora infestans, the... more
22 Sep 2008	New book on Sustainable Land Management
	The book Sustainable Land Management; Strategies to Cope with the Marginalisation of Agriculture presents and explores strategies to reverse the process of marginalisation of rural areas, looking at... more
18 Sep 2008	CO2-neutral farming is possible
	A CO2-neutral livestock farm is possible for most sectors, but only if the farm generates its own energy. As long as a farm obtains its energy from fossil fuel, energy neutrality is impossible. This... more
17 Sep 2008	Good wildlife management requires partnerships between all interested parties
	The Netherlands is a densely populated nation, but could be a good example of how to practice wildlife management in the coming century. Rapid human population growth on the planet is creating... more
16 Sep 2008	Martin Scholten appointed General Director of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR
	Dr Martin Scholten has been appointed General Director of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR, effective 15 September. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Ruud Huirne, who will now lead the Social Sciences... more
12 Sep 2008	Forest plantations for sustainable production in the tropics
	As a result of the BO Cluster International FLEGT project (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade), a discussion paper of Wageningen UR has appeared that outlines the major issues to be dealt... more
10 Sep 2008	Growing plants for biomass disregards their function has producers of special substances
	Growing plants as biomass for the production of energy disregards their function as producers of many high-value substances that we cannot make directly in the laboratory or the factory. Biologists... more
8 Sep 2008	Tipping points in the climate unveiled
	Past events of abrupt climatic change were preceded by characteristic symptomsIn the Earth’s history, periods of relatively stable climate have often been interrupted by sharp transitions to a... more
5 Sep 2008	Sustainable production of spiny lobsters earns prize for Wageningen student
	Peter van der Werf, an Environmental Sciences student at Wageningen University, won the 2008 Student Entrepreneur Prize on 4 September. The prize includes a cash award of €5,000. Together with two... more
4 Sep 2008	Report of the 'Second' Delta Committee features major contribution from Wageningen UR
	The report of the Delta Committee, headed by Cees Veerman, has been formally presented to Prime Minister Balkenende. Prof. Pavel Kabat of Wageningen University is one of the authors. In the... more
1 Sep 2008	Silver Medal for Kofi Annan
	During the Inauguration of the Academic Year of Wageningen UR, guest speaker Kofi Annan received the Silver Medal from Aalt Dijkhuizen, chairperson of the Executive Board. Annan was given the... more
28 Aug 2008	Publication - Forest plantations for sustainable production in the tropics, key issues for decision-makers
	Authors: Bodegom, A.J. van, J. van den Berg and P.J. van der Meer Wageningen, Wageningen University & Research Centre, Discussion paper, 2008, ISBN 978-90-8585-231-5 This discussion paper... more
26 Aug 2008	Internationalisation of the livestock sector draws ASG to China
	One of the important trends in the livestock sector concerns its internationalisation and the corresponding expertise network. The rapidly growing market in China needs expertise to improve... more
14 Aug 2008	Grains without Gluten
	Increasing numbers of people are unable to tolerate gluten in their food. Teff, Quinoa and Amaranth are gluten-free grains that can be grown in the Netherlands. Because they are not only gluten-free... more
12 Aug 2008	Wageningen scientists discover new plant hormone
	Strigolactones also play a major role outside the plantScientists from the Wageningen University Laboratory of Plant Physiology and an international team of scientists have discovered a new group of... more
	Pakistani PhD student awarded grant for Wageningen research
	The NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) has granted a "Mosaic subsidy" to the Pakistani researcher Ansa Wasim. The grant is intended for excellent, non-western graduates. As a... more
7 Aug 2008	New method discovered to make potatoes resistant to Phytophthora
	Dutch, British and American scientists have developed a method to more quickly identify and isolate genes that can be used to make potatoes resistant to Phytophthora infestans, the dreaded potato... more
28 Jul 2008	European forests offer good possibilities for second-generation biofuels
	European forests are performing well. During the past decade, the quantity of biomass has doubled, due to active management focusing on sustainability. Within the total forested area of approximately... more
23 Jul 2008	C&G Best Paper Award for Dr. Gerard Heuvelink
	Dr. Gerard B.M. Heuvelink has been awarded by the president of the International Assocation of Mathematical Geology the Computers & Geosciences Best Paper Award 2007, for his paper “The Data... more
17 Jul 2008	Impact on global food prices
	The current high food prices are due to a variety of factors. The effects of speculation on food crops must not be overestimated and the impact of biofuels on global food prices is relative. In the... more
16 Jul 2008	Smart packaging helps to reduce CO2 emissions
	Special packaging that is used to extend the shelf life of fresh products can also contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions. This contribution can be especially important if the products... more
15 Jul 2008	Researchers discover resistance gene to septoria in wheat
	Researchers from Rothamsted Research (UK) and Plant Research International have discovered a single locus in wild wheat Triticum monococcum that provides resistance to Septoria tritici. This is... more
11 Jul 2008	Tea farmers support each other in sustainable production
	When small tea farmers in Kenya become convinced of the benefits of sustainability and tell their neighbours, this has more impact than being visited by an information officer. Encouraged by this... more
25 Jun 2008	Wageningen University offers the Netherlands’ first master’s degree programme in climate change
	Starting in September, the Netherlands’ first master’s degree programme in the scientific domain of climate change will be getting under way at Wageningen University. The programme is intended for... more
24 Jun 2008	Wimbledon visitors consume 27,000 kilos of Wageningen variety strawberries
	Wimbledon = strawberries = Elsanta = Wageningen UR The Wimbledon tennis tournament has always been linked to strawberries and cream and this year spectators will again be enjoying strawberries of... more
23 Jun 2008	Breakthrough in plant medicine production at Wageningen UR.
	A research team including scientists from Plant Research International and Wageningen University has succeeded in further unravelling and manipulating the glycosylation of proteins in plants. This is... more
13 Jun 2008	Integrated control of malaria and other vector diseases is crucial
	Combating malaria and other so-called vector diseases with chemical controls is increasingly ineffective, besides being hazardous for humans and the environment. These chemical controls must... more
12 Jun 2008	Insufficient biodiversity policy leads to considerable losses
	In a baseline scenario for population growth and economic development, international biodiversity policy targets will not be met and lead to considerable physical, social and economic losses. This is... more
22 May 2008	Commemoration victims of the Sichuan earthquake in China
	May 21st at 20.00 hrs the Wageningen academic community gathered to commemorate the victims of the Sichuan earthquake in China and to support the Chinese Wageningen community. Dr. Aalt Dijkhuizen,... more
14 May 2008	Seed transmission of Pepino mosaic virus in tomato
	Results from a joint European research project show that seed transmission of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) in tomato, even though at a low level, is possible. The seed transmission rates differed from... more
29 Apr 2008	Dutch vegetables: sufficient minerals and vitamins
	‘Vitamins absent in vegetables’ a headline in a major national newspaper stated last week. What followed was an account that was to make it evident that the quality of vegetables is deteriorating as... more
	Niederländisches Gemüse: genügend Mineralstoffe und Vitamine
	Kommentar der Wageningen Universität, 29. April 2008 „Keine Vitamine mehr im Gemüse“, so titelte letzte Woche eine große niederländische Tageszeitung. Es folgte ein Artikel, aus dem hervorgehen... more
24 Apr 2008	Computers keep asparagus plants vital
	Asparagus plants that retain sufficient sugars in their roots after harvesting survive the harvest better and are more productive in the next season. By contrast, when asparagus plants are cut too... more
22 Apr 2008	Wageningen UR and Luminex develop multiplex detection for the agricultural and food industries
	Plant Research International, a division of Wageningen UR, and Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the global leader in multiplex solutions in diagnostics, have signed a licensing agreement for the... more
26 Mar 2008	Biological soil disinfestation increases asparagus production by 50 percent
	Biological soil disinfestation as part of a narrow crop rotation can result in major increases in asparagus yield over a period of several years. This is the result of research performed by... more
12 Mar 2008	Wageningen scientist discovers genes that increase yield on marginal soils
	Genetically modified plants can be developed that perform significantly better than existing varieties in dry and saline soils. This is the conclusion of the doctorate thesis, to be defended by... more
4 Mar 2008	First flight of the RoboSwift is a success
	The RoboSwift, the micro-aircraft inspired by the swift, has made its first flight. In recent months, aerospace engineering students at Delft University of Technology have developed the aircraft in... more
28 Feb 2008	Receptor revealed that turns on genes after consuming unsaturated fats
	In a paper published today in the scientific journal PlosONE scientists from Wageningen University in the Netherlands demonstrate the tremendous importance of dietary fat as a regulator of... more
21 Feb 2008	CHE-Excellence Ranking: Wageningen Universiteit among the best in Europe for budding researchers
	Press release from the CHE – Centre for Higher Education Development, Gütersloh, Germany The CHE – Centre for Higher Education Development in Germany has drawn up a Ranking of Excellent European... more
14 Feb 2008	Rwandan women view the elongation of their labia as positive
	In Rwanda women practice the stretching and pulling of their labia minora in order to elongate them. Marian Koster MSc and Dr. Lisa Price of Wageningen University, Netherlands, emphasize that Rwandan... more
16 Jan 2008	Wageningen students present paper on use of history and cultural heritage in metal scene
	Four students of Wageningen University present a paper on the use of history and cultural heritage in the music scene of heavy metal. The research is an attempt to show how history and cultural... more