The reduction of chemical crop protection is and remains a political goal. But what is this supposed to achieve? If there are not false expectations involved.
Sugar factories are real „energy guzzlers“ and have a correspondingly large CO2 footprint. But high emissions are also produced in the field and especially during transport. Reducing these costs a lot of money and will take years.
Some alternatives are already ready for the market - for example, fully electric tractors. Large tractors and harvesters, on the other hand, are still dependent on liquid fuels. But which ones? There are still many unanswered questions and a number of hurdles that need to be overcome.
With a continuous living cover and as little intervention in the soil as possible, it should be possible to establish various main crops in a water-saving way. Hans Gnauer has gathered practical experience on his farm and shows the challenges.
The Nostradamus project, a groundbreaking initiative funded by the Horizon Europe program, will revolutionize agricultural practices through the application of cutting-edge digital technologies.
In times of heat and drought stress, what is the best way to keep water in the soil so that it is available for the plant at the right time? Heat in summer or even in spring and fall causes groundwater supplies to dwindle. But there are ways to keep water in the field, store it and even harvest it.
Livestock farms always attach particular importance to animal feed and feeding in terms of farm inputs; consequently, considerations regarding management sustainability are also very well reflected in this area.
The European BioDivERSA project investigates frequently used agro-environmental and climate-environmental measures for their added value in conserving and promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
