Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Alouette van Hove Kristoffer Aalstad Vibeke Lind Claudia Arndt Vincent Odongo Rodolfo Ceriani Francesco Fava John Hulth Norbert PirkAbstract
Considerable uncertainties and unknowns remain in the regional mapping of methane sources, especially in the extensive agricultural areas of Africa. To address this issue, we developed an observing system that estimates methane emission rates by assimilating drone and flux tower observations into an atmospheric dispersion model. We used our novel Bayesian inference approach to estimate emissions from various ruminant livestock species in Kenya, including diverse herds of cattle, goats, and sheep, as well as camels, for which methane emission estimates are particularly sparse. Our Bayesian estimates aligned with Tier 2 emission values of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In addition, we observed the hypothesized increase in methane emissions after feeding. Our findings suggest that the Bayesian inference method is more robust under non-stationary wind conditions compared to a conventional mass balance approach using drone observations. Furthermore, the Bayesian inference method performed better in quantifying emissions from weaker sources, estimating methane emission rates as low as 100 g h−1. We found a ± 50 % uncertainty in emission rate estimates for these weaker sources, such as sheep and goat herds, which reduced to ± 12 % for stronger sources, like cattle herds emitting 1000–1500 g h−1. Finally, we showed that radiance anomalies identified in hyperspectral satellite data can inform the planning of flight paths for targeted drone missions in areas where source locations are unknown, as these anomalies may serve as indicators of potential methane sources. These promising results demonstrate the efficacy of the Bayesian inference method for source term estimation. Future applications of drone-based Bayesian inference could extend to estimating methane emissions in Africa and other regions from various sources with complex spatiotemporal emission patterns, such as wetlands, landfills, and wastewater disposal sites. The Bayesian observing system could thereby contribute to the improvement of emission inventories and verification of other emission estimation methods.
Authors
Mélanie SpedenerAbstract
Sammendrag på norsk I Norge beiter kjøttfe i store områder av boreal produksjonsskog preget av flatehogst på sommeren (mai-september). Vi studerte først mat- og habitatvalg av disse kyrne (Artikkel I– II), og deretter effektene av storfe på flora og fauna (Artikkel III-V). Datainnsamlingen foregikk i Sørost-Norge i 2015-2017 (Furnes/Vang og Stange/Romedal) og 2021-2023 (Steinvik og Deset). Vi studerte kyrnes ressursvalg ved å klassifisere deres adferd ved hjelp av GPS og akselerasjonsdata, ved å hente inn (fra kart) og måle (i felt) habitatvariabler, ved å samle inn møkkprøver til mikrohistologiske analyser og ved å modellere ressursseleksjonsfunksjoner. Vi fokuserte på unge granplantefelt for å studere effektene av kjøttfe på flora og fauna, siden kyrene selekterer for denne skogstypen. Dessuten har små grantrær høy økonomisk verdi og unge granplantefelt er rikere i blomster og pollinatorer enn det resterende skoglandskapet. På 24 unge granplantefelt satt vi opp parede prøveflater (20x20 m hver), hvorav en omgitt av et gjerde. Vi så på unge trær, vegetasjonen i feltsjiktet og blomsterbesøkende insekter. Siden halvparten av disse granplantefeltene lå innenfor, og den andre halvparten utenfor beiteområdene, kunne vi skille effektene av storfe fra effektene av hjortedyr, som lever vilt i disse skogene. Interaksjoner mellom storfe og hjortedyr studerte vi ved å sette opp viltkamera på de samme granplantefelt og ved å gjennomføre møkktellinger langs et rutemønster i ett av beiteområdene. Kyrne hadde en gressrik diett og selekterte for gressrike habitater, både på stor og på liten skala (Artikkel I). Storfe selekterte for forskjellige habitatvariabler (liten skala) avhengig av adferden: Når de beitet, selekterte de for gressrikt habitat, og når de hvilte, selekterte de for gressrikt habitat med lite helling og høy kronedekning (Artikkel II). Storfe førte til bittelitt høyere dødelighet av unge grantrær, men ikke til høyere risiko for tråkk- og beiteskader (Artikkel III). Storfe fjernet vegetasjon som konkurrerte med unge grantrær, det vil si unge løvtrær og vegetasjon i feltsjiktet (Artikkel III). Storfe påvirket plante-pollinatorsamfunnet på en annen måte enn hjortevilt: Utgjerding av klovdyr utenfor beiteområde (hjortedyr) førte til lavere abundans av blomster, mens utgjerding av klovdyr innenfor beiteområde (hjortedyr og storfe) førte til lavere abundans av blomster og lavere abundans av blomsterbesøkende insekter (Artikkel IV). Elg brukte andre habitattyper enn storfe (Artikkel V). Elgen sitt bruk av unge granplantefelt avtok med økende bruk av storfe (Artikkel V). Mulige beiteinnskrenkende tiltak, samt bevaring av artsmangfoldet i boreal produksjonsskog ble drøftet, og anbefalinger for videre forskning ble gitt.
Authors
Anita SønstebyAbstract
Drought stress disrupts plant growth, metabolism, and reproduction, with devastating effects on crop productivity worldwide. Blackcurrant, although rich in health-promoting compounds, is highly vulnerable to water deficits, often producing fewer flowers and aborting developing fruit. Previous transcriptome studies provided only fragmented insights, and no reference genome existed for the Grossulariaceae family until now. Without such genomic tools, identifying precise stress-responsive genes and linking them to metabolite dynamics remained challenging. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to conduct integrated genome-scale, transcriptomic, and metabolomic studies to uncover blackcurrant’s drought response mechanisms.
Abstract
Synthetic plastics of petrochemical origin pose serious health risks to humans and animals, along with creating unwarranted stress on the environment. Recent years have witnessed the enormity of the depletion of natural resources to produce synthetic plastics. Of late, biodegradable bio-packaging materials are gaining attention due to stringent regulations against the usage of single-use plastics and microplastic deposition in the environment. This has led to the development of sustainable, eco-friendly, cost-effective biopackaging materials (mainly biodegradable bioplastics). Though certain drawbacks persist, the use of bio-packaging materials in food industries offers a lower carbon footprint, presents an environmentally friendly solution, and is cost-effective, especially when sustainable sources of raw materials are used. In this regard, agri-food industry-generated biomass/feedstock (wastes and processing by-products) has been explored and efficiently valorized to produce biodegradable plastics. Packaging solutions derived from agri-food wastes and by-products represent an innovative approach to address both resource efficiency and environmental-friendliness and support the circular economy concepts. This chapter aims to provide information on current developments in packaging solutions available in food industries, challenges, and opportunities for the future.
Abstract
Sweet cherries are grown in areas with suitable local climatic conditions up to 60°N in Norway. All orchards have high density planting systems and are rain covered from the bloom to the end of the harvest. All orchards are fertigated and the production is aimed to supply the domestic market with high quality fruit from early July and to the end of August. At NIBIO Ullensvang a large number of sweet cherry cultivars and advanced selections from worldwide breeding programs have been evaluated continuously since 1959. However, despite of relatively extensive list of recommended cultivars, cv. 'Lapins' has become dominant with 60% of the total sweet cherry volume in Norway, and causes high pressure in the market when too much fruit are delivered at the same time. The most effective way to extend the cherry market season is an introduction and cultivation of new early or late ripening sweet cherry cultivars. During the last years, approximately fifty cultivars and advanced selections have been evaluated. Along with earlier recommended cultivars ‘Folfer’, ‘Van’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Regina’ and ‘Sweetheart’, the following cultivars can be recommended for extended testing commercially: a) for early season: ‘Adelka’ (for local market), ‘Sweet Aryana’ and ‘Bellise’ (primary for local market), b) for mid-season: ‘Edit’, ‘Brooks’ (limited testing) and ‘Grace Star’, c) for late season: ’SPC 342’, ‘LaLa Star’, ‘Royal Edie’, ‘Tamara’ and ‘Royal Helen’.
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Blanco Penedo, Maria Isabel Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Raigon Jiminez, Maria Dolores Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix Becquet, Stéphane Döring, Johanna Guerra Gorostegi, Nagore Trinchera, AlessandraAbstract
The Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) was requested to advise on the use of several substances with plant protection or fertilising effects in organic production. The Group discussed whether the use of these substances is in line with the objectives and principles of organic production, and whether they should be included in Regulation (EU) 2021/1165. Recommendations with respect to Annex I to Regulation (EU) (EU) 2021/1165: • The Group identified a number of arguments against of authorising potassium phosphonate, as well as a number of arguments in favour of its authorization. However, it could not reach a consensus regarding the relative weight given to each of those arguments. The Group (10 experts) concluded that the use of potassium phosphonate is not in line with the objectives and principles of organic production and therefore recommends not to include potassium phosphonate in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1165. However, one expert concluded that the use of potassium phosphonate in viticulture is in line with the objectives and principles of organic production and should therefore be authorised by including it in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1165, with the restriction ‘use only in viticulture’. One expert abstained. Recommendations with respect to Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2021/1165: • The Group agrees with the use of diatomaceous earth and of pumice as an additive in substrate and compost, and for fertiliser production. To avoid regulation gaps, however, the Group proposes a generic approach which would result in the authorisation of diatomaceous earth and pumice along with other natural mineral deposits. The Group recommends amending the current entry 'stone meal...' as follows: 'Natural mineral deposits such as rock, stone, sand, clays, and clay minerals' with the following specifications: 'mechanical processing and thermal dehydration authorised, e.g. stone meal, sand, perlite, and vermiculite. Perlite, sand, and vermiculite, including when heat treated, may also be used for sprouted seeds production as an inert medium as referred to in Part I, point 1.3(a), of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848’.
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Blanco Penedo, Maria Isabel Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Raigon Jiminez, Maria Dolores Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix Benning, Luisa Deruytter, David Guarino Amato, Monica Lambertz, Christian Van Huis, ArnoldAbstract
The Group observes that, in general, many aspects remain to be clarified in the horizontal legislation to define rules that are applicable to insect production for food and feed. Although this is a task beyond the mandate of the EGTOP, the Group reflects on some key aspects of the horizontal legislation and provides suggestions for adaptations. In addition, the group proposes recommendations specifically addressing organic insect production.
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Blanco Penedo, Maria Isabel Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix Capodieci, Luca Minguito, Pablo Molteni, RobertoAbstract
The Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) was requested to advise on the use of several substances in organic production. The Group discussed whether the use of these substances is in line with the objectives and principles of organic production and whether they should therefore be included in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (in the case of hydrolates), in Annex V (in the case of Thiamine hydrochloride and Diammonium hydrogen phosphate; plants proteins from peas and potato for fruit juices, fruit wines, cider, and mead), and Annex VI (in the case of Bark black acacia extract) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/11652, and to set limitations on the processes for refining of organic (extra) virgin olive oils.
Authors
Rasmus Bang Stine Samsonstuen Bjørn Gunnar Hansen Mario Guajardo Hanne Møller Jon Kristian Sommerseth Julio C. Goez Ola FlatenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Hilde HallandAbstract
No abstract has been registered