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.
2026
Abstract
Timothy is the primary forage grass seed crop in Norway, where effective control of dicot weeds and lodging management are critical to maximizing seed yield and meeting seed purity standards. Optimal timing of gibberellic acid–inhibiting plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as chlormequat chloride (CCC) and trinexapac-ethyl (TE), often coincides with spring herbicide applications, raising concerns about crop safety and herbicide efficacy when products are tank-mixed. Field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 at two locations in Norway to evaluate the effect of tank-mixing PGRs with commonly used herbicides on seed yield and quality, weed control, and lodging in timothy. Plant growth regulators (CCC (1500 g ai ha⁻¹) and TE (150 g ai ha⁻¹) were applied either as split applications (herbicide at BBCH 25; PGR at BBCH 35) or tank-mixed (BBCH 30–35) with one of three herbicide combinations: fluroxypyr + florasulam, florasulam + diflufenican, or aminopyralid + 2,4-D + florasulam. Seed yield was affected by PGR (P ≤ 0.05) but not by herbicide treatments. TE reduced plant height and lodging more than CCC; however, relative yield responses varied with stand age. Tank-mixing did not reduce seed yield and herbicide efficacy. Crop injury from tank-mixtures was minimal and temporary, and no reductions in final seed germination were observed. Tank-mixing CCC and TE PGRs with herbicides provided effective weed control and maintained optimal seed yield and quality, offering operational flexibility for timothy seed producers.
Authors
Pia BorgAbstract
We compared written guidance on date marking on the websites of Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Swedish Food Agency, and the Danish Agriculture and Fisheries Agency. We also compared what the three authorities write about guidance as a tool .
Authors
Junbin ZhaoAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Edward H. Cabezas-Garcia Yang Li Daniel Korir Jesse K. Gakige Stefan Muetzel César S. Pinares-Patiño Vibeke Lind Mutian Niu Claudia ArndtAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Anaïs Zimmer Adrienne Grêt-Regamey Ignacio Palomo Carolina Adler Meryem Aakairi Marie Anière Fabien Anthelme Chloe Baruffa Bolette Bele Vincent Ralph Clark Aida Cuni-Sanchez Sebastian Eiter Richard Field WariNkwi Flores Katherine Hanly Jan Hartmann Amina Maharjan Sara Manuelli Dominic Andreas Martin Nelly Nambande Masayi Paula Mayer Graham McDowell Holly Moulton Anne Nolin Lydia Olaka Binaya Pasakhala Jorge Recharte Neema Robert Kinabo Luciana Rojas Hanne Sickel Lobzang Stanzen Peter John Taylor Irene Teixidor-Toneu Catherine Tucker Sabarnee Tuladhar Robert MarchantAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Abstract This study assesses the economic feasibility and environmental profile of producing Irvingia-based wood adhesives on a small scale (30 ton/year) in South Africa. A detailed techno-economic analysis was conducted including operating cost estimation and sensitivity analysis of key input variables. The estimated production costs for three adhesive formulations ranged from R157.1/kg – R318.14/kg. The average production cost was R214.62/kg and was below the typical market price of R379/kg for synthetic wood adhesives. Raw materials especially kernels and modifiers were identified as the dominant cost drivers, whereas labour and electricity had minimal impact on unit cost. A carbon footprint assessment (CFA) was performed with cradle-to-gate boundaries to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Two raw material sourcing scenarios were considered. They included adhesive production from kernels and adhesive production directly from whole fruits (including on-site fruit dehulling). The cradle-to-gate CFA indicates that both scenarios have similar GHG emission profiles given equivalent process conditions, with most emissions arising from energy use and chemical additives rather than feedstock transport. A review of mechanical performance from prior studies showed that these bio-based adhesives met industry standard requirements. The results demonstrate that small-scale production of Irvingia adhesives is economically viable and environmentally sustainable, making it a promising alternative to synthetic adhesives for wood composite manufacturing in South Africa.
Authors
Anne Helena Kettunen Ellen L. F. White Mervi Honkatukia Nina Svartedal Anette Kristine Krogenæs Jaana Peippo Amin SayyariAbstract
The conservation of local poultry genetic resources requires complementary ex situ strategies, particularly when live populations are maintained at a single location. Previous gene bank insemination trials with frozen–thawed semen from Norwegian conserved lines showed acceptable subjective post-thaw motility but unexpectedly low fertilization success, highlighting the need for objective quality-control assessment. The aim of this study was to establish an objective cryobank quality-control baseline for frozen–thawed semen from two Norwegian conserved rooster lines. Specifically, the study evaluated whether routinely applied objective semen-quality assessment methods, including computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and flow-cytometric viability assessment, could detect differences between rooster lines and post-thaw handling conditions. Cryopreserved semen doses collected in 2018 and stored in the Norwegian poultry gene bank were thawed and evaluated from 24 roosters representing the Jærhøns and NorBrid8 lines. The samples were originally collected as part of the routine cryopreservation activities of the Norwegian poultry gene bank and therefore did not require specific approval from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet). Post-thaw semen quality was assessed using CASA and flow-cytometric viability analysis. The effects of line and short-term refrigerated holding were evaluated using mixed-effects models, supported by minimum detectable effect calculations, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis. Short-term post-thaw refrigerated holding reduced several CASA-derived motility and velocity traits, while viability assessment provided complementary information on membrane integrity. Line-associated differences in selected motility traits and substantial rooster-to-rooster variability in all traits were observed. Multivariate analyses identified major dimensions of covariance among sperm-quality traits without implying direct biological mechanisms of fertility failure. CASA and flow-cytometric viability assessment can provide an objective baseline for cryobank quality control of frozen–thawed rooster semen. However, fertility trials and molecular sperm-integrity markers are required to determine the biological causes of the previously observed discrepancy between motility and fertility.
Authors
Jan-Peter George Colin Kelleher Aurore Desgroux Eléonore Scholzen Luis Muheim Irena Fundova Gregor Božič Michele Bozzano Anna-Maria FarsakoglouAbstract
This report on dynamic and static ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources is a product of the EUFORGEN Programme. The report serves as a reference document that provides the framework for implementing and monitoring ex situ conservation approaches across Europe, complementing existing in situ conservation efforts. It has been developed through the collective expertise of the EUFORGEN network, establishing minimum requirements and data standards for ex situ conservation, proposing indicators for monitoring, and introducing terminology for genetic conservation units at risk. The actions and strategies addressed in this report are dependent on the commitment of all involved actors, including policymakers, forest managers, researchers, and technical staff responsible for gene banks and genetic conservation units, who will guide the application of dynamic and static ex situ conservation, whenever needed, and provide the financial, human and institutional resources required to effectively conserve forest genetic resources across Europe.
Abstract
Marine aquaculture sludge is a significant side stream from the aquaculture industry and represents a promising substrate for biogas production. In this study, the performance of two lab-scale continuous biogas reactors was investigated when feeding increased amounts of marine aquaculture sludge (MAS) in mix with cow manure (CM) over a period of 340 days. The MAS volume was gradually increased from 20% to 100%, increasing the biogas yield from approx. 200 to 400 mL/g COD/d. The content of NaCl in the feedstock was 25 g/L when feeding 100% MAS. Microbial community analysis (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) revealed that most archaeal OTUs detected at high MAS loading were associated with acetoclastic Methanothrix and Methanosarcina genera. Increasing the MAS load was associated with reduced microbial diversity, yet no distinct MAS-specific species emerged as key drivers in the recovered microbial community. Our results highlight the great potential of MAS as a substrate for biogas production and the possibility to establish biogas systems with salinity conditions corresponding to sea water.
Authors
Alexander Jueterbock Anne Margrete Leiros Nilsen Niko Steiner Clément Gauci Leo Minini Ralf Rautenberger Christian Guido Bruckner Nikolai Buer Inka BartschAbstract
Mariculture has emerged as a sustainable solution to address growing global demands for food and high-value products, with kelp cultivation playing a central role due to its diverse applications and ecological benefits. While advances in kelp farming have focused on optimizing either hatchery or grow-out phases, the long-term effects of early gametophyte treatments on sporophyte performance remain underexplored. Although the transition from gametophyte culture to harvestable sporophytes is routine in commercial kelp farming, no published, integrated framework exists that is purpose-built for researchers and R&D practitioners who need to document the effect of specific early-stage treatments applied under replicated, controlled conditions on measurable differences in sporophyte performance. Here, we present a detailed methodology for conducting experimental mariculture trials that bridge controlled laboratory experiments and field-scale applications. Our approach integrates controlled gametophyte treatments, seeding, hatchery cultivation, and field deployment, providing a replicable experimental framework for studying the influence of early-stage conditions on the growth, resilience, and productivity of mature sporophytes. This adaptable methodology enables researchers to address, in collaboration with kelp farmers, the impact of experimental conditions during gametophyte cultivation on the growth and performance of the kelp sporophytes in a factorial replicated design.