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
Abstract
Norway is the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon with an annual 1.5 million tons. The aquaculture sector produces large amounts of fish sludge (feces and excess feed), which has traditionally been released at sea as most salmon production operates in open cages in the fjords. In 2022, 12k tons of phosphorous and 70k tons of nitrogen were released from salmon production in Norway (Sample, 2024), thus contributing to eutrophication of the sea environment while representing substantial loss of plant nutrients. Recently, a few completely land-based salmon production facilities have been established, and the associated sludge has gained increased focus as potential substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD). While AD of freshwater fish sludge has been researched to some extent, properties of marine fish sludge (MFS) as substrate for biogas production remains poorly characterized. High saline substrates, such as MFS, are known to have pervasive effects on microbial community composition and can be inhibitory for methanogenic archaea. Continued advances in meta-omic approaches increase understanding of microbial communities and their metabolic mechanisms in a given environment. Here, we investigated the impact of MFS on continuous biogas process performance and microbial dynamics during gradually increased volume loading of MFS feedstock. AD experiments were conducted in lab-scale continuous biogas reactors (CSTRs), and the amount of MFS (in mix with cow manure) was increased from 20% volume, to 100%, with stable process at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 28d. When loading 100% MFS, organic loading rate (OLR) was increased (by reducing HRT), from 28 to 12d, representing increased OLR from ~4 to 10 g total organic demand (tCOD)/L/d. The process functioned during the total experimental phase (400 days), with maximum salt concentration at 25 g/L (12 g/L Na+), substantially higher than reported inhibiting levels at ~8 g/L Na+ (Zhang et.al., 2020). Biogas production increased from ~200 to 400 mL/g tCOD when MFS was increased. Specific biogas production at 25 and 12 d HRT remained relatively constant, at ~450 mL biogas/g tCOD, with stable methane concentration at ~65% throughout the experiment. Through meta-omic approaches (16S rRNA and whole genome sequencing), our study aims to provide insight into recovered microbial populations and key metabolic pathways when subjected to high salinity and increased OLR. Our study further aims to shed light on important microbial processes in AD running on novel substrates such as MFS, while paving way for sustainable energy solutions, linking marine byproducts to renewable energy generation. References Sample, J. E. (2024). Kildefordelte tilførsler av nitrogen og fosfor til norske kystområder i 2022–tabeller, figurer og kart. NIVA-rapport. Zhang, J., Zhang, R., He, Q., Ji, B., Wang, H., & Yang, K. (2020). Adaptation to salinity: Response of biogas production and microbial communities in anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste to salinity stress. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering, 130(2), 173-178.
Abstract
presentasjon seminar
Authors
Sartre, Liane MoniqueAbstract
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been mandatory in Norway since 2015, as a strategy to reduce pesticide use and promote more sustainable agriculture. Studies show that implementation of IPM at farm level remains context-dependent, but so far no study on Norwegian fruit farming system had yet been conducted. This thesis aims to explore how Norwegian fruit farmers understand and apply IPM principles and what factors influence their adoption. A total of nine semi-structured interviews were conducted in two major fruit regions (Hardanger and Lier). The findings show that while several IPM principles are applied, especially preventive and non chemical methods, other principles are less implemented by farmers. IPM adoption is shaped by on-farm factors including technical constraints, infrastructures, economic concerns, social interactions, health and environmental awareness, as well as factors specific to the farmer. External influences such as national and European policies, market pressures, advisory and research services, and farmers’ networks also play a major role. These findings highlight the need for context-sensitive support or the need to address novel research gaps in IPM-related studies, especially in the Norwegian fruit farming context.
Authors
Alexander N. Hristov Andre Bannink M Battelli A Belanche M.C.C. Sanz G. Fernandez-Turren F. Garcia A. Jonker D.A. Kenny Vibeke Lind Sarah J. Meale D.M. Zilio C. Munoz David Pacheco Nico Peiren M. Ramin L. Rapetti Angela Schwarm S. Stergiadis K. Theodoridou Emilio M. Ungerfeld Sanne van Gastelen David R. Yanez-Ruiz Sinead M. Waters Peter LundAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Alexander Hristov Andre Bannink Marco Battelli Alejandro Belanche M. Cecilia Cajarville Sanz Gonzalo Fernandez-Turren Florencia Garcia Arjan Jonker David A. Kenny Vibeke Lind Sarah J. Meale David Meo Zilio Camila Munoz David Pacheco Nico Peiren Mohammad Ramin Luca Rapetti Angela Schwarm Sokratis Stergiadis Katerina Theodoridou Emilio M. Ungerfeld Sanne van Gastelen David R. Yanez-Ruiz Sinead M. Waters Peter LundAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Oliver Körner Alice Boarino Martina Friuli Dmitry Kechasov Elio Dinuccio Luisella Celi Xingjiang Zhang-SchneiderAbstract
The re-usage of waste can strongly impact the environmental footprints of both the biogas production facility as waste-source and a receiver system as a greenhouse production. The waste product of the biogas-reactors as e.g. liquid and solid fertiliser. In a combined production with heated greenhouse-production both the main product biogas as well as its side products as water and the digestate are valuable compounds for a greenhouse production system. The impact of main and side products on the greenhouse produce depends on location, greenhouse type, and overall composition of the system. We analysed and modelled biogas-production of two biogas-greenhouse scenarios in Italy and Norway with each their specific input and outputs. For the two existing locations in Northern Italy (Trento; 46°04′N LAT) and Southern Norway (Sandefjord; LAT 59°08′N), and for a hypothetical location geographically between them (Berlin, Germany; 52°52′N) we analysed three scenarios of agricultural waste with either apple-juice production waste, waste from husbandry, or a mix of these two wastes; and their impact on environmental foot-prints of a tomato production in greenhouses. Scenarios were simulated with a greenhouse simulator, while simulation data was used as input to a consequential life cycle assessment. Functional unit was 1kg of tomato as gate.
Authors
Linn SolliAbstract
Webinar presentation
Authors
Shimelis Gizachew Raji Bimrew Asmare Yohannes Ewunetu Tesema Dangura Marit Jørgensen Yonas BerhanuAbstract
Prosjektbanken NFR
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Heikki Korpunen Yrjö Nuutinen Paula Jylhä Lars Eliasson Aksel Granhus Juha Laitila Stephan Hoffmann Timo MuhonenAbstract
• Overall forest management objectives and stand properties set the requirements and possibilities for harvesting in continuous cover forestry (CCF). • Harvester and forwarder operators play a key role in successful CCF harvesting, as both productivity and quality of work are essential factors in harvesting operations. • Optimal stand conditions improve work productivity on selection harvesting sites; harvested stem volume correlates well with work productivity in cutting, and density of remaining trees does not significantly reduce work productivity in forwarding. • Carefully executed group cutting and shelterwood harvesting can reduce the number of damaged remaining trees, which is beneficial for future tree generations. • Research-based information is needed about work productivity in harvesting, damage caused by harvesting, and optimisation of strip road and forest road networks for CCF.