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
Gry Alfredsen Michael Altgen Mari S. Austigard Johan Mattsson Maria Nunez Lone Ross Sverre Aarseth Tunstad Andreas Treu Igor A. Yakovlev Nanna Bjerregaard PedersenAbstract
A total of 212 iconic wooden cable car pylons were constructed for mining operations in Svalbard, significantly contributing to Longyearbyen's historical identity as a mining town. Fieldwork in Svalbard involved collecting wood samples from 22 of these pylons, targeting wood exposed both aboveground and ground proximity. While the timber used in the constructions was assumed to be untreated Norway spruce (Picea abies), light microscopy revealed that 25% of the timber members were Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Wooden beams exposed aboveground showed initial decay over the first 80-90 years, whereas severe fungal decay was observed after about 50 years in wooden poles inserted in the ground. Metabarcoding identified Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes to be predominating in the wood samples and unveiled new fungal species for Svalbard, including four brown rot, five white rot, and sixteen soft rot species. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations confirmed more advanced decay in ground proximity samples, dominated by brown and soft rot fungi.
Authors
Yosef Al Shoffe Terence Robinson Gennaro Fazio Emily Follett Matthew Clark James Luby David Bedford Lee Kalcsits Gregory PeckAbstract
'Honeycrisp' apples are a crisp cultivar known for their unique texture and flavor. This cultivar is considered revolutionary in the world of crispy apples due to its high value and strong consumer preference. Many new cultivars have recently been developed using 'Honeycrisp' as a parent. However, growing, producing, storing, and marketing 'Honeycrisp' apples present significant challenges. A holistic approach to 'Honeycrisp' production will be discussed, covering aspects such as soil health, rootstocks, orchard management, environmental factors, physiological disorder development, storage protocols, and marketing strategies for sustainable production.
Authors
Lucia Piana Segadelli S. Angeli N. Carl Beierkuhnlein Chattová B. Cid Rodríguez M. Dinelli E. Gargini A. Greggio N. Hájek M. Holway J. H. Jacobsen D. Jutta Kapfer Leira M. Mustoni A. Peszek L. Rybak M. Petraglia A. Spitale D. Stevens L. E. Thapa B. Tomaselli M. Tromboni F. Marco CantonatiAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Åsmund Mikalsen KvifteAbstract
Presentasjon av NIBIO, NIBIO Fureneset og noko om jord og nedbryting
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Monica Sanden Eirill Ager-Wick Johanna Eva Bodin Nur Duale Kristian Prydz Volha Shapaval Tage Thorstensen Anne-Marthe Ganes Jevnaker Ville Erling SipinenAbstract
Oilseed rape LBFLFK was developed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. In total the following 13 genes were introduced, which would be expected to result in the expression of 11 new proteins: c-D12D(Ps) encoding a delta-12 desaturase (Ps); c-D6D(Ot) encoding a delta-6 desaturase (Ot); c-D6E(Tp) encoding a delta-6 elongase (Tp); c-D6E(Pp) encoding a delta-6 elongase (Pp); c-D5D(Tc), delta-5 desaturase (Tc); c-O3D(Pi) encoding a omega-3 desaturase (Pi); c-O3D(Pir) encoding a omega-3 desaturase (Pir); c-D5E(Ot) encoding a delta-5 elongase (Ot); c-D4D(Tc) encoding a delta-4 desaturase (Tc); c-D4D(Pl) encoding a delta-4 desaturase (Pl); and c-AHAS(At) encoding an acetohydroxy acid synthase (also named acetolactate synthase, (ALS)). These proteins impact the content of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in the seeds and also confers tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides. Two gene expression cassettes were introduced twice (O3D(Pir) and D5D(Tc) but have different seed-specific promotors to increase expression during seed maturation. Expression of the ten EPA and DHA biosynthesis genes results in the conversion of oleic acid (OA) to EPA and DHA in LBFLFK canola seeds. The VKM GMO panel has assessed the documentation in the application EFSA‐GMO‐DE‐2019‐ 157. The VKM GMO panel has no additional observations regarding the limitations of the scientific documentation when considering the full scope of the application, as pointed out by EFSA: “The GMO Panel is unable to conclude on the adequacy of the PMEM plan proposed by the applicant. The GMO Panel cannot conclude on the safety of oilseed rape LBFLFK when considering the full scope of the application. On the other hand, the GMO Panel concludes that the consumption of RBD LBFLFK oil is safe and does not represent any nutritional concern for humans under the conditions of use proposed by the applicant and considered during the pre-market risk assessment.” As no hazards specific to Norway have been identified, the VKM GMO panel supports EFSAs conclusions with the implied reservations regarding oilseed rape LBFLFK. Therefore, a full risk assessment of oilseed rape LBFLFK was not performed by the VKM GMO Pan
Authors
Trine Hvoslef-Eide Aasmund Bunkholt Atle Wehn Hegnes Petter D. Jenssen Roland Peter Kallenborn Jan Ludvig Lyche Melesse Eshetu_Moges Trine Aulstad Sogn TomasgaardAbstract
To meet the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we must address the challenge of feeding a growing global population while preserving biodiversity and minimizing land use. Solutions lie in increasing yields on existing farmland and expanding food production in urban and semi-urban areas. Urban environments, traditionally resource-intensive and polluting, must evolve into hubs of circular bioresource use. Biological waste should be seen not as waste, but as recyclable resources. This paper explores how urban food production can be supported by recycling household grey and black water, reducing reliance on costly treatment plants. Black water, combined with food waste, can generate bioenergy in biogas reactors. The resulting digestate can serve as fertilizer or growth media. Research is needed to ensure the safe, circular use of these resources, protecting public health. In parallel, we must develop innovative horticultural technologies – such as rooftop gardens, vertical farming, and wall-based cultivation – using plant varieties tailored for urban conditions. Strengthening local food resilience also involves understanding production in balconies, backyards, allotments, and community gardens. Citizens are eager to learn, and trained urban horticulturalists can guide them. In Norway, we have launched a master’s program in Urban Agriculture, integrating these themes. Students from diverse backgrounds tackle real-world challenges from municipalities and businesses, addressing complex problems that require interdisciplinary solutions, using real-life external cases.
Authors
Geir Orderud Rolf David Vogt Petr Porcal Josef Hejzlar Jiří Sláma Ståle Haaland Bjørnar EikebrokkAbstract
This study examines stakeholder efforts to meet European targets for raw water quality. Key sources of water quality deterioration include fish farming, agricultural activities, partially treated urban sewage, and forestry. Although the forest sector and municipal wastewater treatment facilities have demonstrated progress, fish farming and agricultural sectors remain reluctant to implement effective measures. Economic considerations, level of environmental literacy, and the strength of knowledge networks emerge as critical factors influencing stakeholder actions. Non-governmental environmental organisations prioritise issues other than water quality, limiting their engagement in this domain. Moreover, the dominant role of the Ministry of Agriculture in water management appears to hinder cross-sectorial coordination and progress towards achieving good raw water quality.
Authors
Carey Donald Gunnhild Jaastad Marianne Flågeng Sylvain Alain Yves Merel Josef Rasinger Marc Berntssen Ikram BelghitAbstract
Insect farming is gaining increasing attention because of the ability of insects to upscale a variety of waste and by-product biomass efficiently into proteins and lipids. In the European Union and in Norway, the use of insects is permitted in formulated pig, poultry, and fish feeds and more recently for human consumption. However, the European Food Safety Authority has highlighted the lack of data regarding the safety of processing pesticide-contaminated biomass by insects into feed or food products. Secondly, the presence of insecticide residues in plant biomass might negatively affect the growth or survival of the insects themselves. This study aimed to evaluate the fate of the insecticide pirimiphos-methyl (PM) in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) and yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor, YMW) larvae composting. PM is a dominant pesticide found in relevant insect biomasses. Newly hatched larvae were fed on a standard poultry feed substrate spiked with pirimiphos-methyl at different concentrations: 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg (wet base), under optimal breeding conditions. Poultry feed substrate spiked with methanol served as control group. When the feeding media were spiked with 20 and 40 mg/kg of PM, the survival of both BSF and YMW larvae decreased. Mean larvae mass for both species was reduced with increasing concentrations of PM. PM and 7 compounds were identified in a metabolites/transformation product screen that was aided by in silico predictions. One compound, dihydroxy-PM was uniquely detected in larvae. Neither insect species appears to accumulate PM metabolites, and 90% of PM was metabolised. Results indicate that these insects can be reared on PM-contaminated biomass without risk of PM accumulation.
Authors
Marisa Di Sabatino Richard Randle-Boggis Ronald Reagon Ravi Kumar Harry Malhi Gabriele Lobaccaro Helge Bonesmo Ashok Sharma Steve Völler Gaute StokkanAbstract
Agrivoltaics, also known as solar sharing or agri-PV, represents a pioneering con- cept that seeks to optimise land use by combining agriculture with photovoltaics on the same land area. While research and development on this topic have increased significantly, few studies address the issue in the Continental Subarctic Climate zone. In this paper, we report on the modelling and installation of a 48 kWp agrivoltaic system at the Skjetlein High School in Trondheim (Norway, lat. 63.34), which is currently the highest latitude system in the World, and we present the initial results of the impacts of the system on Timothy grass biomass. This work takes the first steps towards realising agrivoltaic opportunities for a broad area of Norwegian agriculture.