Fakultät Naturwissenschaften

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hohpublica.uni-hohenheim.de/handle/123456789/1

Biologie, Ernährungs-wissenschaften und Lebensmittelwissenschaften sind die Schwerpunkte der Fakultät. Die Forschung befasst sich mit Schlüsselthemen der Life Sciences.

Homepage: https://natur.uni-hohenheim.de/

Browse

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Climate‐based identification of suitable cropping areas for giant reed and reed canary grass on marginal land in Central and Southern Europe under climate change
(2023) Ferdini, Sofia; von Cossel, Moritz; Wulfmeyer, Volker; Warrach‐Sagi, Kirsten
Giant reed (GR) and reed canary grass (RCG) have emerged as promising perennial industrial crops for providing sustainable bioenergy from marginal land. However, there is great uncertainty among farmers and researchers about where these crops can be grown in the future due to climate change, which complicates a timely transition to a bioeconomy. Therefore, this study quantifies marginal land and suitable cropping areas for GR and RCG in Europe, as well as their overlap. To derive these areas, the present (1991–2020) and future (2071–2100, RCP8.5) growing degree days, growing season length, annual precipitation, and aridity index were analyzed using the E‐OBS observational dataset and EURO‐CORDEX regional climate simulations. The study concludes that while marginal land will decrease by ~18%, GR and RCG will profit from the changing European climate, increasing by ~24% and ~13%, respectively. Looking at regions of overlap between marginal land and the selected crops, a decrease of ~87% and an increase of ~462% is projected for RCG and GR, respectively. This is due to marginal land shifting southward, benefitting the warm‐season grass GR, while RCG prefers cooler climates.
Estimating family shopping behavior: a multi‐perspective approach to understanding grocery shopping
(2024) Hummel, Gerrit; Nützel, Annalena; Eder, Cora; Strubich, Patrick Thomas; Stroebele‐Benschop, Nanette
This study examines weekly shopping trips of young families using a multi‐perspective approach that considers psychological personality traits, situational influences, and socio‐demographic factors to explain food purchases. Over a period of 4 weeks, the data of 60 shoppers and their families as well as 217 purchases were recorded using questionnaires and receipts. Analysis showed that personality traits and socio‐demographic data are good predictors of food purchases. The study provides insights into the complexity of shopping behavior, shows the need for multi‐perspective approaches, and enables the derivation of strategies to optimize healthy shopping behavior for young families.
Market-based instruments for biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: An evaluation of quality criteria in a German case study
(2025) Streit, Lea; Feuerbacher, Arndt; Röhl, Markus
Market-based instruments (MBIs) for the protection and promotion of biodiversity have gained significant importance in recent years. The success of MBIs depends largely on the transparent presentation of their actual effects, which rely on the quality of implementation. Quality criteria can be used to evaluate this. To date, few studies have examined whether and how these criteria are applied. This study seeks to address this gap, by using MBIs in the German agricultural landscape as a case study. Quality criteria were defined on the basis of a literature review; then applied to MBIs identified through an internet search and finally analyzed. Quality criteria related to methodological approaches (implementation, maintenance, used seed mixtures) and quality control (monitoring, localization) are presented less frequently than information on rights and obligations or the use of financial funds. Among the 151 MBIs analyzed, 70% lack control mechanisms and monitoring systems, indicating unverified effectiveness. Additionally, MBIs financed through program approaches are more likely to have control mechanisms and include perennial measures than MBIs funded by direct payments of sponsors or consumers purchasing a product. The development of MBI offerings suggests that there is persistent and growing demand, as some programs have been running for several decades. However, without ecological monitoring, it is not possible to ascertain whether these measures benefit biodiversity. To establish standardized methods for comparing MBIs for biodiversity, policymakers must consider official guidelines and, where appropriate, implement regulatory frameworks.
Sustainability certification in the digital era: a qualitative analysis of sustainability reports across product categories
(2026) Boller, Meta Leonie; Grabinger, Toni; Zurwehme, Annikka; Krupitzer, Christian
The food industry faces growing pressure to align sustainability goals with the rapid advance of digital technologies. This study explores how digitalization supports and transforms sustainability certification practices across diverse food product categories. Novelty lies in examining the interplay between digital technologies and sustainability reporting intensity, offering insights into how firms communicate and operationalize sustainability commitments. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the sustainability reports of 21 companies using MAXQDA software, assessing the frequency and depth of reporting on sustainability focus topics and digital tools applied. The study includes multiple food product categories, such as coffee and tea, chocolate, grain products, dairy products, beverages, meat and fish, and tropical fruits. Results show that larger firms and those with higher turnover report more frequently and comprehensively on sustainability and digitalization. Three clusters of companies were identified, each reflecting shared sustainability challenges rather than specific product categories. The findings suggest that the relevance of digital technologies is more closely linked to addressing these cross-cutting sustainability challenges, and that high-value product segments provide the most promising starting points for integrating digital technologies into certification processes.
Transforming agricultural waste from mediterranean fruits into renewable materials and products with a circular and digital approach
(2025) Castagna, Antonella; Aboudia, Aouatif; Guendouz, Amine; Scieuzo, Carmen; Falabella, Patrizia; Matthes, Julia; Schmid, Markus; Drissner, David; Allais, Florent; Chadni, Morad; Cravotto, Christian; Senge, Julia; Krupitzer, Christian; Canesi, Ilaria; Spinelli, Daniele; Drira, Fadoua; Ben Hlima, Hajer; Abdelkafi, Slim; Konstantinou, Ioannis; Albanis, Triantafyllos; Yfanti, Paraskevi; Lekka, Marilena E.; Lazzeri, Andrea; Aliotta, Laura; Gigante, Vito; Coltelli, Maria-Beatrice; Hilliou, Loic
The Mediterranean area is one of the major global producers of agricultural food. However, along the entire supply chain—from farming to food distribution and consumption—food waste represents a significant fraction. Additionally, plant waste residues generated during the cultivation of specific fruits and vegetables must also be considered. This heterogeneous biomass is a valuable source of bioactive compounds and materials that can be transformed into high-performance functional products. By analyzing technical and scientific literature, this review identifies extraction, composite production, and bioconversion as the main strategies for valorizing agricultural by-products and waste. The advantages of these approaches as well as efficiency gains through digitalization are discussed, along with their potential applications in the Mediterranean region to support new research activities and bioeconomic initiatives. Moreover, the review highlights the challenges and disadvantages associated with waste valorization, providing a critical comparison of different studies to offer a comprehensive perspective on the topic. The objective of this review is to evaluate the potential of agricultural waste valorization, identifying effective strategies while also considering their limitations, to contribute to the development of sustainable and innovative solutions in Mediterranean bioeconomy.

Browse

Browsing Fakultät Naturwissenschaften by Classification "330"