Jonathan de Long (UvA): Mitigating drought effects on grassland productivity by understanding grass-fungi-drought soil legacy interactions
Drought events are becoming more frequent and more intense. This results in decreases in grassland productivity and financial losses for farmers. Upon rewetting after drought, so-called drought soil legacy effects can lead to carbon and nitrogen losses from the soil. This could exacerbate the current nitrogen and climate crises. Many grasses form symbioses with fungi that live inside their leaves. These fungi can help the grasses to take up carbon and nitrogen and help them to better cope with drought. To better understand how drought soil legacy effects change grass and fungi relationships, will be useful knowledge in order to maintain productivity, prevent carbon and nitrogen losses to the atmosphere and help to tackle the current nitrogen and climate crises.
Juan Cruz Tubio (VU): MycoFarming, domesticating fungi At the root of the Dutch farmer’s crisis, lie far too high emissions of nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is a critical element for a plant to grow, but in excess, it’s damaging to the underground and leads to biodiversity losses. By way of developing nitrogen sensors and […]
Ramon de Iongh and Romaike Slikker (HvA): WasteBase – A new purpose for residual streams The production of the products around us generates waste in the form of residual materials. WasteBase aims to increase the findability of these valuable materials. Manufacturers can offer their residual streams on the platform, allowing designers, artists and other creatives to […]
Daphne Gnago and Riccardo Bonazza (HvA): MatSwap – use your mattress to the fullest Many students might experience sleeping difficulties as they don’t have the means to afford quality bedding. In the meanwhile, mattress waste is creating consequent environmental issues as most mattresses are disposed of or incinerated before reaching their intended lifespan. MatSwap is […]