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This research aims for yield improvement and high-quality, sustainable plant production with respect for people, animals and the environment. We optimize and evaluate (new) crop husbandry techniques (rotations, new crops, soil management, nutrients) and seed processing techniques. We develop sustainable soil management and organize official variety testing. Some interface exists between crop husbandry and environment/nature.

We study the complexity of choices made to increase sustainability. How does a competitive and sustainable production system function within an environmental, market and policy context? What makes it shock-resistant? We study the resilience of agricultural systems, develop decision support tools and models, study collaboration in the agro-food chain, create sustainability assessment tools and study learning processes in farmer groups.

This unit comprises three research areas (Agricultural Engineering, Food Safety and Product Quality and Innovation). Technical, mathematical and IT methods support mechanization and automation in production. We study the safety (microbiological and chemical) and quality of all types of foodstuffs. We develop methods to detect GMOs and allergens and to determine authenticity. We seek new functions and valorization of food products.

Chemische procestechniek Modelling of gas-solid chemical reactors. Bubble flow, heat transfer and conversion in fluidized bed reactors. Numerical analysis of the bifurcation behavior of non-linear systems. Catalytic reduction of NOx in automotive exhaust gases. Modelling of multistage separation processes. Computer-aided design of chemical processes: development of simulation programs. Energy integration in chemical processes.

The department wants to play an important role in social themes such as environmental pollution, food production, climate change, forest, green and nature management, soil and water management, subsurface exploitation, urban and rural issues, development cooperation and tourism.