Projects
Water and microclimate management strategies for agrivoltaics. KU Leuven
Agrivoltaics is an innovative farming system in which solar panels are combined with crop production, in order to achieve a higher land-use-efficiency. The photovoltaic panels are installed in such a way, that sufficient light reaches the crops to allow a combined sustainable production of solar energy and plant biomass. It is important to design the system so that a synergy is reached rather than competition, to maximize dual-land use. The ...
Climate-smart soil management strategies for sorghum production at the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya KU Leuven
Study Title: Impact of organic amendments on Soil Properties and GHG Emissions, and Performance of Grain Sorghum Background of the study The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has risen by over 40 % since 1750 and continues to rise at the rate of 2.0 ± 1.0 ppm Y-1 (IPCC, 2014). The rising concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) has caused a significant increase in global mean air temperatures (Allen et al., ...
Wood based products and adoption of forest management strategies for a sustainable bioeconomy: a socio-economic assessment KU Leuven
This PhD research investigates alternative pathways for the European forest sector to mitigate climate change, while considering preservation of biodiversity and delivery of other forest related ecosystem services. It particularly focuses on the potential of long- and short lived wood products to sequester carbon. It starts with mapping current and future trends in demand for wood and wood-based products and associated needs in wood ...
Biocontrol technologies for disease and pest management in strawberry: potential for bacterial strategies and lactic acid bacteria? University of Antwerp
Discourse, behavior and management strategies in the circular economy. KU Leuven
A number of methods will be developed in the framework of this PhD that will allow us to both 1) gain insight into the current state of affairs regarding the use of circular strategies and the beliefs and visions of citizens, organizations, and companies (which strategies are used, what is the perceived added value, how does the support differ between different actors, etc.? ), 2) estimating and predicting the impact of policy interventions ...
EMERGING VIRAL DISEASES IN TOMATOES AND CUCURBITS: IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR DURABLE DISEASE MANAGEMENT KU Leuven
Viral diseases can cause severe losses to vegetable crop production which has an estimated annual value of 34,5 billion EUR in Europe. Therefore several billions are lost every year due to the prominence of viral diseases and the emergence of new viruses in European fields and greenhouses. Importantly viral diseases also lead to the extensive use of pesticides, thereby exposing European growers and consumers to pesticide residues.
In ...
Novel fetal management strategies of gastroschisis and urinary tract obstruction KU Leuven
Fetal surgery has become a reality, and the introduction of minimally invasive techniques broadens potentially the scope of conditions. In urinary tract obstruction the main obstacles are (non-invasive) assessment of deterioration of renal function and technical limitations to explore the bladder neck at the time of in utero surgery. Gastroschisis can technically also be covered, though formal assessment of the benefits must still take ...
Disentangling the role of resilience and management strategies in restoration success of tropical dry forests KU Leuven
Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are amongst the most degraded and least studied forests worldwide despite their high endemism and essential ecosystem services. TDF restoration initiatives aimed at reversing this degradation and safeguarding ecosystem services are booming, while the scientific basis for restoration strategies (purpose, location, technique), and their effects on restoration success, remains severely understudied. In addition, ...
Towards sustainable management strategies against Nezara viridula KU Leuven
With a growing intensification of agricultural practices as a means to feed the mounting human population, pests have become a serious burden for crop production. Traditional pest control relies heavily on chemical pesticides and their use has increased drastically since the 1960s. Although chemical pesticides were initially very successful in diminishing pest populations, it has become clear that intensive, traditional pesticide use comes ...