Projects
The role of actors and networks in the development of organic agriculture Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Which discourses exist within the organic market, the policy and the agricultural sector in Flanders? How do these different discourses influence each other? What impact does this have on the development of the organic agriculture industry in Flanders? The research aims to develop insights in the development of the organic agriculture sector in Flanders and related challenges. The role of ...
Reuse of phosphorus from organic waste streams in agriculture - an experimental analysis of the sustainability KU Leuven
Decades of excessive use of phosphorus (P) fertilisers in agriculture resulted in large soil P reserves in arable soils. This historical over-fertilisation contrasts with the impending scarcity of natural mineral P resources and with the adverse environmental effects due to losses of P to the natural environment; for these reasons, the reservoirs of soil P are often denoted as the legacy P. To reduce these environmental effects, ...
Creating added value in organic agriculture through sustainable combinations of crops and free range for poultry Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The aim of the LEGCOMBIO project is to investigate how a single parcel of agricultural land can be used more efficiently and sustainably through the thoughtful combination of perennial crops for the production of food, wood and/or biomass with a free-range for (organic) poultry. This project is now completed.
Research approach
1) A desk study (literature ...
A comparison of the effects of organic and conventional agriculture on biodiversity and the functioning of small aquatic systems – an ecological and evolutionary ecological perspective (not on website ADS because backup for FWO fellowship application) KU Leuven
Agriculture is fundamental to feed and supply worldwide human populations. It is also one of the human activities with larger effects on the environment. Organic farming has been suggested as a greener alternative to conventional agriculture. Small waterbodies, such as ponds and shallow lakes, are excellent sentinels of human impact, as they are highly sensitive to local environmental change. Their ecology and functioning is largely ...
Organic agriculture in West and Central java Ghent University
Intensive agriculture in Indonesia, notably paddy rice and vegetable production, uses massive external inputs and puts serious threats on the environment and on farmers' and consumers' health. There is very little research on sustainable farming systems, in particular organic farming, and universities are under increasing pressure of privatization. This project aims to establish strongly interlinked research groups on sustainable farming both ...
digestion of organic waste from agriculture, forestry and sugar cane production for biogasproductie in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba Ghent University
The main purpose is the exchange of expertise concerning biogas production out of agriculture products, i.e. concerning the technology itself (co-promotor) and concerning the technical and ecological sustainability (promotor). This will be done by visists: (1) lecturing (2) laboraoty visits (3) meetings to get a better picture of the needs of the local living conditions en how biogas production can take a significant role in a sustainable ...
Development and validation of applicable chemical analysis for the determination of organic and inorganic agro-chemicals in food and their presence in organic soil improvers for innovative agricultural production and food security in Cuba Ghent University
This project will identify the fate of agrochemicals commonly used in Cuba for fruit and vegetable crop production. Methods and analytical techniques to detect these organic and anorganic compounds at trace-level through laboratory and field studies will be evaluated to propose and validate the most suitable techniques for use with the Cuban facilities. Bio-fertilisers which replace traditionally used agrochemicals without diminishing ...
Threats and opportunities of different bioenergy production systems for the soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural soils in Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In this study we assess threats and opportunities of different bioenergy production systems for the soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural soils in Flanders. Energy crops may negatively affect soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural soils as aboveground biomass is removed to be used for bioenergy production. We determine the effect of the most important (potential) bioenergy production ...