Projects
Protein extraction from lucerne and clover for broiler and pig feed Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Can we extract the crude protein from the leguminous plants alfalfa (lucerne) and red clover, which are both green fodder crops with well known cultivation techniques, in order to mix that protein into the rations of (organic) pigs and poultry? We are answering this question in the LUZEX project. In livestock farming, there has been a demand for some time now for more, locally grown protein in ...
Upstream regulators of the plant energy sensor SnRK1 KU Leuven
Plants arguably are the most crucial organisms to support life on Earth because of their conversion of electro-magnetic energy (sunlight) into chemical energy (energy-rich carbohydrates) by photosynthesis and the associated release of oxygen. In addition, they produce innumerable renewable food, feed, fiber and fuel products and resources for mankind. Unlike most other organisms, autotrophic plants have a sessile (rooted) lifestyle. It is ...
Breeding of white clover Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
White clover is a perennial, protein-rich forage crop which is suitable for mixed cropping with forage grasses. It is a highly palatable crop that can be exploited under grazing as well as mowing. White clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen, which allows to reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizer applications to the grass-clover mixture without affecting forage yield. The goal of this long-term breeding program is to ...
Red clover breeding Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Red clover is a perennial, protein-rich forage legume that improves soil quality through nitrogen fixation. The crop has a low persistence and is sensitive to a number of diseases, such as mildew (Erysiphe trifolii), clover rust (Uromyces trifolii) and clover rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum). The aim of the program is to create improved varieties through conventional breeding. Important ...
Quinoa breeding Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Quinoa is a protein-rich pseudo-cereal with a high potential for the agricultural sector and the food industry in Flanders. There is a high demand for varieties adapted to North-West European climatological and cultivation conditions. The goal of this breeding program is to develop sweet quinoa varieties (e.g. low content of bitter substances) with high and stable yield and improved resistance ...
Beans for the love of Leuven Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In the context of protein diversification, farmers want to respond to the market demand for more plant-based proteins produced regionally. But often the producer lacks a clear market perspective. On the other hand, the food processing industry and consumers lack information on the possibilities with locally produced protein crops but we currently lack the necessary intermediate stakeholders to ...
Crop diversification for forage production on animal farms: focus on forage sorgho and mixed cropping of silage maize-climbing beans Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The aim of the project Farmers’ Benefits is to diversify crops used as forage in livestock farming. By diversification of cultivated crops, the often narrow crop rotation of silage maize and grass or the monoculture of maize on certain fields can be expanded. ILVO explores two alternatives: forage sorghum and mixed cropping of silage maize with climbing beans. Special attention will be given ...
Ethylene signal transduction during climacteric tomato fruit ripening KU Leuven
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a crop of high economic and nutritional value produced worldwide. Besides having a high number of vitamins and minerals, tomato fruit is rich in other bioactive components including carotenoids and phenolic compounds. In addition, it is an ideal model system to study fleshy fruit development and ripening thanks to its relative short life cycle, its small genome size and the availability of a large ...
Valorisation of industrial bio-based side streams with designer cellulosomics Ghent University
Cost-effective fermentation of fuels and chemicals from second generation sugars has a huge potential for replacing fossil-based feedstocks. Enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass streams with (hemi)cellulases is essential to produce monomeric sugars for the production of fuel and chemicals. Yet, saccharification of heterogeneous lignocellulosic streams from circular use of biomass or the biorefinery of crops remains a too high ...