Research

Funding: MWK, 104.704 EUR

Project Details:
COFONI-LPC TechnologiePlattform 2-
Animal models & test systems

Results:

https://www.umg.eu/forschung/corona/cofoni/

Funding: MEKUN, 233.834 EUR

Project Details:
In the previous four years a concept was developed to perform standardized necropsy and examination on all otters found dead in Schleswig-Holstein (SH), to allow for assessment of the general population health status. Even though most otters were roadkills and seemed comparatively healthy, zoonotic agentswere cultured from tissue samples and rare otter specialist parasites were recorded for the first time in Northern Germany. Combined dietaryanalysis includinghard part analysis and genetic metabarcoding were used to depictthe natural prey spectrum of otters. Knowlegde on the otters` diet is of utmost importance in various context, for example in the light of fisheries-otter conflicts. Cementum aging reveiled a rather young average age of the investigated otters from SH. Combined with the ongoing recolonization of the otter in SH, this might be an indication that the population has not finally established itself yet and we face a dynamic process. The findings of various environmental contaminants of concern in the otters from SH were of utmost importance and included potential microplastic particles, pharmaceuticals, rat poison, mercury or per- and polyfluorinated chemicals.

The aim of this project is to combine the expertise from previous years and transform the health assessments into a long-term post-mortem population health monitoring for otters in SH. As top predators, Eurasian otters are indicator species for environmental contaminants or infectious diseases in freshwater ecosystems, like marine mammals in their habitat. By adopting this indicator function, the collection of otter health data shall be continued to allow for the estimation of time trends in future population health assessments. Accordingly, otters found dead in SH will continued to be collected and investigated, including diagnostics such as histology, microbiology and parasitology. The main focus will be on diseased animals and such, where the cause of death is unclear. All other individuals will be screened for relevant indicator pathogens, including distemper virus or high pathogenic avian influenza virus. In addition, parasitological and microbiological investigations will be conducted if assumed necessary. To determine whether hard ticks infecting otters play a role in the transfer of vector-borne disease, all collected hard ticks (Ixodes) from previous years will be determined on a species level. The results will give an overview, which tick species are infecting otters and if the transfer of certain pathogens might play a role here.

In accordance with their role as indicator species of the aquatic environment, systematic mercury analysis will be conducted for the first time on otters from SH. An international collaboration within the EU investigated contaminants in otters and could show that mercury levels in some individuals from SH were very high compared to other top predators. For the planned analysis, samples from the biobank will be carefully selected to ensure a good coverage with regards to age, sex and location of finding. Moreover, first steps to develop biomarkers for environmental contaminants in otters will be made.

Eine systematische Fortführung der Untersuchungen der Fischotter in SH ist von zentraler Bedeutung, um langfristige Populationsentwicklungen einzuschätzen und beurteilen zu können. Als streng geschützte Art und wertvoller Indikator für das Ökosystem Süßwasser bietet ein strategisches Monitoring des Fischotters die Möglichkeit, Arten- und Naturschutz zu verbinden. Auch im Hinblick auf sich abzeichnende Interessenskonflikte, z.B. mit der Fischerei, kann eine solide Datengrundlage zum Fischotter wertvolle Informationsarbeit leisten und sachliche Diskussionen ermöglichen.

In order to estimate and evaluate long-term population trends of otters in SH, a systemic continuation of the post-mortem investigations is needed. As strictly protected species and suitable indicator for the freshwater ecosystem, a strategic monitoring of Eurasian otter represents a valuable tool to combine conservation of both wildlife and nature. Especially when looking at potential conflicts like the otter-fisheries interface, a well developed dataset on otters will help to create information based on scientific facts and ensure objective rather than emotional discussion.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 46.497 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to establish he first agricultural skills lab to improve practical skills in training in order to promote better animal welfare in education. New social and political demands in agriculture, which may require new practical skills, can be implemented in the skills lab and learned and deepened in a protected learning environment. The agricultural skills lab is intended to address different target groups (trainees to become farmers/animal keepers, trainees to become master craftsmen, obtain relevant additional qualifications (e.g. insemination technicians) and students of agricultural science / livestock science) and encourage exchange and learning from one another and with one another between the different groups improve audiences.

Results:

https://www.lksh.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/news/artikel/show/deutschlands-erstes-agriskills-lab-steht-in-schleswig-holstein-heute-oeffnete-der-simulatoren-lernort-im-lvz-futterkamp

Cooperation Partners:

Lehr- und Versuchszentrum Futterkamp, Landwirtschaftskammer Schleswig-Holstein

Dr. Sophie Diers

Gutshof 1, 24327 Blekendorf

Funding: Das Projekt ist Teil der Modell- und Demonstrationsvorhaben (MuD) Tierschutz im Bundesprogramm Nutztierhaltung. Die Förderung erfolgt aus Mitteln des Bundesministeriums für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) aufgrund eines Beschlusses des deutschen Bundestages, Projektträger ist die Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), Förderkennzeichen 2820MDT341., 399.935 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of this model and demonstration project is to scientifically evaluate (partially) mobile slaughtering of poultry and cattle and to communicate the results adequately into practice. Different types of (partially) mobile slaughter units will be analyzed with regard to their effects on the animals (animal welfare) and products from these animals (meat hygiene, meat quality), organizational feasibility, technical requirements, legal conformity and economy. Existing and new scientific findings for the optimization of the above-mentioned aspects will be tested for their suitability, and communicated and transferred into practice. The communication of the results will take place via specialist articles, leaflets/practice guides, specialist videos, homepages, online seminars and information events.

https://www.tiho-hannover.de/stronger

Cooperation Partners:

Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau e.V. (FiBL)

Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG)

Funding: Roland und Elfriede Schauer-Stiftung, 210.000 EUR

Project Details:
In this project, we hypothesize that glycosylated C-type lectin receptor (CLR) ligands induce a differential expression of CLRs by intestinal macrophages under bacterial dysbiosis, thereby leading to a modulated host immune response. This hypothesis will be tested by performing in vitro and in vivo studies.

Funding: Drittmittelprojekt, gefördert durch die Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung., 100.000 EUR

Project Details:
The consumption of short-ripened and nitrite-reduced raw sausages can pose a risk to the consumer if a lack of drying and altered ripening processes allow pathogenic and spoilage-causing bacteria to multiply. Bacillus species are used as starter cultures in modern biotechnological processes, but also in traditionally fermented products. They are able to form so-called bacteriocins. These are ribosomally synthesised peptides with a high antibacterial activity. An application of these bacteriocins in sausage production can extend the shelf life and prevent the occurrence of pathogenic germs. As starter cultures, bacteriocin-forming bacteria can make an important contribution to the safe production of short-ripened and nitrite-reduced raw sausages.
In this project, Bacillus species that have not been investigated so far are tested for their antimicrobial properties against meat-relevant spoilage and zoonotic pathogens (e.g. Campylobacter spp., listeria and salmonella). With an already established high-throughput method on a laboratory scale, this can be done with a hundred isolates simultaneously. Cell-free culture supernatants are obtained, which are subsequently used to identify the potential bacteriocins. Promising Bacillus isolates are tested in a second step in short-ripened and nitrite-reduced raw sausage products as a supplement to established starter cultures.

Results:

Natürliche Biokontrolle von Listeria monocytogenes in Rohwurst durch die Bakteriozin produzierenden Stämme Bacillus cereus MHI 86 und Bacillus thuringiensis 5-29. 65. Arbeitstagung des Arbeitsgebietes Lebensmittelsicherheit und Verbraucherschutz, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 23.09.-25.09.2025.

 

Identifizierung und Charakterisierung von Thuricin-17-ähnlichen Bakteriozinen, produziert von Bacillus thuringiensis und Bacillus cereus Isolaten. 64. Arbeitstagung des Arbeitsgebietes Lebensmittelsicherheit und Verbraucherschutz, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 24.09.- 27.09.2024.

 

Identification and characterisation of thuricin 17-like bacteriocins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus isolates. 7th Joint Microbiology & Infection Conference, of the DGHM and VAAM, Würzburg, Germany, 02-05 June 2024, 176-177.

Funding: BMBF - JIPOceans MARE:N-Meeres- und Polarforschung im Förderbereich:Meeresforschung, 394.621 EUR

Project Details:
Sounds from offshore wind farms (OWF) are among the main contributors of anthropogenic noise to the marine environment. Substantial effort has been expanded on understanding possible impacts of noise resulting from the development stages of the OWF lifecycle. Despite 30 years of OWF operation in EU waters, our understanding of the impacts in the operational phase on marine ecosystems is limited. In this consortium, we aim to address this gap by expanding our knowledge of the radiated noise and the biological consequences of these operations and placing them in appropriate regulatory contexts, including provisions for adaptive mitigation advice. From the source and medium side, we will quantify key features of radiated noise from fixed and floating OWF, to increase understanding and simulate cumulative effect of clusters on radiated noise, helping us to identify sensitive habitats in cross-basin soundscapes. From the biological perspective, we will identify spatial and qualitative use of operating OWF by top predators and study the impacts of OWF noise on zooplankton behavior. These efforts will advance our knowledge of acute and cumulative effects of operational OWF noise across pelagic food webs. Harmonising and combining these two sides, we will develop knowledge and tools for integration of all aspects of noise production and propagation from operational OWF. This will facilitate assessment of planned OWF expansion for marine spatial planning and environmental impact. Finally, we will synthesise knowledge and best practices from EU and international experiences with fixed offshore wind installations and transfer this into the development of policy, mitigation, and regulation for the floating OWF within national, EU and international frameworks. With expected substantial expansion in OWF infrastructure globally as part of the green shift, our data and approaches will help facilitate this transition while minimizing impacts on the marine ecosystems

Funding: BMBF - JIPOceans MARE:N-Meeres- und Polarforschung im Förderbereich: Meeresforschung, 399.994 EUR

Project Details:
Marine environment is affected by noise pollution from human activity. The difficulty of conducting clinical and pathological analyses on living organisms in the marine environment and the wide diversity of sources of noise pollution determine a great uncertainty in the nature and extent of effects noise pollution has on marine fauna. Despite the growing literature on these themes, there are still relevant gaps, and a lack of multidisciplinarity in investigations of acute and long-term exposures, considering both single animals and populations. DIAPHONIA will bring together scientists from diverse backgrounds, to assess the various impacts of underwater noise on marine organisms throughout the food web, on European basins. Work package 1 (WP1) will develop a possible diagnostic fingerprinting composed of several tissue markers incorporating molecular, metabolomic and microscopic techniques to identify functional and morphological changes in the acoustic pathways of invertebrates, fishes and marine mammals. WP2 will explore the relationship between behavioural and cellular/molecular/organ effects of both short and long-term noise exposure in fish from different European ocean basins. WP3 will gain insight into the morpho-functionality of the peripheral hearing apparatus in marine mammals and its role in defining the animal’s acoustic sensitivity, by developing a standardised workflow for wave propagation in the associated tissues. All Information and data obtained will be discussed with relevant stakeholders and policy makers, to adapt to a multidisciplinary and evidenced-based approach to the existing guidance. They will also be summarised in guidelines harmonising future research efforts towards novel approaches as predictive models and organoids.

Cooperation Partners:

Projektkoordination: Prof. Sandro Mazzariol

UNIPD - Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy

UPC- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

NTNU- Norway

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 415.089 EUR

Project Details:
The objective of this project is to reduce the use of antibiotics in broiler fattening by on-farm hatching. Onfarm hatching is intended to increase animal health and consequently reduce the incidence of bacterial diseases in the flocks. For this purpose, various parameters that can be influenced by on-farm hatching are
taken into account, collected, evaluated and made available to the practice.
The project is divided into two phases. In phase 1, four farms are accompanied that already use the method of on-farm hatching and thus have previous experience (lighthouse farms). The experiences of the lighthouse farms as well as the data collected in this first phase will be passed on in phase 2 as knowledge
transfer to six farms (two with fast-growing broiler, two with slow-growing broiler and two organic farms),
that are using on-farm hatching for the first time (newcomers).

Cooperation Partners:

Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Universität Rostock

Funding: EU, 120.000 EUR

Project Details:
The project is carried out at DIL e.V., Quakenbrück.
The Horizon Europe project ZeroW directly addresses the challenge of food loss and waste by developing and testing an interplay of innovations under real-world conditions. 46 partners from across Europe have joined forces to develop realistic solutions to significantly reduce food waste and accelerate a just transition to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system for all. The DIL is partner of the Living Lab "Mobile food valorisation as a service".

Cooperation Partners:

Inlecom Innovation Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki Etaireia,

Wageningen University,

Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno,

South East Technological University,

Biosense Institute - Research and Development Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems,

Digiotouch Ou,

Eigen Vermogen Van Het Instituut

Voor Landbouw- En Visserijonderzoek,

Safe Food Advocacy Europe,

FBCD AS,

VLTN BV,

Instituto Tecnologico De Aragon,

Konnecta Systems Ltd.,

ITC - Inovacijsko Tehnoloski Grozd Murska Sobota,

Fondazione Istituto Sui Trasporti E La Logistica,

Instituto Tecnologico Del Embalaje,

Transporte Y Logistica,

Asociatia Transilvania It,

Asociatia Clusterul Agro-Food-Ind

Napoca,

Fundacion Corporacion Tecnologica De Andalucia,

Instituto Andaluz De Investigaciony Formacion Agraria Pesquera Alimentaria Y De La Produccion Ecologica,

Agrifood Lithuania Dih,

Sintef As,

Tilburg University,

Novamont Spa,

Mc Shared Services Sa,

Modelo Continente Hipermercados S.A.,

Grupo Empresarial La Cana,

Multiscan Technologies Sl, UAB Art21,

Lietuvos Darzoviu Augintoju Asociacija,

Lietuvos Maisto Eksportuotoju Asociacija (Litmea),

F6S Network Ireland Limited,

F6S Network Ltd.,

Allmicroalgae Natural Products Sa,

Universidade Do Minho,

Erevnitiko Panepistimiako Institouto Systimaton Epikoinonion Kai Ypologiston,

Boerenbond Projecten, Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij,

ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH,

Kmetijsko Gozdarska Zbornica Slovenije Kmetijsko Gozdarski Zavod Murska Sobota, Univerza V Mariboru,

Robin Food,

Asociacion De Investigacion De Industrias Carnicas Del Principado De Asturias,

Aves Nobles Y Derivados,

S.L.,

Termoformas De Levante Sl, Eroski Scoop,

Voedselbank Limburg,

SVZ International Bv,

Konnecta Systems Ike,

Federation Belge Des Banques Alimentaires