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In focus
Intact soil despite heavy machinery
17 December 2025
Soil compaction is almost invisible – but its consequences for soil health and yields are all the more serious. Our expert article shows how farmers can counteract this.
Extreme events change the ecology of oceans abruptly: For example, a marine heat wave in 2003 had such strong effects on species composition and trophic interactions of the subpolar North Atlantic that these impacts last until today. Researchers led by the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries in…
Millions of tons of food end up in the trash every year—at the expense of the environment, the economy, and society. In this episode, we talk about which social structures contribute to this and how we can achieve a more sustainable approach to food.
Women start businesses less often than men – but are catching up. This is shown in the report “Women Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024/2025” published today by the RKW Competence Center. Thünen researchers were also involved in the study.
The Thünen Institute.
Research and policy advice on rural areas, agriculture, forests and fisheries.
As a research institute in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), we work at the interface of science, politics and society.
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Employees, 651 of them scientists
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Institutes conduct research in the fields of rural areas, agriculture, forestry and fisheries
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Lectures in 2024
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Publications in 2024
KnowledgeSnack
Energy from the field. How much energy a hectare of land provides depends heavily on how it is used. A Thünen study shows that wind power and solar power are significantly more efficient than bioenergy. A car can travel around 3,000 times further on wind energy than on biodiesel from rapeseed. Similar differences also exist in electricity and heat production.
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New publications
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Pedersen J, Hafner SD, Pacholski AS (2026) Methodological factors affecting ammonia emission measurement with flux chambers from field-applied biogas digestate slurry (Technical note). Atmos Environ X 29:100408, DOI:10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100408
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Abayneh Ayele H, Margarian A, Weible D (2026) Grounds for growth? Institutional mechanisms of value chain upgrading in Ethiopia's coffee sector. Dev Pol Rev 44(1):e70047, DOI:10.1111/dpr.70047
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Hillebrand H, Baums IB, Beng KC, Dajka J-C, Franke A, Hodapp D, Laakmann S, Levi S, McCarthy A, Neun S, Oestreicher A, Rädecker N, Sebuliba S, Smykala M, Striebel M, Tallon AK, Happe A (2026) Towards a broader perspective on marine biodiversity change. Mar Biodiv 56(1):1, DOI:10.1007/s12526-025-01587-0
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Bromhall K, McLaverty C, Eigaard OR, Wilms Tm JG, Noack T, O'Neill FG, Dinesen GE (2026) Quantifying depletion rates of benthic macrofauna from the Danish Seine - a ‘low impact’ mobile bottom-contacting fishing gear. Fish Res 293:107611, DOI:10.1016/j.fishres.2025.107611
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Lewin W-C, Weltersbach MS, Strehlow HV (2026) German anglers' views on global warming - implications for climate change monitoring and management. Environ Manag 76(1):20, DOI:10.1007/s00267-025-02291-2
