en: News

On November 6, 2025, our colleague Franziska Lengerer successfully completed her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands).

The persons mentioned in the caption dressed in festive gowns

On October 31, 2025, the long-standing deputy director of the institute Dr. Peter Mehl retired. Prof. Dr. Annett Steinführer was appointed as the new deputy director.

Peter Mehl (rechts) und Annett Steinführer (links)

Prof. Dr. Andreas Klärner was elected to the board of trustees of the Agrarsoziale Gesellschaft (ASG) by its general meeting. Congratulations!

What does an environment in which sustainable nutrition is successful look like? Members of the Scientific Advisory Board for Agricultural Policy, Nutrition, and Consumer Health Protection (WBAE) will show this in a ten-part online lecture series. Also the Thünen Institute will contribute.

Schüsseln mit Hülsenfrüchten und Tofuquader auf einem Holzbrett.

Researchers from five Thünen Institutes presented findings on the benefits of hedges in agricultural landscapes and requirements that are necessary for planting more hedges.

Project team for the excursion stands in front of a hedge

More and more microplastics are ending up in our soil – but we know very little about the consequences. Find out whether this poses a threat to our food security and what steps are needed to advance microplastics research in the new Thünen Fact Check.

Ein dreigeteiltes Bild: Links Portrait von Elke Brandes, rechts ein Portrait von Katrin Schiedung und in der Mitte kleine Pflanzen, die von Plastik umgeben sind. von

On October 7, 2025, scientists from eight European countries gathered in Berlin to discuss the political impact of spatial inequalities. Particular attention was paid to developments and perceptions in Central Eastern Europe.

20 scientists in front of a conference building

In a video interview for the journalism magazine ‘drehscheibe’, Tobias Mettenberger explains why simplistic notions of ‘country lifestyle’ and ‘rural frustration’ fall short of providing a more accurate understanding of actual living conditions.

Interview with Tobias Mettenberger and editor-in-chief Stefan Wirner

During the European Agricultural Research Congress (EAAE) in Bonn from August 26 to 29, researchers from across Europe will discuss how sustainable development in the agricultural and food industry can be achieved despite multiple crises. The Thünen Institute is participating with 45 contributions.