Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2026
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Landfilling remains a widely used and economically viable waste disposal method, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced treatment technologies. However, once these sites reach capacity and are closed, their long-term environmental management becomes a critical concern for municipalities and stakeholders. This study explores post-closure landfill management strategies by examining three closed landfill cases in Norway. A literature review was conducted to establish a baseline understanding of current practices and gaps. Despite previous research on landfill gas utilization and waste-to-energy technologies, there is a lack of empirical, site-specific studies addressing the long-term aftercare and post-closure management of closed landfills in European contexts. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by providing a case-based assessment of closed landfill management practices in Norway. Findings were synthesized using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analytical framework to assess both internal and external influencing factors. The results highlight key strengths, including existing gas monitoring systems and recycling efforts, as well as critical weaknesses, such as infrastructure instability and limited historical assessment data. Opportunities are found in areas such as methane mitigation, circular economy integration, and land reuse planning, while threats include financial constraints and long-term maintenance concerns. Drawing on these insights, the study emphasizes the importance of developing integrated aftercare strategies that incorporate environmental monitoring, risk assessments, and cost-benefit analyses tailored to site-specific conditions. These insights are valuable for stakeholders, including municipalities, policymakers, landfill owners, national authorities, industries, and waste management companies, in shaping future initiatives for repurposing landfills.
Abstract
Plant genotypes can vary in multiple functional traits due to adaptation to heterogenous environments. However, whether such variation can extrapolate to effects on soils and further on performance of subsequent plants, thus generating a genotypic variation in soil legacy, remains unclear. In this study, we studied how plant genotypic variation impacts soil legacy when exposed to aboveground insect herbivores. We used 11 wild genotypes of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) experimentally exposed to leaf beetles (Galerucella tenella) to condition live soil. We then replaced the conditioning plants with naïve plants to examine soil legacy effects on growth and resistance on the subsequent plant genotype (referred to as the focal genotype) against the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis. This allowed us to test the extent to which plant genotypic variation in soil legacy is altered by aboveground herbivory. We found an overall positive soil legacy effect of woodland strawberry, indicated by 69.9% higher belowground biomass of the subsequent focal genotype grown in conditioned soil compared to in unconditioned soil. We also observed a genotype-dependent soil legacy effect on performance of S. littoralis indicated as relative growth rates reduced by 37.9% on the subsequent focal genotype in soil conditioned by the focal genotype itself compared to by other genotypes, though the legacy effect was cancelled out when conditioning genotypes were exposed to G. tenella herbivory. A genotypic variation was further detected in soil legacy on the efficiency of conversion of ingested food by S. littoralis caterpillars feeding on the focal genotype. However, the genotypic variation was only present when the focal genotype was excluded from the conditioning genotypes at the exposure of G. tenella herbivory. Collectively, our study shows a conditional plant genotype-dependent soil legacy effect on herbivore resistance (measured as herbivore performance) rather than on plant growth, and the magnitude of the legacy effects depends on both the identity of the conditioning genotypes and the measures of the herbivore resistance. The findings of this study provide new insights into how plant genotypes or herbivory affects soil feedback on plant growth and herbivore resistance.
Abstract
Abstract Defence priming enhances plant responsiveness to future stress following prior exposure, and has been extensively characterised in annual model species as a reversible state associated with faster or stronger defence activation. However, studies in long-lived plants indicate that priming responses can be elicitor-specific, developmentally variable and closely linked to environmental history. In trees, priming is often strongest in early life stages, while in mature individuals defence responses are more frequently associated with direct activation and stabilised regulatory states. Evidence across systems shows that priming can operate over multiple timescales, from short-term reversible responses to longer-lasting effects that influence response thresholds and activation kinetics. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and chromatin modification, contribute to these processes and may persist across cell divisions or developmental transitions. Together, these findings highlight the importance of developmental stage and temporal context in shaping plant defence responses.
Authors
Theresa Weigl Jorunn Børve Melissa Magerøy Hanne Larsen Carl Gunnar Fossdal Siv Fagertun RembergAbstract
The physiological disorder soft scald may cause losses in apple fruit storage. This study aimed at understanding the interplay between fruit maturity at harvest and storage temperature on soft scald development in the susceptible cultivar ‘Red Aroma’. Fruit harvested late and subsequently stored at −0.5 °C developed the significantly highest soft scald incidence. Overall ethylene and CO2-production was reduced in late harvested fruit stored at −0.5 °C, while fruit from the early harvest showed a cold-induced ethylene increase under the same storage conditions, suggesting an active cold-acclimation response. Clustering of RNA sequencing data and overrepresentation analysis revealed that transcripts involved in cell wall modification, ripening-associated signaling, antioxidant defense system and secondary metabolism were upregulated in late harvested fruit at harvest as well as soft scald-affected fruit after storage. In contrast, early harvested fruit at harvest and disorder-free fruit after storage showed higher expression of transcripts associated with abiotic stress resistance, such as leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases, protein kinases with tetratricopeptide repeat domains, and auxin response factor, indicating a potential link between early maturity and enhanced cold tolerance in ‘Red Aroma’ apple fruit.
Authors
Kathrin Yvonne Weber Erlend Grenager Sørmo Gerard Cornelissen Alice Budai Daniel Rasse Harald Bier Troy RobichaudAbstract
Biochar has emerged as a promising carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solution that combines long-term carbon storage with benefits for soil health, waste management, and industrial applications. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of biochar across feedstocks, production technologies, material properties, and end-use pathways, with a particular focus on its role in climate mitigation. Drawing on scientific literature and international case studies, the report evaluates the carbon sequestration potential, environmental performance, and technological maturity of biochar systems. It distinguishes between applications that deliver durable carbon removal and those that primarily contribute to emission reductions. The report further examines deployment barriers, including feedstock availability, regulatory frameworks, market development, and safety considerations, and reviews the status of biochar implementation across Mission Innovation countries. Based on these insights, it outlines key opportunities and recommendations to support the responsible scale-up of biochar as a climate solution.
Abstract
The experiment aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a Monil virtual fence collar for small ruminants on mature Norwegian White ewes at the NIBIO Tjøtta station. The study aimed to evaluate the animals' learning ability and welfare, compare two auditory cues (Original vs. Modified; collar treatment), and examine the effects of wool (Shaved vs. Unshaved) on the efficacy of the virtual fence system. A total of 16 ewes were randomly assigned to two groups of 8, each equipped with one of the collars, and further divided based on wool treatment. Two mirrored training arenas were set up for the two groups. For two days, the collared animals had unrestricted access to graze the entire arena (VF-Off). This was followed by two days of restricted access to 2/3 of the arena using the virtual fence collars (VF-On). After the fourth day, the animals were switched to the other arena as a crossover design, and the sequence of VF-Off and VF-On was repeated. Data collected included position and cue logs from the virtual fence collars, heart rate monitors, and observation data gathered through three methods: Video Surveillance, Direct Observation Time Budget, and Pressure Marks Assessment. Our results indicate that the ewes were able to learn to avoid restricted zones effectively, relying more on auditory cues than on electrical cues. The virtual fence cueing imposed short-lived stress (acute stress), with both behavioral and physiological metrics returning to baseline levels within five minutes. Additionally, exclusively auditory cues resulted in less stress compared to cues associated with electrical stimulation. No indicators of chronic behavioral stress were observed. However, we found that the collars needed to move freely on the animals' necks to prevent pressure marks, suggesting that the ewes should be shaved around their necks before wearing the collars. While collar treatment showed no significant effects, wool treatment indicated that the shaved group was more compliant with the virtual fence system due to reduced insulation, which enhanced the effectiveness of electrical cues. During the deployment with the unshaved group, there were three instances in which the animals received an electrical cue that did not elicit the animal response, allowing for their “escape” over the virtual fence boundary. Therefore, equipping the virtual fence on shaved animals is paramount for enhancing the system's reliability. If the suggestion is followed, the system can effectively be used for sheep without compromising animal welfare.
Authors
Shumaila Khatri Hanne Kathrine Sjølie Kristina Bringedal Gedde Lizhen Huang Per Kr. Rørstad Roja Modaresi Lone RossAbstract
This report summarizes the main findings of the research conducted within the CircWOOD project during the period 2022-2026 and presents key recommendations for decision-makers towards wood reuse in the construction sector. CircWOOD aimed to enable and support a transition to a sustainable, competitive, and technologically optimized circular wood value chain through a transdisciplinary research approach. The project was carried out by five research institutions and universities, exploring technical, environmental, economic, and social dimensions in the value chain. Our research findings demonstrate potentials for wood reuse, while also highlighting a variety of practical and market-related challenges. The report presents eight key recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and other decisionmakers to drive wood reuse. Improving sorting systems and quality control for wood waste from construction and demolition activities and prioritizing deconstruction over demolition can enable reuse. Developing supporting infrastructure such as material banks, reuse centers, and logistics systems is also important. Wood reuse can create new opportunities for businesses, while continued research, better data, and AI can strengthen decision-making and support a more resource-efficient built environment.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Stephan Hoffmann Mostafa Hoseini Moritz Wingartz Mahmoud Rajabi Helle Ross Gobakken Rasmus AstrupAbstract
A functional and low-impact forest road network is essential for sustainable forest management, yet maintaining such infrastructure is costly and requires monitoring tools that are reliable and simple enough for operational use. We present an automated approach to detect, map, and evaluate forest road surface deterioration, designed to support end-users, including those with limited road expertise, to indicate required maintenance actions. The system relies on data collected by the vehicle-mounted near-field sensor platform RoadSens, which integrates stereo camera imagery with GNSS-based geo-referencing to capture detailed road surface information. Collected data are processed within a monitoring and scheduling environment using a YOLOv8 object detection model trained on nearly 14,000 annotated images. The model identifies six key deterioration features: potholes, wheel ruts, gullies, washboards, stones, and vegetation. These detections are used to locate maintenance-relevant features and classify road segments into three deterioration levels based on coverage thresholds, which are then visualized through a traffic-light system. A case study on a forest road in southern Norway demonstrated the system’s ability to detect and classify maintenance needs. While performance was strong for more uniform features such as vegetation, irregular structures like wheel ruts proved more challenging, occasionally leading to misclassification of actual maintenance requirements. Nevertheless, the findings confirm the technical feasibility of integrating object detection models into data-driven forest road maintenance scheduling. Future improvements will require larger and more diverse training datasets, as well as classification frameworks tailored to local conditions and specific road-user needs.309671