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.
2025
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Raigon Jimenez, Maria Dolores Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Blanco Penedo, María Isabel Bourin, Marie-Christine Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix Amador, Alberto Auranmaa, Kirsi Brugger, Harald Burkart, Crinna Cozzo, Riccardo Hansen, Max Milan, Marlene Molteni, Roberto Perez Calvo, Maria del Mar Raffaitin, Pauline Rauch, Thomas Sossidou, Evangelia Waidelich, AnneAbstract
Considering the most recent technical and scientific information available to the experts, the Group is requested: (5) to agree on the criteria for evaluation of substances for cleaning and disinfection to be applied to all fields of organic production where the use of such agents is necessary to maintain a high level of food hygiene. (6) to make a proposal for a negative list of substances with unwanted properties based on the above defined criteria. (7) to carry on some worked examples of evaluation of prioritized dossiers submitted by the Member States on products for cleaning and disinfection based on the criteria agreed: i. Hydrogen peroxide (DK) ii. Sodium percarbonate (hydrogen peroxide released from sodium percarbonate, DK) iii. Sodium hydroxide (NL) iv. Glutaraldehyde (SE) v. Chlorine dioxide (NO) vi. Calcium hypochlorite (FR) vii. Peracetic acid (FR) viii. Formic acid (FR) ix. Sodium hypochlorite (FR) x. Iodophors (FR) xi. Dipotassium peroxodisulfate + potassium peroxomonosulfate (SE) xii. Fatty acid potassium salt (SE) xiii. Methane sulfonic acid (probably GER, the request was made by BASF Ludwigshafen) (8) to schedule the work for evaluating the rest of the substances on the Commission priority list. For the preparation of its report the Group was invited to examine technical dossiers provided to the Commission by the Member States and suggest amendments to the Annex IV to the Regulation (EU) 2021/1165.
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Raigon Jimenez, Maria Dolores Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Raigon Jimenez, Maria Dolores Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix WAIDELICH, Anne AMADOR, Alberto AURANMAA, Kirsi BRUGGER, Harald BURKART, Corinna COZZO, Riccardo HANSEN, Max MOLTENI, Roberto PEREZ CALVO, Maria Del Mar RAFFAITIN, Pauline RAUCH, Thomas SOSSIDOU, Evangelia WÖLBITSCH-MILAN, MarleneAbstract
The Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP, thereafter called ‘the Group’) was asked to prepare a technical advice about the applicability of detergents (referred to in the organic legislation as ‘products for cleaning’) and biocidal products (referred to in the organic legislation as ‘products for disinfection’) in organic production. The use of biocidal products and detergents in organic production must be compliant with the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 and the Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on Detergents.
Authors
Micheloni, Cristina Oudshoorn, Frank Willem Blanco Penedo, María Isabel Autio, Sari Beste, Andrea Goracci, Jacopo Matthias Koesling Kretzschmar, Ursula Malusá, Eligio Raigon Jimenez, Maria Dolores Speiser, Bernhard van der Blom, Jan Wäckers, Felix ROINSARD, Antoine ESKILDSEN, MariaAbstract
This report responds to the European Commission’s request for technical advice from EGTOP on the compliance of innovative building systems for pigs with organic farming principles and regulations, particularly those outlined in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/464 . These systems integrate indoor barns with covered outdoor areas but generally lack direct access to open air areas, preferable pasture. The Group assessed these systems in light of organic principles, animal welfare standards, environmental impacts, structural design, biosecurity risks, farmer working conditions, and consumer expectations. The assessment considered scientific literature, existing EU legislation, and the core values of organic production: health, ecology, fairness, and care. The Group acknowledges that these innovative modular systems may offer improvements in thermal comfort, increased outdoor area, manure management, and labor efficiency in confined conditions. In the system under assessment, the available indoor surface appears reduced compared to the requirements outlined in organic standards (Regulation (EU) 2020/464, Articles 11 and 12), while outdoor access would not be guaranteed during adverse weather conditions. The limited indoor area risks compromising animal welfare, falling below the minimum standards of organic production, as animals may be left without sufficient space or opportunities to express natural behaviours under such circumstances.
Authors
Tuanjit Sritongchuay Michael Beckmann Bo Dalsgaard Alexandra Maria Klein Angela Lausch Anders Nielsen Julia Osterman Peter Selsam Kanuengnit Wayo Ralf SeppeltAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Mikołaj Piniewski Natalja Čerkasova Svajunas Plunge Michael Strauch Christoph Schürz Péter Braun Enrico Antonio Chiaradia Joana Eichenberger Mohammad Reza Eini Csilla Farkas Marie Anne Eurie Forio Peter Goethals Piroska Kassai Štěpán Marval Diego G. Panique-Casso Lorenzo Sanguanini Moritz Shore Brigitta Szabó Petr Slavík Felix WitingAbstract
This study proposes a new workflow for crop growth evaluation and yield calibration in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) model and evaluates its impact on simulated hydrological and biogeochemical processes. The workflow was applied for ten small agricultural catchments in Europe. A detailed demonstration is provided for the German catchment, Schwarzer Schöps. The workflow proved effective across all catchments, improving yield calibration from an initial R2 of 0.5–0.84. The results show that evapotranspiration and soil moisture were only moderately affected by crop calibration in three catchments (Belgium, Czech Republic and Norway) and negligibly changed in the remaining ones. Sediment and nutrient balance were affected more strongly: sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus loss change reached 82 % (Norway), 16 % and 20 % (Czech Republic), respectively. The proposed workflow is a valuable tool for improving the accuracy of SWAT + simulations and can be used to support decision-making in environmental management.
Authors
Shun Hasegawa Inge Stupak Kristin Baldursdóttir Hannu Ilvesniemi Carl-Fredrik Johannesson O. Janne Kjønaas Andis Lazdins Aleksi Lehtonen Jenni Nordén Ivika Ostonen David Paré Helena Marta Stefánsdóttir Johan Stendahl Iveta Varnagiryté-Kabasinskiene Lars Vesterdal Lise DalsgaardAbstract
Bakgrunn: Overvåking av karbon i skogjord gjennomføres i mange land, noe som har resultert i omfattende nasjonale datasett, også i tilfelle hvor landene har felles grenser og i stor utstrekning lignende eller tilsvarende skogs- og jordtyper. Mulighet: Internasjonalt samarbeid om data og feltmetoder kan legge til rette for integrasjon av datasett og sammenligning av overvåkingsdata til støtte for utvikling av internasjonal politikk i et multinasjonalt fremfor et nasjonalt perspektiv. Utfordring: Variasjoner i overvåkingsmetodikk mellom land må håndteres for å kunne gjennomføre en effektiv syntese av data om karbon i skogjord. Tilnærming: Hvert land har utviklet sitt eget overvåkingsprogram for å møte spesifikke og nasjonale miljømessige og institusjonelle behov, noe som har ført til omfattende datasett på nasjonalt nivå. Harmonisering kan bidra til å realisere det fulle potensialet i disse nasjonale datasettene gjennom utvikling av internasjonale referansedefinisjoner. En tilnærming med utgangspunkt i harmonisering tillater nasjonal tilpasning, samtidig med at data kan brukes i en internasjonal kontekst, i kontrast til standardisering og en «én størrelse passer alle»-tilnærming.
Abstract
Studien undersøker hvordan vegetasjonsdekke (NDVI) og overflaterefleksjon (albedo) varierer gjennom året i norske utmarksområder som er beitet og ubeitet. Utmarkene har stor betydning for beitebruk, biologisk mangfold og karbonlagring, men endringer i landbruk og redusert beitepress påvirker vegetasjonen og kan ha klimakonsekvenser. Analysen bygger på satellittdata fra 18 lokaliteter i perioden 2019–2023. Resultatene viser tydelige sesongmønstre: NDVI er lav om vinteren og høy om sommeren, mens albedo er høy i snødekte perioder og lav når vegetasjon dominerer. Det ble ikke funnet signifikante forskjeller mellom beitede og ubeitede områder samlet sett, selv om enkelte lokaliteter viste små variasjoner. Dette tyder på at sesong og fenologi har større betydning enn beite, og at metodiske begrensninger – særlig grov oppløsning i albedodata – kan maskere lokale effekter. Studien anbefaler bruk av høyoppløselige data og mer avanserte metoder for å bedre forstå klimaeffektene av endret beitebruk.
Authors
Åsa Maria Olofsdotter Espmark Endre Grimsbø Sonal Patel Espen Rimstad Kristin Opdal Seljetun Marco Vindas Erik Georg Granquist Grete H. M. Jørgensen Janicke Nordgreen Ingrid Olesen Amin Sayyari Tor Atle MoAbstract
VKM has assessed animal welfare during stunning and killing of farmed fish in Norway. This report gives an overview of species differences which have significance for the slaughter procedures. The general conclusion is that there is a general lack of scientific documentation to meet the legislation stating that fish must remain unconscious after stunning until death by exsanguination. VKM also finds a risk of reduced animal welfare due to lack of documentation of the time from gill or cardiac cutting to cessation of brain activity. Further research and documentation are needed to understand how different behavioural and physical measurements conducted at the slaughter facility, correspond with the electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements of unconsciousness.
Authors
Christian Levers Marcel Schwieder Petra Dieker Stefan Erasmi Roberto Azofeifa Rodríguez Ulrike Bayr Ana Julieta Calvo Obando Wendy Fjellstad Satsuki Furubayashi Janne Heliölä Felix Herzog Terho Hyvönen Linda Ieviņa Pēteris Lakovskis Eliane Meier Hannu Ojanen Timo Pitkänen Walfrido Moraes TomasAbstract
This paper outlines the rationale for, and the current state of, mapping habitat diversity. It provides an overview of progress in assessing and monitoring farmland habitat biodiversity at the national level, in line with the proposed OECD Farmland Habitat Biodiversity Indicator (FHBI). The paper describes pilot studies by eight countries, summarising the approaches to mapping habitats, assessing habitat quality, and implementing the FHBI at the national level. Drawing from the experience of the FHBI pilot countries, this paper offers general guidelines for defining habitats and assigning biodiversity values of habitats for calculation of the FHBI. It provides guidance on selecting the appropriate tier level for data acquisition, processing, and reporting, and summarises strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the current FHBI structure used in the pilot studies.
Authors
Shun Hasegawa Kjetil Schanke Aas Ulrika Jansson Asplund Lise Dalsgaard Heleen de Wit Andreas Hagenbo Carl-Fredrik Johannesson Jenni NordénAbstract
Norwegian forests cover 12 million hectares and are vital for carbon uptake and biodiversity, yet CO2 absorption has declined since 2010 due to increased harvesting, mortality and reduced growth as more forests surpass harvest maturity. With 45% now economically mature and 20% older than 120 years, the future carbon uptake of these stands is uncertain, particularly if they develop towards old-growth. Old-growth forests form without stand-replacing disturbances and have diverse structures and deadwood. Norwegian mature forests mostly originate from clear-cutting, so insights from primary old-growth must be applied with caution. After maturity, forests continue to sequester carbon but more slowly, with increasing storage in deadwood and soil. Soil carbon trajectories remain uncertain: disturbance often causes short-term losses followed by decades of accumulation. Microbial communities, especially fungi, influence long-term soil carbon, but data are limited. Norway uses the Yasso soil carbon model, which predicts continued soil carbon increases with age though at slowing rates; however, it simplifies key processes, and more advanced models are in development. Biodiversity supports carbon cycling, resilience and soil health, yet knowledge gaps persist. Climate change is expected to increase disturbances, raising long-term risks for older stands. The report highlights the need for improved monitoring, research and modelling to better understand carbon dynamics and resilience as forests age.