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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.

2022

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Abstract

Acrylamide has become an important measure when looking at profitability and sustainability in the potato processing industry. Acrylamide is a possible carcinogenic which is formed in starchy foods during high-temperature cooking processes. Crisps and French fries made from processing potatoes are consumed by people of all ages and therefore the pressure on the industry has been large to reduce the acrylamide levels. In the ongoing project POTETFRIT (2019-2022), the aim is to reduce acrylamide content and improve product quality, profitability and sustainability in the production of Norwegian crisps and French fries. The aim will be reached through new knowledge about the interaction between potato quality and storage conditions. The effect of different temperature strategies including cold storage (5 ⁰C) and reconditioning at 15 ⁰C was tested in eight different varieties (Lady Claire, Kiebitz, Pirol, Lady Britta, Peik, Innovator, Zorba and Gullflaks). The importance of elevated CO2 levels in the potato store on product quality and acrylamide content, was studied in the same potato varieties and in tubers with different maturity levels. Storage conditions in 29 commercial potato stores was also studied, with attention to temperature conditions and CO2 levels in different stages of the storage season. The effect of different ventilation strategies was also studied. So far results show that the varieties L. Claire, Kiebitz and Gullflaks can be stored at low temperature levels without developing high sugar and acrylamide levels and dark fry colour and at the same time keeping sprouting at a low level. In the CO2 trials, none of the varieties tested showed elevated sugar and acrylamide levels when exposed to high CO2 levels (15000 ppm) and also in the commercial stores there was no correlation between high CO2 and high sugar levels.

Abstract

The book discusses scientific, technical, and sociological aspects of sustainable agricultural value chains, focusing on coffee and tea production. The book advocates a value-chain strategy and highlights the importance of tracking the effects of climate change. Increasing the amount of value-added products via irrigation is critical to combating climate change and achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, blockchain technology has the potential to transform agricultural business models and supply chain networks.

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Abstract

Forest management is an important tool for GHG mitigation by representing three carbon pools: living biomass, forest soil, and wood-based products. Additionally, increasing attention has been given to the potential for wood products to substitute fossil-intensive products as a climate mitigation strategy. The goal of this paper is to analyse the theoretical GHG effects of fully replacing four common non-wood products with wood-based products of ‘low’ and ‘high’ technology options that have a similar functionality: (1) Spruce particle board substituting polyurethane (PU) foam insulation board; (2) spruce cross-laminated timber beam (CLT) substituting steel beam; (3) birch energy wood substituting electric heating; and (4) birch plywood substituting plaster board. The analysis was based on forestry in Western Norway as a case study, where forests typically consist of naturally generated birch and expanding areas of planted Norway spruce. In this study we compare wood products derived from paired stands of Norway spruce and downy birch. The analysis showed that spruce gave a higher theoretical substitution effect relative to birch for the selected pairs of woody and non-woody products. CLT substituting steel beam gave the highest substitution effect, approximately 15% higher than particle board substituting PU foam board. The theoretical substitution effect in mass units of carbon per kg wood product for the two spruce wood products was approximately 17 times higher relative to substituting Norwegian hydro energy-based electric heating, whereas plywood substituting plaster board may in fact increase GHG emissions. As the gross emissions were relatively similar for the birch plywood and the spruce particle board, the major substitution effect was related to the avoided emission of the non-woody product rather than to the tree species per se. The paper concludes that the choice of product to be substituted was the key factor that determined the final substitution effects. Furthermore, the study showed that transportation was the single most important factor that affected the emissions between planting and delivery of the timber at production gate. The analysis enables informed decisions related to CO2-emissions at the various steps from tree planting to wood conversion, and underline the importance of informed decision related to the choice of substitution products.