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
Abstract
Recycling nutrients and organic matter available as waste in urban areas may close nutrient gaps and improve soil quality, but the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are commonly higher than in mineral fertilisers. How quickly may the limits for soil quality be exceeded, and for which elements, if such materials are applied intensively? For a rough answer to this question, we used soil data from ten case farms near Oslo and Bergen (Norway) to estimate how PTE concentrations increased when the demand for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in a theoretical carrot crop produced every year was covered by compost or digestate from source-separated food waste, or composted garden waste, compared with manure from horses and poultry which are often kept in peri-urban areas. With the intensive fertilisation assumed here, the Norwegian soil quality limits for PTEs were reached within 20–85 years, and faster for soil with more organic matter since regulatory limits set by weight discriminate soils with low bulk density. The limits were reached frst for Cu and Zn, which are both essential micronutrients for crop plants. The concentrations of macronutrients in the urban waste-based fertilisers were not well balanced. Rates covering the K demand would lead to high surpluses of P and N. In peri-urban vegetable growing, high applications of compost are not unusual, but more balanced fertilisation is required. The Norwegian regulations for PTEs in organic soil amendments and agricultural soil are stricter than in the EU, and do not support recycling of organic matter and nutrients from urban waste. Many materials which can only be applied with restricted amounts to Norwegian agricultural soil, may be applied according to crop demand in the EU. Growers utilising urban waste-based fertilisers intensively should monitor the soil regularly, including PTE analyses. Soil sampling should occur on fxed sampling points to reveal changes in concentrations over time. Norwegian authorities should consider a revision of the organic fertiliser regulation to support recycling of valuable organic materials. There is a need for more data on the PTE concentrations in agricultural soil and organic fertiliser materials
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Presentasjon av kartbasert klimagasskalkulator.
Authors
Benedicte Riber Albrectsen Kristiina Mäkinen Lovely Mahawar Arti Mishra Isaac Kwesi Abuley Isalyne Veillon Apsara Indhu Gopan Radha Sivarajan Sajeevan Svante Resjö Erik Andreasson Erland Liljeroth Peter Marhavý Simeon Rossmann Jens Grønbech HansenAbstract
Abstract Based on discussions within the Northern Tubers of Potato network (N’TOP-net), this review highlights northern Scandinavia’s potential for sustainable, low pest seed potato production. While long transport distances currently limit large-scale supply for consumption or processing, low pest pressure and stricter EU plant protection regulations increase its value for seed production. Climate change is expected to extend the growing season, driving renewed interest in Northern Scandinavia’s role in European food security. Finland exemplifies this potential, and parts of northern and central Sweden—historically suppliers of disease-free seed potatoes, even exported to Brazil—offer expansion opportunities. Nordic potato production, key biotic stressors, and opportunities for regional cooperation are examined, with a focus on novel farming practices, breeding innovations, and disease surveillance to improve resilience and sustainability. Despite shared values in cultivar selection, certification, and potato preferences, Nordic production strategies remain uncoordinated for long-term sustainability. We advocate for transnational, interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance Europe’s food security through joint efforts in three key areas: (1) soil-conserving farming, (2) breeding for adaptation to longer day length and resistance traits, and (3) transnational pest and disease surveillance. A Nordic potato initiative can strengthen European cooperation on sustainable production amid climate change. However, as policies must balance the benefits of longer growing seasons with emerging risks such as pests, droughts, and flooding, coordinated research, regulatory adaptation, and climate resilience investments are essential for safeguarding seed potato quality, food security, and supply chain stability.
Abstract
This paper addresses water governance in the context of dissolved organic matter emissions into water bodies and cultural eutrophication. Through a comparative interdisciplinary analysis of cases from Norway, the Czech Republic, and China, it seeks to identify core principals of effective water governance and suggest strategies for achieving good ecological and chemical status of raw water. The analysis presents each case by exploring natural and societal processes, emphasising the interdependence between society and nature, and applying a theoretical framework. In this way, the paper contributes to the broader field of water governance studies. The central conclusion is that raw water quality results from “muddling through” processes involving stakeholders with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests. Building the capabilities to manage such contingencies is essential for successful governance. Four critical dimensions are identified as key to this capability: (i) robust environmental knowledge and literacy; (ii) stronger representation of non-human interest; (iii) regulatory measures and economic incentives to enhance raw water quality; and (iv) integrated multi-level governance combining top-down and bottom-up approaches. Strengthening these dimensions can also help mitigate the structural economic pressure driving the exploitation of “cheap nature”.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Thiago InagakiAbstract
This presentation examines how organo-mineral associations (OMAs) are affected by climate differences, and how they contribute to carbon persistence and enhance soil quality across different regions. The talk will combine results obtained from micro- to field-scale studies in natural and agricultural environments, showing relationship between OMAs, microorganisms, and soil structure.
Authors
Lone PolletAbstract
Although community supported agriculture (CSA) is generally considered a potent alternative to the globalized food system, the capacity of CSA farms to foster community support in agriculture has been questioned due to low engagement of members at the farm and high member turnover rates. In this study, I consider the case of member-driven CSA farms and explore the potential of this CSA model to increase member engagement in CSA farming. Using an inductive, phenomenon-first approach to research, I compare the cases of four Norwegian member-driven CSA farms to describe how they engage members at the farm and explore the factors influencing member engagement. The on-farm participant observation, focus group interviews with farm coordinators and members survey revealed that Norwegian member-driven CSAs significantly engage members in all aspects of the farm operations. Yet, the differences observed between cases showed that member engagement depend on the capacity of the farm to create the right conditions for collaboration. Although the member-driven model has the potential to increase member engagement in CSA farming, the preferences of members, the opinions and engagement of coordinators, the size of the farm, the number of years of operation and the external support received by the farm, are five factors that affect the capacity of the CSA farm to collaborate with members. Ultimately, this study concludes that achieving community engagement in member-driven CSAs depends less on their organizational model and more on the specific conditions that facilitate collaboration and member engagement.
Authors
Marthe Jordbrekk Blikra Tone Mari Rode Annelise Sabine Chapman Marit Gjerstad Dagbjørn Skipnes Danielle Gallagher Oisin Klinkenbergh Dag Einar Finne Florent Govaerts Dmitry Kechasov Dharm KapletiaAbstract
The C-FAARER CSA project was created with the overall aim of supporting marine innovators, entrepreneurs, and other pioneers in the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin in transitioning towards the use of community-driven sustainable business models for regenerative ocean farming. The project previously defined regenerative ocean farming as “a form of marine venture that gives back more than it takes out, leaving nature in a better state that benefits future generations” (Kapletia et al., 2024). Community-driven regenerative ocean farming was defined as “concerned with creating a sustainable and mutually-beneficial balance between social, economic and environmental interests, providing renewable and systemic benefits to all who hold an interest in the future wealth of marine and coastal life.” This report provides the basis for Deliverable 4.1 within the Valorisation of the regenerative aquaculture products work package (WP4). Processing is a part of this WP, and processing technologies were included as an integral part of regenerative ocean farming since seaweed deteriorates rapidly post-harvest and needs rapid processing to maintain quality. Furthermore, the principles of community-driven regenerative ocean farming, as stated in Deliverable 1.1 (Kapletia et al., 2024), include the following (principle 3): “Farming and processing equipment is low impact, energy efficient, and suited for area/volume and environmental goals.” The objectives of WP4 are to assess the market potential of the downstream value chain and collaboratively identify and analyse potential applications, critically examine the dynamic relationship between production and processing, identify opportunities to increase value and reduce risk, and facilitate and explore the problem-opportunity space, where technological solutions may have a role to play in supporting valorisation. This deliverable presents case studies of members of the Norwegian Seaweed Association (NSA) in the context of their processing practices and product development. Within regenerative aquaculture, “products” include traditional products such as food, feed, and biostimulants. It can also be argued that other alternative revenue streams, like ecosystem services and social services, can also be considered “products”. This report takes a Case Study approach, in which ten semi-structured interviews with ten NSA seaweed businesses preceded follow-up consultations with a select few of these companies. A case study from outside the NSA was included as a comparison.
Authors
Teresa Gómez de la Bárcena Tatiana Francischinelli Rittl Eva Farkas Daniel Rasse Christophe Moni Cédric Plessis Loiuse Malot Helge Meissner Trond Henriksen Randi Berland FrøsethAbstract
Background and aims Cover crops are an important measure for carbon (C) sequestration in agriculture. However, little is known about the potential of cover crops to increase C under Nordic conditions and the efficiency of this measure over time. Here, we quantify the potential contribution of different cover crops to soil organic carbon (SOC) and organic matter fractions, and study how this is affected by the origin of the C input (aboveground or belowground residues). Methods We conducted a 13 CO 2 pulse-labelling experiment during the growing season of four cover crops adapted to Nordic conditions, representing different plant functional types. The assimilated 13 C was traced in soil during the following two years. We investigated the fate of cover crop C in two organic matter fractions, Particulate Organic Matter (POM) and Mineral-Associated Organic Matter (MAOM), known to have different persistence in soil. Results Carbon derived from aboveground residues decayed two to three times faster as compared to belowground C. Belowground C inputs were similar among cover crops despite their contrasting root traits and differences in root biomass C. Rhizodeposited-C was consistently the largest belowground C input. Cover crop species affected the quantity of POM-C and MAOM-C, but MAOM-C was preferentially formed from belowground C (ranging from 0.63 ± 0.2 to 0.25 ± 0.1 Mg MAOM-C ha −1 across different cover crops), regardless of the species. Conclusions Cover crop species that can combine large belowground biomass production with root traits that promote physical and physico-chemical protection of OM will contribute most effectively to the long-term SOC pool. These aspects need to be balanced with considerations related to agricultural management.