WIR! - Physics for Food

Duration from 01.10.2022 - 30.09.2024, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the funding code (FKZ) 03WIR2813C.

As part of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's initiative "Change through innovation in the region", the "Physics for Food" project has set itself the task of investigating and establishing possible alternatives to chemical processes using physical methods. In various lead projects, possibilities for seed treatment, for the promotion of plant growth and health, as well as in the processing of crops and fodder plants are being investigated. (Further information on the overall project and the individual lead projects can be found here: physicsforfood.org

The lead project "Physics for Cropping Systems", led by the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, builds on the experience gained in the first funding phase of the overall "Physics for Food" project and is now continuing this. Together with partners from the University of Greifswald and Hanse Agro GmbH, the INP is investigating the possibilities of using plasma-treated water to further strengthen the health and resilience of crops in the event of drought or prolonged wetness. Plasma-treated water is to be used as an alternative to traditional chemical pesticides. In particular, the cultivation of lupin is being investigated under controlled environmental conditions in the laboratory or greenhouse, but also in the field in relation to seasonal weather conditions. Now that the possibility of inducing stress tolerance has already been demonstrated in the previous project, physiological processes are to be specifically identified and suitable biochemical markers determined. The results will be used to design the accompanying field trials and thus determine the conditions and effectiveness for later use in practice.