WIR! – Physics for Food

Duration from 7.1.2020 - 31.10.2023, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the funding code (FKZ) 03WIR2806C.

The use of agricultural chemicals (herbicides, pesticides) is a prerequisite for the high-yield cultivation of crops and thus a comprehensive supply of affordable food. However, the associated environmental impact and possible risks for consumers are viewed with concern. Despite their use, crop yields are suffering due to more frequent droughts and flooding. As part of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's "Change through innovation in the region" initiative, the "Physics for Food" project has therefore set itself the task of investigating 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 Crops", led by the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, directly addresses the objectives of the overall project by looking at UV treatment and plasma-treated water as possible alternatives to pesticides. The sub-project of the INP also focuses on studies using plasma-treated water (PBW), which is applied to the growing plants to accelerate growth and make plants less sensitive to environmental stress conditions (drought, waterlogging) and thus ultimately increase crop yields. To this end, the application of PBW under controlled conditions in the laboratory (climate cabinets) is accompanied by targeted field trials for the cultivation of barley, rapeseed and lupin. As a partner, the University of Greifswald is contributing further biochemical analyses. Partners for the field trials are Hanse-Agro GmbH and Agrarconcept Schneider GmbH. The investigations are closely supported by the sub-project "WIR! - Physics for Food - Research and Development of CAP Demonstrators" in which concepts for scaling plasma sources to provide larger quantities of PBW are being developed.