2018

International research team compares plasma simulations

The comparability of research results has been a topic of discussion in the scientific community for many years. Despite identical test setups with clearly defined experimental parameters, different results are often obtained. The reasons for this are complex.

Even computer simulations show considerable deviations. This is shown by a recent study conducted by seven renowned research institutes and universities in Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, China and the Netherlands, in which scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald also participated. The topic was a comparison of six simulation codes for positive streamer discharges. These plasmas are used, among other things, to break down pollutants or treat chronic wounds. Due to their complexity, simulating streamer discharges is a major challenge.

Within the study, four groups used a code they had implemented themselves, while two other teams used the commercial simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics®. Three simple discharge situations were simulated in dry air at 1 bar and 300 K. The transport coefficients and fluid models used were also identical. The investigations showed that the results in the standard grid resolution differed significantly from one another. In the first test with a relatively high background density of electrons and ions without taking photoionisation into account, significant differences in streamer velocities and maximum electric fields were recorded. Only the use of finer grids led to acceptable agreements between the codes.

In the second test case – with a low background ionisation density – there were deviating streamer properties and numerical instabilities. Here, too, only a finer grid resolution led to consistent results. In a third investigation, various common approaches to modelling photoionisation were compared and evaluated. Here, it was found that numerical parameters, such as grid resolution, play a greater role in differences in simulation results than the photoionisation model.

In their article "Comparison of six simulation codes for positive streamers in air" in Plasma Sources Science and Technology Vol. 27 No. 9 (2018), the researchers have now described in detail the calculation times, the hardware used and the numerical parameters for each code. The study is therefore of great importance as it provides a reference example for the comparability of simulations in plasma physics. On this basis, further mathematical models and simulation tools for streamer discharges can be investigated in the future.

Original publication:
B. Bagheri, J. Teunissen, U. Ebert, M. M. Becker, S. Chen, O. Ducasse, O. Eichwald, D. Loffhagen, A. Luque, D. Mihailova, J. M. Plewa, J. van Dijk and M Yousfi (2018). Comparison of six simulation codes for positive streamers in air. Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 27 (2018): 095002.https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/aad768

Scientific contact:
Prof. Dr. Ronny Brandenburg
Head of the research programme "Plasma Chemical Processes"
Tel.:
Email: brandenburg@inp-greifswald.de

Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg launches innovative research projects

The Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK) is a cooperation initiative between the Karlsburg Clinic and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic options in the field of diabetes and wound healing.

On Wednesday, 21 November 2018, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Director and Chairman of the Board of INP Greifswald, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Motz, Director of the Karlsburg Clinic, and Dr. Stefan Rudolph, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, provided information in Karlsburg on the implementation of a unique idea that originated in Germany in 2013, which combines expert knowledge and experience from different research divisions into one project and thus brings practical research and clinical treatment under one roof.

The centre's strong scientific foundation is based on the interdisciplinary expertise of the Leibniz Institute and its partners, particularly in the development of plasma medicine and hygiene procedures, as well as world-leading applications. The Karlsburg site offers strong medical expertise. The pioneering concept is based on three pillars: research, development and transfer into industrial and medical practice. It provides the framework for developing groundbreaking solutions for the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, a widespread disease, and other indications. In the immediate vicinity, clinical treatment of diabetes patients and interdisciplinary, practical research will take place in the future. This will enable research results to be transferred to clinical application much more quickly in collaboration with companies from the medical industry, which will benefit patients.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kerner, Director of the Clinic for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases in Karlsburg and Chairman of the KDK Presidium, emphasised at the centre's presentation that eight million people in Germany currently suffer from diabetes mellitus. The aim is to develop innovative medical products and procedures to help diabetes patients with chronic wounds. These include diabetic foot ulcers, one of the most serious complications. The characteristic chronic wounds, which are usually accompanied by infections, lead to 45,000 amputations per year in Germany alone, dramatically reducing the quality of life of those affected and resulting in high costs for the healthcare system. The treatment options are now to be expanded with the medical plasma devices developed at INP Greifswald. "Physical cold plasma has a disinfecting and antibacterial effect – even on multi-resistant germs – and promotes wound healing. This has been proven by numerous studies and practical experience in the field of plasma medicine. This is to be scientifically substantiated in more detail in a further large-scale clinical study," explained Prof. Weltmann. Clinic director Prof. Motz added: "I am delighted that we have succeeded in overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles to our joint work. Diabetes patients in Karlsburg will in future benefit from innovations that are world-leading."

Over the past few months, the Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg has been equipped with laboratory facilities and scientific instruments. The equipment was funded by the Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the EU with around 2.5 million euros. State Secretary Dr. Stefan Rudolph said at the start of the research: "We have not yet come close to exploiting the growth potential of the healthcare industry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Our commitment here in Karlsburg will enhance cooperation between research, industry, medicine and engineering. I expect new innovative solutions, products and services in the healthcare industry that are both marketable and generate greater prosperity in our state. That is the only thing we can aspire to."

Further major research programmes were presented on Wednesday. The Greifswald-based company OT aktiv GmbH is looking for telemedicine solutions to prevent diabetic foot ulcers. The orthopaedic technology specialist from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has been supplying diabetes patients with specialist footwear for many years, has set itself the goal of developing an intelligent insole that detects increases in the temperature of the human foot and thus indicates signs of inflammatory processes. This is because diabetes patients, who often also suffer from neuropathy, have a low pain threshold and often notice pressure lesions far too late, allowing wounds to develop. The "Smart Shoe Insole" project includes data transfer for telemedical therapy monitoring, visualisation of the temperature of the sole of the foot, movement monitoring and an alarm function. Everything can be displayed on a smartphone app.

Another ambitious project is being developed at the KDK in collaboration with the Schwerin-based company human med GmbH. Fat stem cells are to be used to improve wound healing. Initial small-scale studies on the use of the body's own fat are promising.

scientific contact person: Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
Direktor und Vorstandsvorsitzender des INP
Tel: +49 3834 554310

E-Mail: weltmann@inp-greifswald.de Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Motz
Ärztlicher Direktor des Klinikums Karlsburg
Tel.: +49 038355 701283

E-Mail: prof.motz@drguth.de

Innovative indoor air system reduces germ contamination in hospitals

Patients can contract serious infections in hospitals. New technical solutions to improve indoor air quality in highly sensitive clinical areas have been in development for years. Researchers at the INP have now developed an innovative plasma cleaning stage that can be installed in a modular fashion and significantly reduces germs.

The risk of contracting a pathogen in hospital when the body is weakened by the effects of an operation or illness is not insignificant. The German Society for Hospital Hygiene estimates that there are 900,000 infections nationwide every year, resulting in 30,000 to 40,000 deaths. The most common infections are respiratory and urinary tract infections, but wound infections and sepsis also occur. These are not always caused by inadequate hygiene procedures in hospitals; germs are often brought in by patients or visitors.

Against this background, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, the medical technology company Pneumatik Berlin and the building services company Haustechnik Bachmann from Steinberg in Saxony have joined forces in the "PlasClean" joint project to develop an intelligent, modular room air system for operating theatres, the centrepiece of which is a special plasma stage. The effectiveness of this already patented decontamination process has been proven in laboratory experiments and in a pilot plant under real conditions. The two-and-a-half-year project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

By using modified electrode plates between which dielectrically impeded discharges (see image) are generated, the researchers were able to significantly reduce the level of microorganisms in the room air. Chemical substances can also be broken down in this way. All tests took into account the DIN requirements for intensive care areas: the plasma purified the exhaust air even at the prescribed high air exchange rates.

"Our concept is also forward-looking for other areas of application and can be transferred to clean rooms, laboratories, animal stables or food logistics," says Dr. Manfred Kettlitz, project manager at INP. The plasma stage is scalable, which means that an even greater reduction in microorganisms can be achieved. "However, the technical feasibility must be investigated in further projects," he emphasises. Oliver Siegel, project manager at Pneumatik Berlin, sums it up like this: "By integrating this new system solution, germ-contaminated air inflows could be reliably prevented in rooms with high requirements for low germ levels, such as operating theatres. This makes a valuable contribution to hygiene management in hospitals."

scientific contact person:
Dr. Manfred Kettlitz
Projektleitung
INP Greifswald 
Tel. +49 3834 554414
E-Mail:

kettlitz@inp-greifswald.de Oliver Siegel Pneumatik Berlin GmbH PTM
Tel. +49 30 92701071
E-Mail:

siegel@pneumatik-berlin.de

Researchers and entrepreneurs in the North-East region are developing ideas for using green electricity for zero-emission shipping on the Baltic Sea

Christian Pegel, Minister for Energy, Infrastructure and Digitalisation, sees the CAMPFIRE research project as an opportunity for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to increase local value creation and acceptance of the energy transition.

Stralsund. As part of the research project "CAMPFIRE: Fuels from wind and water – energy and maritime mobility transition in the North-East region", the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology and Stralsund University of Applied Sciences held an expert workshop at the Ozeaneum in Stralsund on 11 September 2018. Around 70 representatives from politics, business and science discussed the use of new technologies for a maritime mobility transition in the north-east region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The workshop was a highlight on the road to a research project in which green energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen are to be produced for maritime mobility from locally generated wind power. Innovative membrane technologies from the north-east region will be used in the propulsion systems.

"Emissions-free ship propulsion systems offer a great opportunity for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: locally generated wind power is used to make shipping climate-friendly," said Christian Pegel, Minister for Energy, Infrastructure and Digitalisation of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in his welcoming address. "This could enable two key economic sectors – renewable energies and the maritime industry – to generate more added value for the region and increase acceptance of the energy transition."

During a five-year implementation phase and beyond, until 2030, the research project aims to help innovative membrane components achieve a commercial breakthrough in new energy technologies. In addition, new types of ship propulsion systems are to be developed that use green energy sources such as ammonia and hydrogen. These can be produced in a climate-friendly manner from locally generated wind power and represent a first step towards regional sector coupling.

The north-east region around the cities of Rostock, Stralsund, Greifswald and Neubrandenburg is one of the most important regions for the future of decarbonised energy supply. "Companies across Europe are working on a network for hydrogen mobility to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement," said Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Secretary General of Hydrogen Europe, the European association for hydrogen and fuel cells. "Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is characterised by its large wind capacity. Its geographical location makes the federal state ideally suited to build a bridge between Central Europe and the countries bordering the Baltic Sea."

To protect the climate, approaches for the maritime sector are also urgently needed. In 2016, this sector was responsible for 3.3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is roughly equivalent to Germany's total greenhouse gas emissions in one year. With growing global trade, significant growth in global maritime freight transport is expected in the long term. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions in this sector are also growing. In April 2018, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) therefore presented a strategy aimed at decarbonising maritime transport by 2050. This is where the CAMPFIRE research project comes in.

CAMPFIRE: Fuels from wind and water – energy and maritime mobility transition in the North-East region

A total of 26 alliance partners, including nine small and medium-sized enterprises, five large companies, six research institutes and four universities, are part of the research project. CAMPFIRE is an initiative of the "WIR! - Change through Innovation in the Region" funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. "The number of regional alliance partners has grown steadily, demonstrating that the region has a wealth of expertise and innovative entrepreneurial spirit for the maritime mobility transition," summarises Dr Angela Kruth, project coordinator at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology in Greifswald.

The expert workshop in Stralsund was an important milestone in the development of the project: "In addition to technical discussions, the event focused on practical exchanges on the use of new membrane technologies and the future design of the energy and maritime mobility transition in the North-East region," explains researcher Kruth. "During the workshop, it became clear how strong the support for the project is in the region."

This was also confirmed by the Mayor of Greifswald, Dr Stefan Fassbinder, and Heino Tanschus, Head of Public Order and Deputy Mayor of Stralsund, at the event in the Ozeaneum: "The energy transition and an emission-free Baltic Sea are issues of great importance for our region," emphasised Fassbinder. Tanschus also hopes that the CAMPFIRE research results will strengthen the Hanseatic cities as research and business locations and create new, highly skilled jobs in the region.

Other coordinators of the Campfire sub-projects are the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility and Stralsund University of Applied Sciences with project managers Simon Schäfer-Stradowsky and Prof. Johannes Gulden.

Contact:
Franziska Hagen
Event Management & Public Relations
Tel.: +49 3834 554 3886

franziska.hagen@inp-greifswald.de 

Researchers from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania develop efficient biogas plants

An innovative technology that combines ultrasound and plasma processes is set to significantly improve the breakdown of organic compounds, thereby increasing the economic efficiency of biogas plants.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a leader in the implementation of the energy transition. The north-east already covers more than a third of its primary energy needs from renewable sources. In order to continue this development, the efficiency of energy production must be increased, as there is less and less capacity for expansion. While new generations of wind turbines are already being installed, the retrofitting of biogas plants, which generate 17 per cent of the electricity in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is also becoming more important. These technical issues are being addressed in a project run by the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the University of Rostock and the company PRE Power Recycling Energyservice from Neubrandenburg. The two-year joint project is being funded by the State Ministry of Economics, Labour and Health with one million euros.

The project aims to improve the processing of input materials – plant waste, manure, sewage sludge and biowaste – in fermentation processes. In conventional plants, only around 65 percent of the difficult-to-degrade organic components are broken down by bacteria and mainly converted into methane. The rest remains unused. Ultrasound can be used to recover some of the previously unavailable organic matter and use it to generate energy, as demonstrated by the "Wave Box" (see figure) developed by research partner PRE . This experience forms the basis for the innovative "Kombi-Max" device, which combines ultrasound and plasma processes.

The project participants expect the synergy of both technologies to result in a quantum leap in the efficiency of breaking down organic compounds. One focus is on investigating suitable plasma sources that can be used in conjunction with ultrasound to optimise the process. The researchers are particularly interested in biomolecular compounds that are difficult to break down, such as lignin, but also undesirable chemicals. At the same time, the scientists want to use the new process to reduce nitrogen emissions.

"We have good reason to hope that the use of both technologies will significantly increase the efficiency and thus the economic viability of biogas plants," says Volker Brüser, head of the Plasma Process Technology department at INP and responsible for a sub-project of "Kombi-Max". This is of great importance for the future of this energy technology. Norbert Rossow, managing director of PRE, emphasises: "With our high-performance ultrasonic device, the Wave Box, we have achieved a very good efficiency increase of up to 20 percent in biomass processing for biogas plants. The combination of both digestion systems in the new device type will multiply the efficiency increase, as can be seen from scientific publications. We expect a significant reduction in the amount of energy used, a doubling of the degree of breakdown and a significant reduction in the size of the device." The collaboration between INP and PRE Neubrandenburg and the first design steps for the new device have already resulted in a new international patent for both partners. Industry-oriented tests of the demonstration plant are planned for 2020.

New alliance in skin cancer research

Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology and the Dermatology Clinic at Rostock University Medical Centre are investigating innovative therapies for skin cancer – with funding from the State Excellence Research Programme.

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of tumour. Studies indicate that there are over 200,000 new cases in Germany every year. One in ten of those affected is diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of black skin cancer that quickly metastasises throughout the body and can lead to death within a few months. To improve treatment, an alliance led by the Dermatology Clinic at Rostock University Medical Centre is researching new innovative forms of therapy. The aim is to use cold plasmas, which are being researched at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, and so-called small molecules – substances that specifically interfere with the metabolism of tumour cells and prevent them from growing – . Other partners include the universities in Rostock and Greifswald, the University Medical Centre Greifswald and the Alfred Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald. The project will officially start in October.

The ONKOTHER-H project, which is scheduled to run for three and a half years, is being funded with a total of two million euros as part of the state's second Excellence Research Programme. The funds come from the European Social Fund and are intended to expand cutting-edge research in the region. The funding will be used in particular to support young scientists. "The aim is to establish an interdisciplinary development platform for new cancer therapies," says Prof. Dr. Steffen Emmert, Director of the Rostock Dermatology Clinic. In the field of dermatology, cold atmospheric pressure plasma primarily promotes wound healing and accelerates regenerative processes. "The healthy tissue is largely spared in the process," says Emmert.

In Greifswald, promising results have already been achieved in the inactivation of tumour cells using plasma. "Now it's a matter of optimising this process and opening up another field of application," says Dr. Sander Bekeschus, head of the "Plasma Redox Effects" research group at the Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) plasmatis, an INP facility. The cooperation with the University of Rostock offers the opportunity to test a potentially effective alternative in the fight against cancer that complements established treatment methods such as chemotherapy. "Malignant, metastatic melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. If we achieve a breakthrough in treatment here, our method could also be effective against other types of malignant tumours," emphasises immunologist Bekeschus.

North-East region develops energy technologies of the future

The CAMPFIRE partnership alliance is striving for change in the region through a new field of technology for the expansion of renewable energy.

On some days, wind, water, sun and biomass could theoretically produce enough renewable energy to cover Germany's entire energy needs. However, the infrastructure urgently needs to be expanded in order to transport this green electricity to where it is needed, when and where it is needed. There is therefore a great need for innovation in the energy sector. One solution is sector coupling. The aim is to bundle the energy requirements of different application areas, such as transport, heating and electricity, and make them available through new technologies. Membranes and micro- and nanostructured materials are among the core components of future conversion and storage technologies. These can be used in hydrogen and battery technology.

The north-east region is emerging as a future region for the energy transition. It includes the coastal cities of Rostock, Stralsund and Greifswald, as well as Neubrandenburg in the Mecklenburg Lake District. These are locations with a long tradition in the research, development and application of innovations for energy production and with great significance for science, industry and society. With the CAMPFIRE project, the current 20 alliance partners are working on solutions to some of the biggest challenges of the energy transition. Under the leadership of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM) and the Institute for Regenerative Energy Systems at Stralsund University of Applied Sciences (IRES), the possible applications of this technology field are being investigated and implemented in the region.

The alliance partners are developing technical, conceptual and transformative solutions for the region based on nanomembranes, which are generally thinner than a millionth of a metre. The development of manufacturing processes for such nanomembranes is one of the key technologies for innovations in the energy transition. By transferring this scientific know-how to future energy process engineering, a groundbreaking economic and social breakthrough is expected for the region – for example in the fields of electrolysis, fuel cells and solar cells. In addition to the aforementioned partners, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (ZBT) in Duisburg and the Institute for Competence in Automobility (IKAM) in Magdeburg are also contributing their expertise to CAMPFIRE. This means that a nucleus of pioneering work is being established by regional companies. The project participants combine expertise in plasma physics, nanotechnology, mechanical and plant engineering, modelling, energy technology, business administration, materials science, law and political science.

During an upcoming concept phase, the CAMPFIRE partners will identify application areas with the greatest economic and social potential for the new technology field and use these to develop a roadmap for the subsequent implementation phase. For example, electroceramic thin-film membranes can be used to increase the efficiency and service life of power-to-gas plants, in which green electricity is converted into hydrogen or methane gas. "With our thin-film membranes, significantly more green fuel could be produced from surplus electricity," says alliance coordinator and deputy director of the INP, Prof. Dr. Dirk Uhrlandt. He hopes this will provide an economic boost for the north-east region, which is one of the largest producers of renewable energy in Germany. "A completely new industry could emerge here, using hydrogen as the energy source of the future, for example. Research into new technologies is crucial for the success of the energy transition and the move away from fossil fuels."

Background

The regional CAMPFIRE project is an initiative within the framework of the "WIR! – Change through Innovation in the Region" funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF) to increase innovation capacity in structurally weak regions. Initially, projects in eastern Germany will be funded, followed by projects in western Germany in the next stage. Following the concept phase, which starts in April and will run for seven months, selected alliances will receive up to 8 million euros from the BMBF for the implementation phase. The CAMPFIRE alliance partners are hoping for a positive evaluation and aim to start the implementation phase in early 2019.

Greifswald scientists are researching a new cancer therapy

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald is breaking new ground in the fight against cancer. A team of six scientists from the associated Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) plasmatis wants to find out whether tumours can be contained by plasma treatment as part of a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Initial animal experiments are now being launched, using physical plasma sources of different compositions.

"Our goal is to eliminate cancer cells using a well-tolerated therapeutic method. At the same time, we want to investigate how the body's own immune system can be activated," explains Dr. Sander Bekeschus, head of the "Plasma Redox Effects" research group, which combines expertise from the fields of medicine, biology and physics. Initial results are expected by the end of 2020.
Reactive nitrogen and oxygen compounds are of great importance, says Bekeschus. Many of these molecules occur in the human organism and are also found in plasma. If these free radicals could be used to damage tumour cells and make them visible to the immune system again, plasma-based methods could complement established therapies, explains the immunologist. "That would be a breakthrough for us." Stimulating the body's own defence system is the only way to effectively suppress metastases. These secondary tumours are responsible for 90 percent of cancer deaths.

"The medical plasma devices developed at our institute are already being used in many clinics to treat wound infections and skin diseases. Now we want to contribute to ensuring that cancer patients receive even more effective therapy through further research," says Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, CEO and Scientific Director of the INP.

The latest research findings will also be the focus of the international workshop "Plasma for Cancer Treatment," which will take place for the first time in the Hanseatic city of Greifswald on 20 and 21 March.

The workshop is being hosted by the INP and Greifswald University Hospital. The organisers are expecting around 120 scientists from 21 countries. In previous years, the conferences have been held in Paris, Washington and Nagoya.
About the INP:

Plasma is the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid and gas. The electrically conductive mixture of atoms, ions, electrons and molecules is created when energy is added to a neutral gas. This natural phenomenon can be found in lightning, the sun and the aurora borealis. At the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology ( Technologie), the largest non-university research institution for low-temperature plasmas in Europe, around 200 employees are conducting research into technologies that are used for coating surfaces, decontaminating food, cleaning liquids, but also in the medical industry and electrical engineering. The INP conducts application-oriented fundamental research and also offers customer-specific solutions, studies and consulting services for industry. Many innovations have already led to the development of prototypes and spin-offs.

The institute has also made great strides in plasma medicine: cold plasma devices invented and developed at the INP enable the gentle treatment of chronically infected wounds and pathogen-related skin diseases. These include the Plasma-Jet kINPen®, which has been approved for use on patients since 2013. It is distributed worldwide by the INP subsidiary neoplas tools. INP scientists have also developed and patented a prototype of a silicone-based plasma patch. With start-up funding, the special wound dressing was further developed at the institute and is now approved and marketed independently by the spin-off company Coldplasmatech.

Plasma, agricultural and food researchers join forces to find alternatives to pesticides

Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology and Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences launch innovative project for the agricultural sector

Advancing climate change poses major challenges for agriculture. Increasingly extreme weather conditions are leading to drastic crop failures, and rising temperatures are also expected to cause the spread of new plant diseases. This is where a project by the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald and the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences comes in. As part of the "Physics for Food" project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the "WIR! - Change through Innovation in the Region" funding programme, the researchers want to develop a strategy to make seeds more viable and robust using physical technologies. One focus is on the application of cold plasmas. Studies have shown that this pollutant-free process can accelerate plant growth and increase their resistance.

The researchers from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are focusing on cereal crops such as wheat and barley, whose seeds are often treated with chemical dressings. They are also investigating how the germination of legumes such as red clover and alfalfa can be optimised. These are considered an important building block on the path to more sustainable agriculture. "We want to help reduce the use of pesticides in the fields," emphasise biologists Dr Henrike Brust and Dr Nicola Wannicke, who are part of an interdisciplinary team at the INP researching the effects of plasmas on plants. In view of the expected tightening of EU regulations on plant protection products, alternatives must be found to continue to combat pathogens such as fungi and bacteria effectively. In cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben, the plasma-treated seeds will be tested on trial plots. "Only then will it be possible to say whether our method also leads to higher yields," adds Professor Leif-Alexander Garbe, Vice-Rector for Research at the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences.

Professor Gerd Teschke, Rector of the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, sees food processing using physical methods without chemical additives as a pioneering technology for the future and hopes for a strategic reorientation in the north-east region.

The Chairman of the Board and Scientific Director of the INP, Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, expects new economic impetus for the north-east through the interdisciplinary pooling of expertise in the fields of physics and agriculture. "The use of high-tech physics could produce innovative solutions for food production and processing, as well as promising business models," says Weltmann. "If successful, the concept could also be transferred to other regions in Germany and beyond."