Research Associations
We see cooperation in research networks as a decisive success factor, both for INRES and the Faculty of Agriculture as well as for the University of Bonn as a whole. INRES scientists are involved in numerous local, regional and international research networks.
Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC)
The RWTH Aachen University , the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, the Friedrich Wilhelms University in Bonn and the Forschungszentrum Jülich already have outstanding research activities in numerous areas of bioeconomy and hence create an excellent research landscape in a strong bioeconomy-oriented industrial environment in North Rhine Westphalia. Based on a joint strategy and the involvement of existing scientific networks and collaborations, the universities and Forschungszentrum Jülich have developed a concept with all relevant science branches represented in a unique competence center – the Bioeconomy Science Center – in NRW to provide biomass and bio-based products and processes.
Earth-Evolution at the dry limit (CRC 1211)
The objective of the project is to pioneer the research on the mutual evolutionary relationships between Earth surface processes and biota. The target areas are arid to hyper-arid systems, where both biota and Earth surface process are severely and predominantly limited by the availability of water. In doing this we aim to isolate the key fingerprints of biological activity at the (water) limit of the habitable Earth, and to characterize the Earth surface processes operating in the (virtual) absence of liquid water (fog is present in many areas, runoff-creating precipitation is absent in many areas).
European Maize
(MAZE)
MAZE develops solutions to access native diversity in a targeted way. A unique library of maize DH-lines derived from Flint landraces and a Dent MAGIC-population will be genotyped and phenotyped extensively to identify and functionally characterize genes contributing to two important abiotic stress resistance traits, chilling and drought tolerance.
Kompetenzzentrum Gartenbau (KoGa)
The Horticulture Competence Centre (KoGa) was founded in 2002. At Bonn University’s research station Campus Klein Altendorf it brings together the potential of research, experimentation and extension. KoGa’s partners are the University of Bonn, the Service Centre for Rural Areas Rheinpfalz, Jülich Research Centre and the Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia.
Rhizophere Spatiotemporal Organisation (DFG SSP 2089)
This Priority Programme aims at the identification of spatiotemporal patterns in the rhizosphere and at the explanation of the underlying mechanisms. The key concept of the programme consists of approaching the rhizosphere as a self-organised system. Self-organisation arises from a cascade of feedback loops between root, microbiome and soil. Emerging patterns in the rhizosphere cannot be understood from studying the components in isolation.
The overall hypothesis of the Priority Programme is that resilience emerges from self-organised spatiotemporal pattern formation in the rhizosphere.
Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production (PhenoRob)
Food, feed, fiber, and fuel: Crop farming plays an essential role for the future of humanity and our planet. The environmental footprint of agriculture needs to be reduced: less input of chemicals like herbicides and fertilizer and other limited resources like water or energy. Simultaneously, the decline in arable land and climate change pose additional constraints like drought, heat, and other extreme weather events.
Achieving sustainable crop production with limited resources is a task of immense proportions. In order to achieve this, the University of Bonn together with Forschungszentrum Jülich conducts research in the Cluster of Excellence “PhenoRob – Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production” to develop methods and new technologies that observe, analyze, better understand and specifically treat plants.
