Log in   Search Links
 

Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) contributes significantly to the quality of life

Choose a subject:
  • Nutrition and health Nutrition and health Nutrition and health
  • Animal welfare Animal welfare Animal welfare
  • Global Chains Global Chains Global Chains
  • Climate Climate Climate
  • Nature and Landscape Nature and Landscape Nature and Landscape
  • Food Security Food Security Food Security
  • Biobased economy Biobased economy Biobased economy

Read
more

Sunlight used more efficiently

Effecient use of sunlight

When the levels of pigmentation in leaves are being reduced, plants use sunlight more effectively to grow. The leaf pigments absorb light but do not contribute to the process of photosynthesis, rwsearchers of Wageningen University dicovered. Their findings were published in the scientific magazine Plant Cell on May 22.
This doesn't mean that pigments are useless 'sunlight wasters'; their function is to protect a plant against external factors like UV light and insect damage. But in a protected surrounding, such as in greenhouses, plants can easily do with a little less pigment. Enhancing the photosynthesis process is one way to increase the yield of food crops.

More crop per sunray

Bleker speaks to students

Henk Bleker

Outgoing State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation Henk Bleker spoke on Wageningen Campus on May 23. Bleker focused his speech on what he expects of today's students, the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs in the agrifood business. The evening was organised by Studium Generale.
Bleker talked about Wageningen UR as innovative driver of the agrifood business, in the Netherlands and the rest of the world. To him it is clear that 'The Netherlands, Wageningen UR and its students and alumni have an important role to play in the world'.

Bleker in Wageningen (in Dutch)

Biobased Economy explained in an animation

The Biobased Economy explained

The transition to a biobased economy (an economy based on renewable resources) is now explained in an animation. Plant material contains substances that can be used for the production of chemicals, materials, electricity and fuels. Already plastic bottles are made ​​from wood residue, 'green' styrofoam is being produced, and of course biofuels and energy exist too. But it can all be done on a much larger scale.

View the animation

News

    24 May 2012

    Plants could use light even more effectively for food production

    Scientists from Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, have concluded that it is possible to develop plants that produce even more food by reducing the level of pigments which make no

    more

    16 May 2012

    ‘An apology for Q fever would help patients’

    The victims of Q fever want compensation from the government and goat farmers, and the national ombudsman says the ex-minister should offer an apology. An apology can help, giving the patient some

    more

    16 May 2012

    Test for blue-green algae inadequate

    Efforts to monitor recreational waters for the presence of blue-green algae should be stepped up. The current method allows harmful toxins to be overlooked.This warning is given by Wageningen UR

    more

    16 May 2012

    Tackling scene of the crime with infrared

    Picture the scene of a crime: a body lying there and blood splatters. But is it really blood? And if so, does it come from that body? And how long has it been lying there? At present, such questions

    more

more News

    Growing coral under glass

    A quarter of all fish species live on coral reefs. These reefs are threatened by climate change, clogging and overfishing. Moreover stone corals are more and more populair with aquarium devotees

    more

    African women and the AIDS tragedy

    AIDS has dramatic consequences for food security in Africa. Millions of farmers on this continent have died of AIDS or have become too sick to work. Frequently, the women who are left behind must

    more

    Food Sovereignty: promoting or undermining food security?

    Food Sovereignty is one of the emerging concepts in present-day debates on food security and the right to food. Different than the Right to Food, which is a legal framework, Food Sovereignty is a

    more

    Ethiopia: horticulture and flowers

    From March 21-23 the Hortiflora will take place in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Wageningen UR will be present with a stand. Please find below the presentation that was showed, as well as the handouts.

    more

more Dossiers

News Wageningen UR on Twitter

You can follow Wageningen UR on Twitter:

twitter.com/WageningenINT

Studying at Wageningen UR

Academic and professional education

Wageningen UR offers a broad range of studies focusing on the domain ‘healthy food and living environment’. Students are stimulated to combine the natural and social sciences; from plant sciences to economics and from food ingredients technology to sociology. All studies have their roots in society and are always focused on finding solutions for societal problems.

Education is offered at various levels. Wageningen University offers academic education and the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences offers professional education. This unique combination of academic and professional education has led to a coherent system of bachelor, master and PhD programmes. On all levels academic, strategic and applied research are combined.

International orientation

There is a strong international presence at Wageningen UR. About a third of the MSc students and fifty percent of phD students are from abroad. Internationally, the university is listed in the top 200 in both the Times Higher Educational Supplement as well as in the American Newsweek.

Plans for Eco Valley near Beijing

Artist impression of plans for Beijing's Eco Valley

Wageningen UR has developed an ambitious plan for an 'Eco Valley' near Beijing. This 400 hectare site near China's capital city provides space for sustainable food production, forestry, floriculture, recreation and housing. Because Wageningen UR has expertise in the various disciplines that are required to design such an Eco Valley, the Dutch knowledge institution was approached by COFCO (one of China's largest food companies) and the administrators of Beijing to come up with plans for the huge area.
The first plans were presented in China at the end of February. The participants are now awaiting several decisions by the Chinese partners in order to finalise the plans. If that happens quickly, then vegetable production could already start this year.

Eco Valley

Research counter

Search per topic for a list of contacts where research assignments can be requested.

Go quickly to:

Shared first place in Keuzegids Masters

Another excellent ranking in the Keuzegids

The Keuzegids Masters 2012 (a guide for students looking for a suitable master programme) has ranked the programmes of Wageningen University as the best in the country. According to the guide, published on April 26, Wageningen University is the best mainstream  university. It shares the first position with the Open University, which offers 'distance learning' programmes.
Not only does the university score well on its master programmes. For seven years in a row Keuzegids has elected Wageningen 'best university of The Netherlands'.

Keuzegids (in Dutch)

Mobile DNA labs very successful

Mobile labs to educate high school pupils about DNA

Over 100,000 high school students have learned about DNA through the mobile labs of six universities. This was celebrated on 17 April in Wageningen. For once, the labs did not visit the schools, but the students from six schools were transported with buses to Wageningen Campus where they had a fun-filled and informative day.
The idea of visiting secondary schools with mobile labs to educate pupils about the wonderful world of DNA emerged about 15 years ago in Wageningen. Since 2006, five other universioties have joined the initiative and some 20,000 high school students a year are now getting acquainted with DNA research through these labs.