News Wageningen University & Research

WUR develops simulated greenhouse environment for faster robot development

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is exploring how simulation can accelerate and refine the development of harvesting robots for greenhouse horticulture.

Sjoukje Heimovaara reappointed as WUR President

Sjoukje Heimovaara is reappointed as Chair of the Executive Board of WUR from 1 July 2026 for a second four-year term.

Courts, Climate, and Justice: Inside the Climate Justice Lab’s Second Edition March 2026

Hosted across Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Wageningen University & Research, and Tilburg University, the Lab culminated in a final in-person session on March 12 and 13, 2026 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The gathering brought together participants and experts to consolidate research, refine outputs and define audience, all interrogating the evolving role of international courts in shaping climate futures.

Kerensa Broersen appointed Chair of Nutritional Biology

Kerensa Broersen has been appointed Chair of Nutritional Biology at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) with effect from 1 April 2026.

Roy van Grunsven appointed Special Professor of Resilience of Insect Populations under Climate Change

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research has appointed Roy van Grunsven as Special Professor of Resilience of Insect Populations under Climate Change as of 1 April 2026.

New Scientific Director for VLAG: “We are here for PhD candidates, postdocs and their supervisors.”

Today, Professor Louis de Smet starts as Scientific Director of the VLAG Graduate School. In this role, he will oversee the school’s day-to-day management as well as its academic and educational quality over the next four years. De Smet is looking forward to getting to know the community and strengthening it.

Preparing for a more extreme climate in the Netherlands is inevitable

Wageningen University & Research, as one of the contributors for the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency reports, has investigated future climate risks and opportunities for nature, agriculture, and wildfires.

Food safety, soils and manure: only a systemic approach can prevent health risks

New research by Wageningen University & Research shows that large-scale manure use can lead to the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in soils, and ultimately in rice, exceeding food quality criteria.

Chemists use electricity to make building blocks for medicines and plastics from biomass

WUR has developed a new method to produce a promising chemical building block from biomass: furanon. It can serve as a precursor for products such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, and flavour and fragrance ingredients. The process can be driven by electricity, without use of hazardous bromide.