Research

In the project, strategies for breeding for energy efficiency and reduction of methane emissions for the Austrian cattle population are researched and solutions are developed. Measurements of methane emissions are carried out in experimental and practical farms with the GreenFeed system. In addition, further phenotypic traits will be collected and existing data (cattle data network) will be used. The genetic potential of the direct trait methane and CO2 emission and the genetic correlations to health and other traits in the overall breeding value, as well as the factors influencing the methane emission of the animals, will be analysed. This data base will also be used to develop and validate MIR equations. The potential of the indirect trait MIR methane is analysed, indirect traits for energy efficiency are developed. MIR estimators for energy balance will be derived and validated using data from research stations. Their potential for improving energy efficiency will be investigated in conjunction with other traits. Genetic relationships between energy efficiency and methane or CO2 emissions will be analysed. The potential of using indirect traits for energy efficiency and methane emissions for wider use in breeding will be explored and a recommendation for consideration in the breeding objective or programme will be derived. Methane emissions are included in assessments of the climate impact of relevant dairy and beef production systems in Austria.

Saatgutkompetenz von Bäuerinnen und Gärtnerinnen im Pustertal – Stand, Einflussfaktoren und mögliche Fördermaßnahmen. Ackerbau und Viehhaltung prägten im Pustertal noch bis weit nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges das Landschaftsbild. Das Sicherstellen der Lebensmittelversorgung der Familienmitglieder stand besonders in den abgelegenen Tälern und Bergregionen im Vordergrund des überwiegend kleinbäuerlichen Wirtschaftens. Von den Kulturpflanzen, die im Pustertal angebaut wurden, wurde in der jüngeren Geschichte immer auch Saatgut vor Ort selbst vermehrt. Wenn Saatgut vermehrt wurde, fand immer auch eine Auslese von Saatgut bestimmter Pflanzenindividuen statt. Diese Auslese wurde nach Erfahrungswerten und Intuition durchgeführt; geprägt von den persönlichen Vorstellungen und Notwendigkeiten derjenigen, die die Kulturpflanzen anbauten, pflegten und vermehrten. Dies hat zu der enormen Vielfalt genau in diesen lokalen Herkünften der unterschiedlichsten Kulturpflanzenarten geführt, auch im Pustertal. Das Handwerk der eigenständigen Erhaltung, Selektion und Vermehrung von Saatgut wird kaum mehr ausgeübt. Damit geraten einzigartige Kulturpflanzen und deren lokale Herkünfte in Vergessenheit und sind vom Verschwinden bedroht. Die lebendige Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes der Saatgutvermehrung und Weitergabe von Saatgut liegt in den Händen von einigen wenigen engagierten Menschen. In Handarbeit wird eine große Vielfalt angebaut. Im Projekt „Saatgutkompetenz“ wird der aktuelle Stand der Saatguterhaltung für Kulturpflanzen im Pustertal dokumentiert. In Interviews mit Erhalterinnen werden fördernde und hemmende Faktoren für die Saatguterhaltung, sowie Informations- und Beratungsbedarf der ErhalterInnen identifiziert. Auf Basis dieser Erkenntnisse werden lokale, regionale und nationale Fördermaßnahmen identifiziert, die dazu beitragen die Saatgutkompetenz im Pustertal zu erhalten.   Farming and animal husbandry shaped the landscape in the Pustertal until well after the end of the Second World War. Securing the food supply for family members was the focus of the predominantly small-scale farming, especially in the remote valleys and mountainous regions. In recent history, the seeds of the cultivated plants that were cultivated in the Puster Valley have always been propagated locally. When seed was propagated, a selection of seed from certain plant individuals always took place. This selection was made based on experience and intuition; shaped by the personal ideas and needs of those who cultivated, cared for and propagated the cultivated plants. This has led to the enormous diversity of accessions of cultivated plants in the Puster Valley. The craft of independent conservation, selection and propagation of seeds is hardly practiced anymore. As a result, unique cultivated plants and their local accessions are forgotten and threatened with disappearance. The living preservation of the cultural heritage of seed propagation and seed transmission is in the hands of a few committed people. In the "Seed Competence" project, the current status of seed conservation for cultivated plants in the Puster Valley is documented. In interviews with conservators, supporting and inhibiting factors for seed conservation, as well as information and advice needs of the conservators are identified. Based on these findings, local, regional and national funding measures are identified that contribute to maintaining seed expertise in the Puster Valley.

The aim of the study is to identify those biogas plants that could use regionally available biogenic residues and waste materials and where biomethane production would be possible at the same time due to their proximity to the gas grid. Based on three to four model regions in Austria, the biogas plant data will be collected and the available and realisable potentials of biogenic residues and waste materials will be determined on the municipal as well as on the site level. Furthermore, a survey will be conducted for the use as biomethane and a possible gas feed-in. The concept is to be developed in such a way that it can be transferred to all Austrian regions. A graphical model is to be developed with the geo-information software QGIS, which will provide a visual representation of the biogas plants in question and can also be transferred to other regions.