Research

CircularFoods has set itself the goal of making the best possible use of regionally available food residues and producing new high-quality products from such residues. In a circular approach, CircularFoods aims to obtain high-quality protein components from various residual materials, investigate the effects on possible subsequent biogas production, and develop innovative liquid biofertilizers, new growing media (peat substitutes) and fertilizer pellets from the fermentation residues (possibly in a mixture with other residual material fractions). The best possible cascading use should contribute to a significant increase in the added value of food residues and, in line with the Austrian circular economy strategy, to maximum material use in combination with possible biogas production (not the focus of research in this project). The use of energy-efficient processes and research into optimal carbon utilization via the cascading approach should lay the foundation for the long-term vision of a climate-positive food cycle.

The overall aim of this project is to provide practical guidance on the successful restoration of native forests in the Ethiopian highlands. To address this, we will use an approach that will strengthen the supply of native tree species, combined with investigations of establishment of this material in tree species diverse plantations. This will be realized by strengthening the national reproductive material supply by establishment of seedling seed orchards of the target species (Juniperus procera, Prunus africana, Podocarpus gracilior, Albizia gummifera, Olea europaea sub sp. cuspidata, Cordia africana, Millettia ferruginea), methods of vegetative propagation (primarily for Juniperus procera but also for other species), and investigation of the growth of the target species in the tree species diverse plots. In the plots, the mineral nutrient requirements tree species and plant protection methods to aid successful establishment will be addressed. The HIGH FIVE project will build on the experience and data gained in previous projects by the consortium, which is made up of two Austrian partners, the Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW) and the University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), and the Ethiopian Forest Development agency (EFD) and Bahir Dar University (BDU) from Ethiopia, and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) from Kenya.

The invasive Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is increasingly migrating into habitat types worthy of protection, where, due to its rapid growth, its low soil, site and climate requirements, its high capability of reproduction via root suckers and stump sprouts, its strong vegetative reproduction and massive production of seeds and due to its allelopathic properties, it endangers rare plant species and associated animal species. In the present project, an attempt is being made to combat invasive Tree-of-Heaven on the dry grassland site Dürrham (Heißlände) in the Lower Lobau, which is worthy of protection, and in the FFH habitat types 91G0 (Pannonian oak-hornbeam forest), 91H0 (Pannonian downy oak forest) and in the FFH habitat type 6210 (Trespen-fescue-limestone dry grassland) on the Bisamberg, respectively. Furthermore, soil as well as potentially susceptible dicotyledonous plants will be sampled and screened for the agent V. nonalfalfae (see below) on both sites in spring 2024 and 2025. The control is to be carried out using the biological control method developed at the Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (BOKU University) in 2011 on the basis of the native wilt fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae, which has already proven to be sustainable, cost-efficient, but also quickly and specifically effective in numerous series of experiments. The control is therefore also in line with the biodiversity strategy Austria 2030+ of the BMK.