At our Research Centre, the following thesis topics are currently available. In case you are interested in one of these topics, please get in touch with the supervisors indicated and send them a brief motivational statement in which you describe why you are a suitable candidate for this topic, and your transcript of records. We will then get in touch with you shortly.
Tentative research topics
Looking for Sherlock: Disentangling biotic and abiotic effects on crop health in an experimental field at the lower Rhine region
Many biological and non-biological factors influence plant health. These include, for example, the nutrient availability and soil properties, pest and disease infestation and the type of plant protection. Our company conducts field trials at various locations on a wide range of topics, including the assessment of plant health. Our branch in Uedem comprises various locations where field trials are carried out on different crops. Unlike in the laboratory, field trials are sometimes influenced by factors that cannot be controlled or planned, such as weather phenomena or pest infestations. In the last season abnormalities in plant growth were observed in one part of a field trial in Weeze. Yet, reasons for the weak performance remain unclear after standard disease and pest appraisal. Therefore, the aim of the proposed thesis is to find out what the cause of this anomaly is so that countermeasures can be introduced.
Your tasks
– Evaluation of existing data and information on field trial under investigation
– Literature research on factors of interest
– Soil and plant sample collection
– Sample analysis and data analysis
– Presentation of the results at the company
– Thesis write-up
Your skills
– Good command of English; German is a plus.
– Interest in field work, ability to work independently.
– Potential to do lab work using methods from different disciplines (e.g. analysis of soil compaction in the field, elemental analysis of soils, identification of pathogens, biomass measurements, …)
We offer
– Practice-oriented question with relevance
– Interdisciplinary project between academia and industry
– Fast response and exchange between you and supervisors
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Fall 2025
Duration: Approximately 6 Months
Supervisors: – Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Florian Wichern (fw@hsrw.eu)
- Dr. Conor Watson (conor.watson@hochschule-rhein-waal.de)
Co-Supervisors:- BioChem Agrar GmbH
- Ulrich Janssen (Ulrich.Janssen@biochemagrar.de, 02825 53909 12)
- Dr. Jens Weyen (Jens.Weyen@biochemagrar.de, 02825 53909 21)
Thesis on vitality and climate resilience of apples
– a Qgis-supported variety- and site-specific analysis
Within the agroforestry living lab of TransRegINT we are addressing traditional and modern forms of
agroforestry. Through networking and research, we learn from established and older meadow
orchards and fruit plantations in order to build on regional knowledge when establishing modern fruit-growing agroforestry systems. Following a living lab approach our research is based on cooperation
with practice partners such as LiKK e.V. and Berkhöfel fruit farm.
We are offering 2 thesis research fields:
1. Apples: Your thesis work will include the extension of a QGis database for orchards in our
region. By doing field work you will assess the tree vitality in selected meadow orchards and
apple plantations selected based on location conditions and studied apple varieties. By
choosing apple trees of different ages we will create a chronosequence (false time series).
2. Sweet chestnut: Building on our apple research, we want to include a comparison with sweet
chestnuts. As a first step you will map regional sweet chestnut trees by field work and using
QGis. Based on this you will develop a research question regarding sweet chestnut’s drought
tolerance, vitality and site adaption.
– Through writing your thesis within our project you will get the opportunity to get involved in various
types of data assessment and analysis as well as the exchange with our project partners.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Earliest Start: November 24
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern / Prof. Jens Gebauer / Prof. Natalie Laibach
Co-Supervisor: Anna-Lea Ortmann
“Wirkung der Zwischenfrucht auf den Boden, bzw. die Bodenbewohner bei Sikkation von Roggen mit Glyphosat im Vergleich zur mechanischen Zerkleinerung und Einarbeitung in den Boden.”
Feldforschung mit Praxispartner Graf am unteren Niederrhein in Uedem-Keppeln
_________________________
“The effect of cover crops on the soil and the soil inhabitants when siccating rye with glyphosate compared to mechanical mulching and working into the soil.”
Fieldwork on a farm in 47589 Uedem-Keppeln, with our partner Graf.
Level: Bachelor
Earliest Start: anytime
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern
Systematic literature analysis on the scientific evidence basis of using plant sap and brix measurement as indicators for plant health and impact of regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is praised as an option to produce healthy and sufficient food while reducing the negative environmental impact of food production by a number of practices that also designed to improve soil health. To measure plant health, farmers often consider the brix value of the plant sap which is measured with a refractometer that mainly determines the refractive index of sugar as a reference substance. This thesis aims to comprehensively review the existing literature for scientific evidence of the brix index relation to plant health, other compounds in the plant sap and applicability as a measurement tool for regenerative agricultural. The literature search can be complemented by interviews with farmers using this index.
Methods: literature research, farmer engagement and interviews
Level: Bachelor, Master
Period: Anytime
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Natalie Laibach
Design and test a pot experimental set-up to analyse physiological cereal-legume-tree (sapling) interaction in greenhouse contexts
Agroforestry systems are complex by nature and interaction between potential arable crops grown within are not well understood. To investigate important parameters involved in the interactions between plants, such as nutrient exchange, physiological impacts, root morphology and gene expression, model systems are important to facilitate experimental design. This thesis is aiming to study extant literature for related methodological approaches, choice of suitable tree, legume and cereal species and experimental testing of these options in the greenhouse.
Methods: Lab and greenhouse work, physiological and morphological plant parameter determination, literature research
Level: Master
Period: Anytime
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern, Prof. Natalie Laibach
Literature review on the influence of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in plants on drought tolerance
This thesis will dive deeply into the plant secondary metabolite pathway to synthesize phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and lignin and how this influences drought tolerance in plants, with a focus on crops. Compounds, genes, investigated plants and functions should be derived from this research.
Level: Bachelor
Period: Winter Term 2024/25
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Natalie Laibach
Literature review on the influence of the phytohormones brassinosteroids on phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in plants
This thesis will dive deeply into the plant secondary metabolite pathway to synthesize phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and lignin and how this is influenced by brassinosteroids. It can also involve the relation to abiotic stress and should delineate opportunities for crop cultivation. Compounds, genes, investigated plants and functions should be derived from this research.
Level: Bachelor
Period: Winter Term 2024/25
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Natalie Laibach
Biochemical characterization of betalains and analysis of the squalene and phytosterol content in amaranth cultivars
The aim of this thesis is to characterize different amaranth species and cultivars, mainly grain amaranth, with respect to their betalain content via photometric as well as mass spectrometric methods. The work can be complemented with analysis in environmental stress and analysis of th phytosterol and squalene concentrations in the grain.
Level: Bachelor
Period: Winter Term 2024/25
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Natalie Laibach
Meta-study on sorghum cropping systems
This study aims to extract, compile and analyse the current knowledge on sorghum cropping systems including intercropping. It should delineate best practices and potential knowledge on genotype, variety, climatic conditions etc. involved. For a master thesis, combinations should be tested.
Level: Bachelor
Period: Winter Term 2024/25
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Natalie Laibach
The effect of salinization in apricot orchards
This thesis will likely explore the negative impacts of salinization on apricot orchards. It might examine how salt affects the growth, yield, and quality of apricots, as well as the potential strategies to mitigate the effects of salinization within the apricot growing region of Batken, Kyrgyzstan.
Level: Master
Period: Sommer Term 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern
Co-Supervisor: Philip Schierning
How to improve water holding capacity in semi-arid soils – Conducting field experiments in Kyrgyzstan
This thesis will likely investigate methods to enhance the soil’s ability to retain water in the semi-arid regions of Kyrgyzstan. A possible field for experiments is present within an Apricot orchard in Batken.
It might involve conducting field experiments to test different techniques, such as adding organic matter or using specific soil amendments.
Level: Master
Period: Sommer Term 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern
Co-Supervisor: Philip Schierning
Introduction of novel herbs and plants in the Fergana Valley – desk research based on climatic profiles
This thesis will likely investigate the feasibility of introducing new herb and plant species to the Fergana Valley. It could be based on a desk research analysis of the different region’s climates to identify suitable species and assess the potential benefits of their introduction, such as increased biodiversity or economic value.
Level: Master
Period: Sommer Term 2025
Supervisor: Philip Schierning
Auxiliary Root Project
Within the agroforestry living lab we take a closer look at apple roots. The root system of a tree is particularily important for its resilience towards abiotic and biotic stresses as water and nutrients taken up by the fine roots in the soil are a prerequisite for a good basic supply of the tree. The “Auxiliary Root Project” aims at getting a better understanding of the free-rooting of seven different apple varieties (Schnabelapfel, Pojnik, Harberts Renette, Roter Ziegler, Schwaikheimer Rambour, Aargauer Jubiläum, Friedberger Bohnapfel). Scions of those 7 varieties were grafted onto the weak-growing M9 rootstock in spring 2023. The scions were taken from very old and vital apple high trunk trees which partly stand on their own roots and might present promising genetics for future vigorous rootstocks. In cooperation with Berkhöfel farm as our pracitce partner the by then 2-year old grafted trees were planted as a nursery trial deeper than usual with the grafting point 20 cm below soil surface in March 2024. Their roots were investigated by a first root inventory in October 2024 (Hubers 2024). Based on the method and data of this first inventory a second root inventory in autumn 2025 shall examine the variety’s progress of growing their own root sytems. There is also room for further research questions that you can develop and work on as part of your thesis.
Methods: root and tree growth inventory (data collection: Sept & Oct 2025), data analysis, literature research
By writing a thesis within our project you’ll get insights into applied research methods working with farms and practitioners of our region.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Start from July 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Jens Gebauer
Co-Supervision: Anna-Lea Ortmann
Kontakt: anna-lea.ortmann@hochschule-rhein-waal.de | 02821-806739951
Thesis on vitality and climate resilience of apples
– a QGis-supported variety- and site-specific analysis
Within the agroforestry living lab of TransRegINT we are addressing traditional and modern forms of
agroforestry. Through networking and research, we learn from established and older meadow
orchards and fruit plantations in order to build on regional knowledge when establishing modern fruitgrowing agroforestry systems. Following a living lab approach our research is based on cooperation
with practice partners such as LiKK e.V. and Berkhöfel fruit farm.
We are offering 2 thesis research fields:
1. Apple: Your thesis work will include the extension of a QGis database for orchards in our
region. By doing field work you will assess the tree vitality in selected meadow orchards and
apple plantations selected based on location conditions and studied apple varieties. By
choosing apple trees of different ages we will create a chronosequence (false time series).
2. Sweet chestnut: Building on our apple research, we want to include a comparison with sweet
chestnuts. As a first step you will map regional sweet chestnut trees by field work and using
QGis. Based on this you will develop a research question regarding sweet chestnut’s drought
tolerance, vitality and site adaption.
Through writing your thesis within our project you will get the opportunity to get involved in various
types of data assessment and analysis as well as the exchange with our project partners.
QGis is a free
open-source geographic information system (GIS) software used for the analysis and display of spatial
data. Previous QGis-experience is helpful but not essential. Data collection can also be limited to field
and/or laboratory work.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Start from March 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern / Prof. Jens Gebauer / Prof. Natalie Laibach
Co-Supervision: Anna-Lea Ortmann
Kontakt: anna-lea.ortmann@hochschule-rhein-waal.de | 02821-806739951
QGis-based planning of an apple agroforestry system
Within the agroforestry living lab/TransRegINT we are researching different apple rootstocks (Bittenfelder, Antonowka, MM111, D2212, M9, G214). This spring the 2-year old rootstocks got grafted with scions of the varieties ‘Zabergäurenette’ and ‘Rheinischer Winterrambur’. In autumn 2025 the 250 trees will be planted into two agroforestry systems on Berkhöfel and Monreberg farm as agroforestry living lab partners.
As your thesis you will plan those two agroforestry systems (AFS) in exchange with us as your supervisors and the cooperating farmers using QGis. The planning process needs to take the following aspects into account:
- diverse apple tree planting including 12 different rootstock x variety – combinations and 3 different tree forms – low, intermediate and high trunk trees
- manageability for the farmers including tree pruning, harvest, undergrowth management, tree protection against sheep, wild deer and other animals
- fulfilled statistical standards for the purpose of investigating the AFS as field trials
By completing a thesis in this project, you will gain insights into a concrete example of agroforestry planning and implementation including the exchange with our project practice partners.
QGis experience is a prerequisite. QGis is a free open-source geographic information system (GIS) software used to display spatial data. One field of application is the design of agroforestry plantings.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Start from March 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Florian Wichern / Prof. Jens Gebauer
Co-Supervision: Anna-Lea Ortmann
Kontakt: anna-lea.ortmann@hochschule-rhein-waal.de | 02821-806739951
Agroforst Peer-to-Peer Formate für den Wissenstransfer zwischen Landnutzer*innen
Das Projekt Agroforst Reallabor/TransRegINT hat am Niederrhein Juni 2024 einen Agroforst Praxisstammtisch initiiert. Seither treffen sich im zweimonatlichen Turnus Praktiker*innen aus Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Gartenbau, Baumschulwesen, Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege auf Agroforstbetrieben und weiteren Praxisorten, um sich zu vernetzen und zu Agroforstpraktiken in Austausch zu kommen. Im Laufe von 2025 sind weitere Termine und Betriebsbesichtigungen geplant. Zudem soll der Stammtisch als Agroforst-Peer-to-Peer-Lernformat (AF-P2P) wissenschaftlich begleitet werden. Hierbei steht die Ermittlung folgender Faktoren im Fokus: Bedarfe seitens der Praxis an P2P Formate, Erfolgsfaktoren von AF-P2P und die Rollen verschiedener Akteure im Praxisnetzwerk des Stammtischs sowie die Frage, wie öffentliche Institutionen (z.B. Hochschulen, Verwaltung) AF-P2P-Formate langfristig sinnvoll unterstützen können.
Die Potenziale von Agroforstsystemen (AFS) als multifunktionale Landnutzungssysteme werden zunehmend von Praxis und Politik wahrgenommen [Ljungdahl 2022, Klimke et al. 2024], bisher finden moderne AFS in Deutschland an der Anbaufläche gemessen jedoch nur nischenartig Anwendung. Einer der Gründe für die zögerliche Etablierung von AFS liegt in den Wissenslücken, welche bezüglich des praktischen Know-Hows (Planung, Anlage und Management von AFS) bestehen. Die Bedeutung von P2P-Formaten für die Wissensweitergabe unter Landnutzer*innen wird von Landwirt*innen [Gimenéz 2024, Große-Kleimann 2024, Van Aken 2024] und Forschung [Häller et al. 2018, Sutherland & Marchand 2021, Gaede et al. 2023] hervorgehoben. „Andere Landwirt*innen“ sind die am häufigsten genannte Informationsquelle für Landwirt*innen [Garforth et al. 2003].
Eine Abschlussarbeit in unserem Projekt ermöglicht dir vertiefte Einblicke in Agroforstnetzwerke und -praktiken am Niederrhein sowie den Austausch mit Agroforstpraktiker*innen.
Start ab März 2025 möglich: Literaturrecherche, Erarbeitung der Methodik und Durchführung der Datenerhebung (Umfrage/ Interview / Workshop), Datenauswertung
Für den Kontakt mit Praktiker*innen und die Datenerhebung sind Deutschkenntnisse notwendig. Die Abschlussarbeit kann in Deutsch oder Englisch verfasst werden (abhängig deiner Prüfungsordnung).
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Start from March 2025
Supervisor: Prof. Natalie Laibach / Prof. Florian Wichern / Prof. Jens Gebauer
Co-Supervision: Anna-Lea Ortmann
Kontakt: anna-lea.ortmann@hochschule-rhein-waal.de | 02821-806739951
Diversity of agroforestry practices in Central Asia – an observational journey through the Fergana Valley
This thesis will likely explore the various agroforestry techniques used in Central Asia, focusing on the Fergana Valley (across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan). It might examine the types of trees and crops grown together, the management and benefits of these practices, and any challenges faced by local farmers.
Level: Master
Period: Sommer Term 2025
Supervisor: Philip Schierning
Literature review on agroforestry practices in Central Asia and its terminology in Russian literature
This thesis will require fluency in Russian to review existing literature on agroforestry practices in Central Asia. It will likely focus on understanding the terminology used in Russian-language publications and comparing it to English-language terms.
Level: Bachelor
Period: Anytime
Supervisor: Philip Schierning
Sustainable finance in agri-food businesses: Theory and empirical evidence.
Agri-food enterprises that claim to contribute to the resolution of critical development challenges such as sustainable food provision have attracted significant investments during the past decades, indicating that they represent an attractive investment opportunity for venture capitalists and investors (see also https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10383-6). Building on a review of the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable company finance, the research aims to review recent empirical case studies of financing models described in the literature and/or on corporate websites.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor:
Prof. Merbecks
Climate change projections to inform adaptation decisions in agroforestry systems in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This desk study aims to identify approaches how climate change projections can be used to inform climate change adaptation decisions in irrigated agroforestry systems in Central Asia. Possible questions include:
- Which climate models (downscaled) exist and how can they be used to predict future changes in water availability, temperature, and precipitation patterns for agroforestry systems in Central Asia?
- Which type of decision-support tools can be developed to help farmers adapt to changing water availability based on climate change projections?
Methods: Desk study on climate change projections and decision-support tools suitable for the AFS context
Level: Bachelor
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Agroforestry systems and integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research aims to explore and possibly develop IWRM strategies that combine agroforestry practices with broader water governance frameworks to address future challenges posed by climate change in the irrigated apricot systems in Kyrgyzstan. Questions could include:
- How can IWRM principles be applied to support sustainable agricultural and water management practices in Kyrgyzstan’s agroforestry systems?
- What are main policy gaps in water management and climate change adaptation and how can these be addressed to improve resilience in agroforestry systems?
- What role can agroforestry systems play in IWRM frameworks to improve ecosystem services such as flood control, water retention, water quality, etc.?
- How can agroforestry systems be integrated into broader watershed management frameworks to enhance resilience to droughts and floods at watershed level?
Methods: Literature review, interviews with key stakeholders
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Community-based water management for climate change adaptation in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research explores community-based irrigation and local water management practices in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and/or Uzbekistan) and assesses their potential for climate change adaptation measures in agroforestry systems in the region. In particular it aims to address questions like:
- Which community-based irrigation management (CBIM) practices exist?
- How can CBIM help improve collective responses to water scarcity and climate change impacts?
- What traditional knowledge and local governance structures exist for water management and how can they be used for climate adaptation strategies in AFS?
Method: Literature review, stakeholder interviews (national and local scale), case study analyses of CBIM examples, key expert interviews within the communities.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Resilience of irrigated agroforestry systems to climate change in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This is a desk study aiming to understand current knowledge about the resilience of irrigated agroforestry systems to climate change on the example of Central Asia. Questions could include:
- What are effective water conservation techniques for agroforestry systems in Central Asia (e.g., mulching, drip irrigation, improved soil management)?
- How can present irrigation techniques be adapted or developed to deal with changing water availability
- What role do agroforestry systems play to enhance local water availability?
This topic provides a possibility to extend the desk study to field data collection about currently practices water conservation techniques in agroforestry systems in Central Asia (expert interviews and data collection in farmer communities possible). It can potentially be combined with the topic ‘climate change impacts on water availability and productivity in agroforestry systems in Central Asia’.
Method: Desk study on irrigation water-related intervention options to enhance resilience in AFS
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Climate change impacts on water availability and productivity in agroforestry systems in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research aims to understand climate change impacts on water availability in agroforestry systems in Central Asia. Questions could include:
- How are changing precipitation patterns, temperature increases, and altered seasonal dynamics affecting water availability for the irrigated AFS in Ferghana valley?
- What are the projected impacts of climate change on crop yields and water demand in Central Asia’s agroforestry systems?
- How can water management strategies (at field, scheme and landscape level) be adapted to deal with increasing evapotranspiration rates and changing water availability to make AFS more resilient?
Method: Desk study and field research on climate change projects and its impacts on water for agroforestry systems
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Radar-based analyses of water availability and water stress in agroforestry systems
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research aims to develop a spatially explicit model using radar data to assess water availability and water stress in agroforestry systems in Kyrgyzstan. Different agroforestry and non-agroforestry systems are being compared in terms of water stress and soil moisture to identify differences of these systems in their resilience to water and drought stress. This thesis topic requires a good level of knowledge in mathematics and physics, good programming skills and prior experience with remote sensing techniques.
Method: Radar-based spatial modelling
Level: Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Water balances of irrigated agroforestry systems in Ferghana Valley, Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. The research aims to understand the water requirements of the agroforestry systems (AFS) practiced in the Ferghana valley (Kyrgyzstan and/or Uzbekistan),
by comparing water requirements of AFS with other land use systems present in the region (e.g. monoculture apricot; annual crops; natural vegetation). Water balances/ flow diagrams of the different cultivation systems are established using information from literature and from project data (e.g. household survey and field data). Different options for irrigation of these cultivation systems will also be considered.
Method: Water balancing, simple modelling
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisors: – Dr. Jannike van Bruggen,
Philip Schierning
Charakterisierung der Boden- und Vegetationsqualität im Naturschutzgebiet Düffel
Im Rahmen des LIFE-Projektes “Grünland für Wiesenvögel” der NABU-Naturschutzstation Niederrhein e.V. soll die Nahrungsverfügbarkeit für adulte Uferschnepfen (u. a. Wiesenlimikolen) auf verschiedenen Flächen mit unterschiedlicher Nutzung im Naturschutzgebiet Düffel charakterisiert werden. Dazu sind Untersuchungen der Boden- und Vegetationsqualität geplant, die im Rahmen einer Abschlussarbeit – mit einer Aufwandsentschädigung durch die NABU-Naturschutzstation Niederrhein – durchgeführt werden können.
Im Speziellen sind Probennahmen auf verschiedenen Flächen für März 2025 geplant, bei denen sowohl die Biomasse der Bodenfauna (insbesondere Regenwürmer (Lumbricidae), Lederlinge (Tipulidae-Larven) und Käferlarven (Coleoptera)) als auch einzelne bodenchemische Parameter (u.a. Kalziumkonzentration, pH-Wert, Gehalt an organischer Substanz) erfasst werden sollen. Darüber hinaus sollen die Untersuchungen den Eindringwiderstand auf verschiedenen Bodentypen untersuchen und eine quantitative Erfassung der Höhe und Biomasse der Vegetation beinhalten.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: as soon as possible
– First results until March 2025 (start of next experimental season)
Duration: Approximately 6 Months
Supervisor: – Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr. Florian Wichern (fw@hsrw.eu)
Co-Supervisor:-
Dr. Dörthe Becker
(Naturschutzreferentin)
[NABU-Naturschutzstation Niederrhein
Keekener Str. 12
47533 Kleve]
Telefonnummer der Zentrale: 02821 713 988-0
Telefonnummer: 02821 713 988-21
doerthe.becker@nabu-naturschutzstation.de
www.nabu-naturschutzstation.de
Analysis of the water status at Hohe/ Niedere Ley
Limnological analysis, investigation of macrozoobenthos and/or aquatic flora, nutrient analysis (possibly in 2 separate theses). The site is located in Xanten, ca. 20 km away from the campus.
Climate change projections to inform adaptation decisions in agroforestry systems in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This desk study aims to identify approaches how climate change projections can be used to inform climate change adaptation decisions in irrigated agroforestry systems in Central Asia. Possible questions include:
- Which climate models (downscaled) exist and how can they be used to predict future changes in water availability, temperature, and precipitation patterns for agroforestry systems in Central Asia?
- Which type of decision-support tools can be developed to help farmers adapt to changing water availability based on climate change projections?
Methods: Desk study on climate change projections and decision-support tools suitable for the AFS context
Level: Bachelor
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Agroforestry systems and integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research aims to explore and possibly develop IWRM strategies that combine agroforestry practices with broader water governance frameworks to address future challenges posed by climate change in the irrigated apricot systems in Kyrgyzstan. Questions could include:
- How can IWRM principles be applied to support sustainable agricultural and water management practices in Kyrgyzstan’s agroforestry systems?
- What are main policy gaps in water management and climate change adaptation and how can these be addressed to improve resilience in agroforestry systems?
- What role can agroforestry systems play in IWRM frameworks to improve ecosystem services such as flood control, water retention, water quality, etc.?
- How can agroforestry systems be integrated into broader watershed management frameworks to enhance resilience to droughts and floods at watershed level?
Methods: Literature review, interviews with key stakeholders
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Community-based water management for climate change adaptation in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This research explores community-based irrigation and local water management practices in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and/or Uzbekistan) and assesses their potential for climate change adaptation measures in agroforestry systems in the region. In particular it aims to address questions like:
- Which community-based irrigation management (CBIM) practices exist?
- How can CBIM help improve collective responses to water scarcity and climate change impacts?
- What traditional knowledge and local governance structures exist for water management and how can they be used for climate adaptation strategies in AFS?
Method: Literature review, stakeholder interviews (national and local scale), case study analyses of CBIM examples, key expert interviews within the communities.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Caveats and Opportunities of Planting Urban Trees: Predictors for Effective Communication
Which are the factors that influence whether a public communication campaign for planting urban trees is effective? Which environmental and economic, social and cultural aspects of such initiatives foster or hinder their public acceptability? Which caveats and concerns, hopes and expectations do citizens express when confronted with plans for urban trees to be planted in their neighbourhood, and which are the communication measures these attitudinal changes correlate with?
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervisor:
Prof. Gerber, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Inventory of trees in urban green spaces of Kleve municipality.
An urban tree cadastre exists of roadside trees in Kleve. In contrast, information on trees growing on other urban green space in Kleve is not yet available. The thesis aims to contribute to establishing a database, using tree and forest inventory methods.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervisor:
Prof. Gebauer, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Development of a horticultural concept of an “edible forest” for Kleve municipality.
The municipality of Kleve plans to establish a multi-species perennial “food/ edible forest” near the city centre; the concept serves to identify suitable tree and shrub species, their spatial arrangement, and develop a management concept.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervisor:
Prof. Gebauer, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Analysing the heat reduction effect of urban trees in Kleve.
Trees in cities can contribute to reducing the Urban Heat Island effect during hot summer days, thereby contributing to reduced energy consumption (for air conditioners) and health problems resulting from heat stress, for example. This thesis aims to experimentally determine the magnitude of this effect for selected urban green spaces in Kleve.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervisor:
Prof. Kleinke, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Analysis and recommendation of suitable urban tree species and management strategies under conditions of climate change.
Dry summers, the spread of non-native tree pests and other consequences of global warming put high stress on urban trees. This research, through a review of literature and expert interviews, aims to identify promising approaches for the city of Kleve to make its urban trees future proof, including species selection and tree management strategies.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervisor:
Prof. Gebauer, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Sustainable finance in agri-food businesses: Theory and empirical evidence.
Agri-food enterprises that claim to contribute to the resolution of critical development challenges such as sustainable food provision have attracted significant investments during the past decades, indicating that they represent an attractive investment opportunity for venture capitalists and investors (see also https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10383-6). Building on a review of the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable company finance, the research aims to review recent empirical case studies of financing models described in the literature and/or on corporate websites.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor:
Prof. Merbecks
Resilience and vulnerability of apricot and/or walnut value chains in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. The aim of the study is to analyse the vulnerability of apricot and/or walnut value chains to climate change in Ferghana Valley, Central Asia. The study assesses how value chain actors cope with climate-related shocks and identifies hotspots of vulnerability along the value chain as well as intervention opportunities for the different value chain actors to improve their resilience to shocks.
Methods: Value chain assessments, interviews of value chain actors
Level: Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Assessing the diversity of farming systems in Ferghana Valley, Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. The research aims to use household survey data from three regions to assess the diversity of farming systems with focus on production systems, farm management, socio-economic characteristics (e.g. income) and climate change vulnerability to understand and identify different farm types/ target groups for interventions.
Method: Principal Component Analysis, household survey
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen
Resilience of irrigated agroforestry systems to climate change in Central Asia
This thesis is part of the SUFACHAIN project (Sufachain.org) on sustainable agroforestry value chains in Central Asia. This is a desk study aiming to understand current knowledge about the resilience of irrigated agroforestry systems to climate change on the example of Central Asia. Questions could include:
- What are effective water conservation techniques for agroforestry systems in Central Asia (e.g., mulching, drip irrigation, improved soil management)?
- How can present irrigation techniques be adapted or developed to deal with changing water availability
- What role do agroforestry systems play to enhance local water availability?
This topic provides a possibility to extend the desk study to field data collection about currently practices water conservation techniques in agroforestry systems in Central Asia (expert interviews and data collection in farmer communities possible). It can potentially be combined with the topic ‘climate change impacts on water availability and productivity in agroforestry systems in Central Asia’.
Method: Desk study on irrigation water-related intervention options to enhance resilience in AFS
Level: Bachelor/Master
Start: Anytime
Supervisor: Dr. Jannike van Bruggen