Tentative research topics
Participatory Guarantee Schemes (PGS) as an instrument for smallholder farmer (organic) certification
PGS provide an alternative certification system for smallholder farmers which otherwise may be excluded from such systems due to high transaction costs or the lack of clear land tenure arrangements. In the context of the SUFACHAIN project, farmer groups in Central Asia will be supported to adopt GroupIntegrity, an internal control systems developed by Organic Services GmbH for grower groups that produce for national or international markets. The thesis is intended to (a) systematically assess the scientific literature on PGS and their implementation, and (b) carry out a number of expert interviews to explore typical challenges and their solutions in PGS. This will make available these experiences to the SUFACHAIN project, therefore helping the implementation of GroupIntegrity.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr
Promoting smallholder farming and NTFP production through public food procurement and school feeding programs
Public procurement of food made from agricultural or biodiversity products (e.g., wild fruits) by smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives or micro and small food processing enterprises can be a suitable instrument to transition towards more sustainable food systems, as it creates a stable demand for such products thereby promoting smallholder farming and sustainable resource use, and at the same time makes healthy and nutritious food available to school children thereby combatting malnutrition. A number of countries have therefore established farm-to-school and public food purchasing programs and policies. The thesis is intended to (a) systematically assess the scientific literature on this topic, and (b) carry out a number of expert interviews to explore typical challenges and their solutions.
Level: Bachelor/Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr
Development of a local market for high-quality, sustainable local food products in Lima/ Perú
Over the last two decades, a remarkable gastronomy boom has taken place in Lima, Perú’s capital city. Many of the city’s celebrity chefs such as Matthew Kenney highly value sustainable and socially conscious food. With Perú’s unique biodiversity on food plants, great potential exists to promote a high-value market for neglected and underutilized food species. The thesis is intended to (a) systematically assess the scientific literature on the current uses of neglected Andean crops and edible plants in South American gourmet restaurants, and to (b) carry out a number of expert interviews and a consumer survey to assess the market.
This Master’s research can be supported by the “MSc Career Exploration Scholarship – Junior Scientists Tandems (JST)”, which gives students at MSc level the opportunity to get hands-on experience in research for development in collaborative projects between CGIAR++ centers and German research institutions.
Level: Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr
Options for future-fit land use on a conventionally managed farm in the lower Rhine region
This research should aim at identifying promising approaches for a farm in the lower Rhine region to make it fit for the challenges to come, ensuring its long-term socioeconomic as well as environmental sustainability. Overall, the analysis should take place at an agricultural farm approx. 15km from Kleve (Monreberg). The site features very sandy loam soils, therefore making drought already a major concern. The initial area is approx. 4.5 ha arable land in two slots adjacent to forest under nature protection. As the forest (mainly oak) already suffers from drought, forest restructuring will become necessary, whereas also nature conservation aspects should be taken into account.
The thesis research should aim to evaluate the socioeconomic performance of the area under consideration, and assess possible scenarios for future utilization, to ensure a profitable yet environmentally friendly and climate change adapted management strategy (e.g. agroforestry and tree/farmland management strategies). This should include a financial analysis of the different scenarios as well as an analysis of subsidy schemes and the legal context affecting possible changes of land use.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr
Can the sensory properties of a distillate be enhanced by alternative yeasts?
Work packages:
- Isolate and characterise yeasts from untreated/treated fruit (e.g. apple/pear): a) Microbiological examination of the yeasts, b) Sensory evaluation of the yeasts on agar plates (high sugar content)
- Lyophilise yeasts: a) Prepare for later use, b) Chemical process
- Comparison of isolated yeasts with literature yeast: a) Prepare mash, b) Distillation on a laboratory scale (Compare yield and aromas (according to DLG specifications)), c) With best hits into the industrial distillery
Alternative/parallel to 1: If nothing usable can be isolated on the fruit, it is possible to compare different industrial yeasts with each other
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Kleinke; Supervising scient. research assistant: Marc-Kevin Zinn, Ralf Lucassen
How does a biofilm behave on different surfaces in the habitat comparison of rainwater and drinking water?
Work packages:
- Transfer of a rainwater biofilm to the laboratory: a) Establishment in 6-well dishes (Suitable medium in low concentration necessary), b) PCR and sequencing of the original and ex situ biofilm
- Allow different surfaces to be covered with ex situ biofilm (both rainwater and drinking water): a) Extraction of the biofilm on the surfaces, b) PCR and sequencing of the biofilms
- Analysis of the biofilms via fluorescence microscope and/or CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy)
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2023 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Kleinke; Supervising scient. research assistant: Marc-Kevin Zinn, Ralf Lucassen
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, Prof. Darr
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
Supervising professor: Prof. Gerber, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Analysis and economic valuation of the environmental services provided by urban trees in Kleve, Germany.
Using the existing roadside trees cadastre and further secondary data, this thesis aims to quantify and valuate the diverse ecosystem services provided by urban trees in Kleve.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr, 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
Supervising professor: Prof. Gebauer, Prof. Darr, 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
Supervising professor: 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
Supervising professor: 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
Supervising professor: Prof. Gebauer, Mr. Bomblat (Stadt Kleve)
Analysis of vegetation and plant biodiversity around “Haus Balken”
Carrying out a tree inventory and vegetation survey. The site is located in Xanten, ca. 20 km away from the campus.
Level: Bachelor/ Master Period: Summer Term 2022 or later Supervising professor: Prof. Gebauer
Analysis of soil biota around “Haus Balken”
The site is located in Xanten, ca. 20 km away from the campus.
Level: Bachelor/ Master Period: Summer Term 2022 or later Supervising professor: Prof. Wichern
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.
Economic valuation of selected ecosystem services around “Haus Balken”
Economic analysis based on the primary data collected in the other student research projects at Haus Balken, secondary sources, surveys if necessary. The site is located in Xanten, ca. 20 km away from the campus.
Conversion of a conventionally managed arable farm into a multifunctional woody polyculture/ agroforestry farm considering current CAP regulations
Including financial analysis and analysis of subsidy schemes and legal context. The total area is 2.5 ha. The site is located in Frasselt/ Kranenburg, ca. 10 km away from the campus.
Level: Bachelor/ Master
Period: Summer Term 2022 or later
Supervising professor: Prof. Darr
Analysis of ecosystem services and socioeconomic performance of traditional silvopastoral systems in the Brazilian Cerrado (several research topics)
The topic provides the opportunity for a field research stay in Brazil. The research will be carried out in the context of a DAAD-funded collaboration between HSRW, the Universidade Federal de Viçosa and Embrapa (national agricultural research institute located in Brasilia).
Analysis of ecosystem services and socioeconomic performance of agroforestry systems in Kyrgyzstan (several research topics)
The topic provides the opportunity for a field research stay in Kyrgyzstan, co-funded by the DAAD project. The research will be carried out in the context of a DAAD-funded collaboration between HSRW, ICRAF Central Asia (international agricultural research centre located in Bishkek) and further university partners.