Soil and Water

Foundations of a sustainable bioeconomy

Soil and water are essential resources for the bioeconomy. Due to the conditions of climate change, these vital systems are coming under increasing pressure. At Forschungszentrum Jülich, we are developing innovative solutions to ensure sustainable land use and thus support climate-resilient agriculture and global food security.

To ensure the sustainable use of soil and water resources, science must maintain a dialogue with farmers and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Only together can the effectiveness of adapted environmental and climate measures be assessed and new management practices developed as part of a co-design approach that takes account of both the necessary adaptations to climate change and the requirements of ecologically and economically sustainable agriculture.
Prof. Dr. Harry Vereecken, director at the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-3: Agrosphere

Challenges

The rising global population and the increasing demand for food, fibres, and bio-based products are putting an enormous strain on land and water resources. Climate change is exacerbating this problem through more frequent droughts, soil degradation, and water scarcity.

2

billion people worldwide have no access to clean drinking water.

60

percent of usable soils in the EU are degraded, mainly due to unsustainable land use; worldwide the figure is more than a third.

1,500

billion tonnes of carbon are stored in the soil, which is more than in the atmosphere (760) and in vegetation (560) combined.

Jülich solutions for soil, water, and land use

Forschungszentrum Jülich is a pioneer in researching innovative technologies and concepts for the sustainable use of soil and water. Through projects in research networks such as Geoverbund ABC/J, BioökonomieREVIER, and BioSC, as well as transfer projects developed as part of a co-design approach with industry or the agricultural sector, we are driving multidisciplinary research and application-oriented solutions.

Regenerative agriculture: Techniques such as catch cropping, no-till farming, crop rotation, and agroforestry regenerate soil fertility and increase carbon storage. Our research combines field experiments and long-term observations with the use of isotope methods and organic analysis to gain a better understanding of biogeochemical processes. Research infrastructures such as TERENO provide long-term data to analyse the effects of the climate and land use. In combination with Jülich’s supercomputing facilities, a digital twin of an entire farm system can be created. This in turn allows for the effects of regenerative agricultural practices on soil carbon to be measured and predicted directly, as in the ReGenFarm co-design project in which FZJ is collaborating with Bayer CropScience and the agricultural sector.
Precision agriculture: Using remote sensing, GPS technologies, and data analysis, we develop precise cultivation strategies to minimize resource consumption and environmental impact. CPEX-LAB supports this research by providing high-resolution data on cloud and precipitation processes, which are crucial for planning efficient irrigation systems.
Efficient use of water: Our research on drought-resistant crops and water-saving irrigation methods enhances the availability of water in agricultural systems. Simulations from HPSC TerrSys enable predictions of the water balance on various scales. Tools such as the publicly available water monitor provide real-time data on water availability, while the start-up Drought Analytics offers data products tailored to consumers that include location-specific drought forecasts and recommendations for irrigation management.
Integrated landscape management: Land use planning models support the efficient utilization of land for agriculture, bioenergy, biodiversity, and recovery. HyCoGeo provides important insights into the dynamics of the hydrosphere, which are integrated into land use strategies. Simulation environments such as AgraSim improve the analysis of scenarios for sustainable land use.

AgraSim

The climate simulator for the future of agriculture develops innovative simulation models to analyse land use, the impact of the climate, and management options in agricultural landscapes.

ReGenFarm

ReGenFarm is a co-design project on carbon farming practices involving industry, agriculture, and science. A digital twin of a farm provides recommendations for action to optimize carbon management.

Water monitor

The Jülich water monitor (“Wasser-Monitor”) freely available forecasts updated every day of soil moisture in Germany for the next nine days. It is a key resource for climate-resilient farming that is available to everyone.

PhenoRob

The PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence develops robotic systems and AI for the accurate recording of plant growth and soil conditions. Phenotyping and modelling – for productive and resource-efficient agriculture.

Tereno

The TERENO network collects unique long-term data that is essential as a reference for forecasts on soil, vegetation, water, and climate in representative regions of Germany.

Geoverbund ABC/J

The Geoverbund ABC/J network brings together geoscientific research and teaching within the Aachen–Bonn–Cologne–Jülich region in order to find solutions to the pressing issues of our time.

Future prospects

Sustainable land and water use is key to strengthening the bioeconomy. Using an integrative research approach and innovative technologies, we are helping to design resilient systems that take into account the needs of people and the environment in equal measure. In this way, we are ensuring the long-term availability of our most important natural resources.

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