News about Sustainability

Biotech research to promote plant resilience to changing climates

Associate professor Sebastian Marquardt from Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at UCPH, have received an Ascending Investigator Grant from Novo Nordisk Fonden. He won 9,999,063 DKK to explore…

Beetles that pee themselves to death could be tomorrow’s pest control

Various beetle species have gobbled through grain stores and weakened food production worldwide since ancient times. Now, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a better way of targeting and…

New invention can reduce agricultural pesticide use: Distinguishes harmful insects from helpful ones

A researcher from the University of Copenhagen has developed an algorithm that, in tandem with a sensor, makes it possible to distinguish crop-harming insects from helpful ones that pollinate and contribute to plant…

Climate labeling reduces our CO2 footprint — even for those who willfully attempt to remain uninformed

Climate labels informing us of a meat product’s carbon footprint cause many people to opt for climate-friendlier alternatives. This applies to people who are curious about a product’s carbon footprint, as well as to…

LITTLE NINJA protein helps crops grow more side shoots

A tiny, newly discovered protein can regulate how tall grass species like wheat, barley and rice become and how many side shoots they produce. University of Copenhagen researchers have identified the microProtein LITTLE…

Researchers discover how to control zinc content in plants: Could help the world’s malnourished

Over 2 billion people worldwide are malnourished due to zinc deficiency. Led by the University of Copenhagen, an international team of researchers has discovered how plants sense zinc and use this knowledge to enhance…

New study: Which beverages burst with umami potential?

In a new and first of its kind study, University of Copenhagen researchers study fermented beverages to find the one with the most umami flavour. Which one wins—champagne, beer, wine or sake? A UCPH researcher answers…

Your organic waste will be upcycled to fertilise fields

Researchers behind a major EU project will develop technologies that make it easier to convert organic waste in our compostable trash bags into fertiliser. UCPH researcher says that agriculture sector needs to tackle…

We want people to choose green

A call for applications sparked off a conversation around the dining table in a dorm, which quickly turned into a brainstorm on how to make a difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Kids, insects and food: Mealworms beat grasshoppers

Insects are a sustainable, climate-friendly food source. But what will it take for us to begin eating them? 188 Danish 11- and 12-year-old children have rolled and eaten their own mealworm and grasshopper fortified…

Project will create new narratives about open landscapes

With support from THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS, a major research project will address land use change in Danish agricultural sector by working with local narratives about the open landscape.

Satellite images confirm uneven impact of climate change

University of Copenhagen researchers have been following vegetation trends across the planet's driest areas using satellite imagery from recent decades. They have identified a troubling trend: Too little vegetation is…

Report: In retrospect, the burning of wood in district heating plants has resulted in climate savings

A new report from the University of Copenhagen shows that the burning of wood is significantly more climate friendly than coal and slightly more climate friendly than natural gas over the long run. For the first time,…

Students develop tool to predict the carbon footprint of algorithms

Within the scientific community, it is estimated that artificial intelligence — otherwise meant to serve as a means to effectively combat climate change — will become one of the most egregious CO2 culprits should curren…

Students develop tool to predict the carbon footprint of algorithms

Within the scientific community, it is estimated that artificial intelligence — otherwise meant to serve as a means to effectively combat climate change — will become one of the most egregious CO2 culprits should curren…

Surprised researchers: Number of leopards in northern China on the rise

Most of the world’s leopards are endangered and generally, the number of these shy and stunning cats is decreasing. However, according to a recent study by a researcher from University of Copenhagen and colleagues from…

Artificial intelligence reveals hundreds of millions of trees in the Sahara

There are far more trees in the West African Sahara and Sahel than most would expect. A combination of artificial intelligence and detailed satellite imagery allowed a team from the University of Copenhagen and…

Artificial intelligence reveals hundreds of millions of trees in the Sahara

There are far more trees in the West African Sahara and Sahel than most would expect. A combination of artificial intelligence and detailed satellite imagery allowed a team from the University of Copenhagen and…

Research in biodiversity and biomass receives a boost of 120 million DKK

Two new research projects will investigate the transplantation of soil from old forest to agricultural soil and fungal feeding habits With funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Sprat, mollusks and algae: What a diet of the future might look like

Rethinking what we eat is essential if we hope to nourish ourselves sustainably and mind the climate. One option is to seek out alternative food sources from the sea. All the way at the bottom, where algae, cephalopods…

Professor of social data is appointed Prorector

Professor David Dreyer Lassen will take up a new position as Prorector at the University of Copenhagen on 1 January 2021. He will be in charge of research, innovation and overall relations with foundations and…

Researchers awarded with prize for inventory of climate threats to Greenland’s cultural heritage

Researchers from the National Museum of Denmark, the Center for Permafrost (CENPERM) at the University of Copenhagen, and the Greenland National Museum were awarded the European Heritage Prize for their inventory of…

Mold now associated with food quality

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have studied a range of perceptions among Danes about good, healthy and safe foodstuffs. Their findings report that mold prone foods are considered to be more natural than…

Spy satellites reveal: Marmots flee agricultural areas

Data from a Cold War-era satellite show that agricultural expansion has a negative impact on biodiversity and wildlife across many parts of the planet. For example, in The Eurasian Steppes, agriculture have destroyed th…