Longreads Wageningen University & Research
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Sustainability commitments: Similarities and Differences between Retailers and Brand manufacturers
30 March 2021 - Longread - Climate change, resource depletion, inequality. The food and beverage (F&B) and retail sector is facing an unprecedented set of sustainability challenges – many of which they are a major contributor to themselves. Instead of ignoring or denying these challenges, more and more companies are taking their responsibility and committing to positive change. Our analysis of more than 650 public commitments in sustainability reports (2020) shows that nearly all large retailers and food processing companies (EU/US) make time-bounded sustainability commitments. What can the sustainability commitments of these companies tell us? Well, it is more than you might think at first. In this article, three main subjects will be discussed: i) the number of sustainability commitments and their intended goal deadline; ii) the trending sustainability themes in the food & beverage sector; and iii) why to look beyond the sustainability commitment. -
A longer National Week without Meat would meet with approval
11 March 2021 - Longread - During the Dutch National Week without Meat (8-14 March), we ‘must’ make do without animal proteins. How do we make up for the lack of this? What are the alternatives? How can we include these in our diet more often? And what does that mean for production? Questions that Simon Oosting, Marnix Poelman and Wijnand Sukkel of Wageningen University & Research deal with on a daily basis “This is an acceleration of a small win; a small meaningful change that sets the transition in motion.” -
Leading role for electricity in reducing petroleum use
16 February 2021 - Longread - Driving, cycling, cooking and even heating, electricity is used for an increasing number of purposes. Scientists are now investigating whether electricity can also help replace petrochemicals. Can electricity in combination with bioresources substitute the petrochemical industry in the future? -
Five years of the climate agreement: ‘We can keep the earth habitable’
21 January 2021 - Longread - Five years ago, 196 countries signed the UN Paris Climate Agreement. The ambitious agreements have not been collecting dust, to the great delight of Rik Leemans, professor of Environmental Systems Analysis at WUR. He feels that global warming is being taken seriously at last. “And with the proposed measures it looks like we’ll manage to curb the increase in temperature.” -
The power of sharing: MRI-facility as a linking pin between nutrition and patient research
18 January 2021 - Longread - A new MRI-scanner was installed in Gelderse Vallei Hospital in Ede in November 2020. This hyper-modern device provides a new impulse for the fruitful collaboration between the hospital and Wageningen University & Research. -
Transforming agricultural sectors to enhance food systems resilience
14 December 2020 - Longread - Producing food in uncertain times calls for inclusive and resilient agro-food sectors. In various countries in Africa, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) promotes the transformation of agro-food sectors with the aim of contributing to more inclusive food systems. In 2020, WUR has been supporting those sectors by responding to challenges emerging from the COVID-19 crisis and enhancing the resilience of sectors in uncertain times. In this long read, we share our lessons learned and give insight in important steps for the future. -
Proper data management makes researchers’ lives easier
11 December 2020 - Longread - Analysing thousands of satellite maps from all over the globe in one go, registering the Dutch wildlife population automatically using camera images, receiving lab-research results neatly sorted on your desktop computer. Data management may sound complicated: it makes the researcher’s life a lot simpler, says Erik van den Bergh. He works as an infrastructure coordinator for the Wageningen Data Competence Centre (WDCC). ‘By combining data correctly, you can use it for so much more, which is super cool.’ -
Artificial Intelligence plays a key role in understanding complex systems
07 September 2020 - Longread - WUR is investing heavily in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In addition to current programmes focusing on Data Driven & High Tech research and the realization of Digital Twins, WUR has recently announced to use additional funding for a programme on Data Science & Artificial Intelligence. -
One million registrations for Wageningen MOOCs
31 August 2020 - Longread - MOOCs have placed Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the picture with people across the globe. These accessible, online programmes provide everyone with a working internet connection access to Wageningen’s education. WUR recorded its millionth enrolment on 28 August. -
Watch/Let Paint dry in different functional layers
10 August 2020 - Longread