Provider: Technologická agentura ČR
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: zinc hyperaccumulation; microalgae biomass; dietary supplement; biotechnology industry; evolutionary algorithms; strains laboratory evolution
Annotation of project:
The first goal of the project is an evolutionary optimization of a new production line of minerals hyperaccumulating microalgae for application in the biotechnology industry. The application potential of optimized microalgae is diverse and ranges from solving environmental problems, such as purification of contaminated or waste water, through the ecological removal and use of mineral elements from specific sources or matrices, to improving health and increasing the quality of food for both humans and farm animals. Within the framework of the proposed project, we will focus on the application in nutraceuticals by formulation of human food supplements from zinc-enriched microalgae of the genus Chlorella, which represents the second goal of the project.

Provider: HORIZON EUROPE
Another participant in the project: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: xxx
Annotation of project:
Threats to pollinators and pollination services that support agriculture and provide benefits to people are a worldwide problem. AGRI4POL’s ambition is to assist the transition of agriculture from being a pressure on pollinators to becoming a positive force for managing and restoring pollinator biodiversity, crop pollination services, and co-benefits to ecosystems and people. To achieve this transition towards more pollinator friendly farming systems and value chains, AGRI4POL will advance scientific understanding of crop-farming system-pollinator relationships from the crop gene to the agroecosystem. By evaluating the genetic basis of crop floral traits attracting and rewarding crop pollinators, we will identify candidate crop lines suitable for breeding future pollinator-smart varieties. We will study how pollinator-crop relationships are modified in space and time, by the diversity and rotation of crop species and varieties, by ecological infrastructure (EI) comprising landscape features and non-crop habitats, and by future climate or land-use change. Synthesising this information from the gene to agroecosystem scale will allow us to provide integrated recommendations for optimising landscapes for crop pollination, pollinator biodiversity and multiple ecosystem benefits. AGRI4POL research will be framed and supported by early and sustained multi-actor engagement along agri-food chains to assure its relevance and the acceptability of management options to farmers and society. This multi-actor approach will also enable assessments of the socio-economic and policy obstacles and opportunities affecting the feasibility and uptake of pollinator-friendly farming at [sub]national, European and international scales. AGRI4POL will therefore showcase to farmers, agri-food actors, policymakers and society the importance of pollinator-friendly farming to food security and sustainability goals (EC Green Deal, Nature Restoration Law; UN SDGs).

Provider: Ministerstvo zemědělství
Another participant in the project: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: smart farming, precision farming; crop protection; site specific pesticide application; spot spraying
Annotation of project:
The aim of the project is to verify the site-specific application of pesticides in smart farming. It focuses on spot spraying of herbicides based on weed mapping, band spraying and variable rate application of crop growth regulators / fungicides according to crop sensing by remote sensing. The results will optimize pesticide use to maintain the crop production while contributing to the support of ecosystem services, protection of biodiversity, soil and water resources. The advanced functions of the sprayer machinery will be analysed, including consideration of the near future technological development and the implementation of the proposed practices into crop management practices will be proposed in line with the principles of integrated crop protection and sustainable crop production.

Provider: Grantová agentura České republiky
Another participant in the project: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: airborne_laser_scanning; forest_health; IoT; near-real_time monitoring; satellite_imagery
Annotation of project:
Forests are an important part of the Earth system, maintaining ecological balance and providing key ecosystem services. The main objective is to analyse the impact of different ecological determinants on current forest growth and to develop modern methods for near real-time monitoring and future prediction of tree growth dynamics under changing conditions. This will be achieved through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) and Remote Sensing (RS). The research will be carried out over a large area including Poland and the Czech Republic and will focus on two important tree species in Central Europe: Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies. The results will contribute to the development of new knowledge in forest ecology and forest growth modelling. We also expect new insights into the application of RS in forest ecosystem modelling. Developed predictive models based on recent and high temporal resolution data will provide a robust tool for reliable simulations of future forest growth dynamics under different climate change projections.

Provider: Ministerstvo školství mládeže a tělovýchovy
Coordinating recipient: Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě
Another participant in the project: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Another participant in the project: Vysoká škola báňská - Technická univerzita Ostrava
Keywords: xxx
Annotation of project:
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Provider: Ministerstvo školství mládeže a tělovýchovy
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: xxx
Annotation of project:
xxx

Provider: Ministerstvo školství mládeže a tělovýchovy
Another participant in the project: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: xxx
Annotation of project:
xxx

Provider: HORIZON EUROPE
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: Soil science, Environment, Pollution & Climate
Annotation of project:
PHISHES aims to bridge the missing link between data on soil health and actions for the safeguard of soils. This missing link entails predictive capability in terms of the consequences of actions on the provision of soil functions and associated ecosystem services, taking into account soil use, soil contamination and various drivers such as climate change. Hence the primary scientific question addressed in PHISHES is: “How do soil use and soil contamination influence soil functions and associated ecosystem services, in the presence of major drivers such as climate change, and how can we predict the impacts of mitigation and adaptation measures?”. While most research teams address this question in a qualitative / semi-quantitative fashion, using, e.g., multicriteria analysis and indicators of soil health, the ambition of PHISHES is to provide quantitative predictive capability via a PHISHES Digital Platform. To achieve this, PHISHES will build upon several pre-existing integrated simulation tools; in particular the MIKE SHE model that provides a flexible framework for integrated hydrologic modelling and the DAISY model, a well-tested mechanistic agro-ecological model of the soil-plant-atmosphere system. The efficient coupling between such models will significantly enhance the ability to assess the impact of changes in land use on soil ecosystem services. It will serve to assess the influence of various actions on soil services; i.e., sustainable agricultural practices (e.g., hedge rows to retain moisture and reduce erosion; no-till agriculture, crop rotation, ...), of land restoration / remediation solutions (e.g., nature-based solutions), pollution prevention solutions, etc. The results of the scenario simulations will be tranlated into recommendations regarding policies aimed at preserving soil health and promoting soil functions and associated ecostem services. The PHISHES consortium brings together competencies from soil science to hydrology and policy making.

Provider: Interreg SK-CZ
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Recipient: Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre
Coordinating recipient: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: xxx
Web of the project: http://www.sk-cz.eu
Annotation of project:
xxx

Provider: CESNET
Recipient: Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v. v. i.
Keywords: xxx
Annotation of project:
The forest ecosystem provides a variety of irreplaceable functions, playing a significant role in the stability of all ecosystems on Earth. Currently, we observe a range of changes both at the level of abiotic environmental conditions and biotic factors, which have a negative impact on the forest environment. One of the main changes is the extension of the vegetation season (VS) associated with the shortening or interruption of the dormant period. Currently, there are several methods for evaluating VS; however, a unified method for automated determination of VS is still lacking. One of the most commonly used methods is based on spectral vegetation indices (VI) derived from remote sensing data, especially satellite data. The current trend in remote sensing allows the use of data with higher spatial and temporal resolution, thereby obtaining a time series of VI, which increases the accuracy of seasonal VI trajectories or determination of the length of VS. Within the biomonitoring network DendroNetwork, a completely unique measurement of sub-crown PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) sensors has been developed, which will allow refining VS or the growing season. The aim of the project is the automated evaluation of VS using analytical approaches implemented in the web platform EnviLAB in accordance with ground monitoring and remote sensing products to create fully automated evaluation of VS, which will be presented on the EnviLAB web platform for both professional and lay public. Maps can be used for timely evaluation of the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and for proposing adaptation strategies for forest cultivation in the Czech Republic.