Strengthening bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)

Posílení bilaterálních vztahů mezi Českou republikou a Norským institutem pro bioekonomický výzkum (NIBIO)

---

Programme:
Czech-Norwegian Research Program CZ09 within the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014

Programme Area:
Bilateral Research Cooperation

Programme Operator:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic

Promoter: Agrovýzkum Rapotín Ltd.

Partner: Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

Bilateral initiative starting date: 1. 2. 2017

Bilateral initiative ending date: 30. 4. 2017

Total eligible costs of initiative: 420 ths CZK

---

Project decription

The project will promote scientific cooperation by strengthening bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Norway. In the project, two entities will be involved: Agrovyzkum Rapotin Ltd. (Promoter) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research - NIBIO (Partner). The project includes one short-term study trip of the Czech research team to two of the research stations of the Norwegian research institute. During the stay at NIBIO, we will exchange knowledge in the following research areas:

1) Climate change

NIBIO works extensively on how climate change affects grassland productivity and quality during growing season and plant survival under unstable winter conditions. Use of phytotron allows growing the plants under manipulated climate conditions. NIBIO also has projects on adaptive measures e.g. management of meadows when the growing season is turning longer.

2) Grassland biodiversity and productivity

NIBIO has started some grassland experiments, which include different seed mixtures – to test whether increased diversity (by combining species with complementary traits concerning productivity and “longevity”) can achieve higher yields over years than with more simple mixtures.

3) Remote sensing

We will also discuss issues concerning the utilisation of different remote sensing techniques for detecting (estimating) yield and feed quality of grassland.

4) Soil quality and plant production

Soil properties are determinant to achieve a good forage production. Therefore, NIBIO has extensively worked on how soil compaction and fertilization affects longevity of e.g. red clover, N-losses during winter, BNF (biological nitrogen fixation). NIBIO has responsibility for long-term grassland experiments. These experiments are more than 40-years old. A new project called ‘’LONGTERMGRASS’’ (Smart renewal of long-term grassland: towards higher productivity and profitability) started in 2016. The main objective of this project is how to optimize long-term grassland productivity without ploughing or minimal soil cultivation. There will be also discussed topics about organic farming and N-turnover.