AgroFoodNature works at the interface of agri- and horticulture, food production and processing and nature conservation.
Our research and services focus on the following key themes:
- Sustainable agriculture and horticulture: developing climate-resilient and robust agro-ecosystems, integrated crop protection systems, and circular and bio-based practices;
- Sustainable food processing: creating a diverse and healthy range of nutritious food products, with an emphasis on reducing food loss and waste, and valorising food side streams;
- Biodiversity restoration: delivering innovative solutions for nature restoration, nature-inclusive farming, biodiverse cities, and nature-inclusive agricultural landscapes.
Interested to collaborate?
AgroFoodNature consists of experts in agri- and horticulture, food and nature. Our researchers have strong expertise within these domains and a long history of interdisciplinary cooperation.
Reach out to us at afn@hogent.be and get to know our team of experts.
Our research domains.
Our current research projects.
Resilient and climate-friendly primary production
- Climacrop: Climate-resilient cropping systems as alternatives for silage maize
- Farmers' benefits: Crop diversification in feed production
- Herbgrass: Optimising productive herb-rich grassland towards drought resistance, pollination and forage value.
- Integrated control of Cyperus esculentus
- Leg-O: Legumes - Indispensable in an agro-ecological cultivation system for human food.
- Optitarwe: Towards a more efficient use of nitrogen in wheat
- PENSVOER: Valorisation of whole plant-silage
Agroecology and sustainable crop protection
- Breval: Integrated control of aphids and cabbage whitefly in cabbage crops.
- CABAN: Stimulation of natural enemies: a bankerplant system in organic cabbage crops.
- Flower4Trees: Flower mixtures as a win-win for biodiversity and tree growers.
- Sustainable monitoring and control of key soil pests in horticulture.
- SusCabFly: Sustainable control of cabbage root fly.
Circular and biobased product innovation
- CropExplore For Farmers: exploring sustainable crops for applications in the Flemish circular bioeconomy.
- Hemp4Circularity: Hemp as a driver of circularity in the textile industry: from field to recycled fibre.
- Hemp4Future
- Hemp4Textiles: Fibre hemp for textile applications.
- HempFarmers
Sustainable food production and valorisation of by-products
- Maltless: Pushing the boundaries of beer and having the flexibility to choose for 100% alternative raw materials.
- NABLAB: Production of non- and low alcohol beers with maltose-negative yeasts and alternative cereals
- PeaPact: Development of a local (protein) value chain for yellow pea
- Pulsebake: Pulses and their derivatives as promising ingredients in the cereal and bakery sector
- VEGANscreener: Development and evaluation of a web-based diet quality screener for vegans.
Biodiversity and nature restoration
- FlowerPower Your Garden: experimenting, learning and raising awareness about species-rich grasslands
- Herbiogras+: Restoration of biodiverse grasslands: ecosystem services examined
All our past and current projects can be found here.
Services and infrastructure.
AgroFoodNature offers tailor-made research, training and advice to professional partners such as companies, government and other organisations active in agriculture, horticulture, food production or nature conservation. Our experiments and tests, advice and training are based on solid, practically oriented research and are formulated to suit your company or organisation.
A
Agriculture and
horticulture
The experimental farm in Bottelare (HOGENT/UGENT) is a well-equipped facility for practical research on crop protection and sustainable crop management (e.g. crop rotation and soil management). The farm consists of 50 hectares of land including more than 25.000 experimental plots, an adapted machine park (experimental equipment such as plot harvesters) and a phytopathological lab. Here we carry out field experiments and pot trials, mainly on arable crops (grain cereals, maize, legumes …), breeding programmes (triticale and barley) and silage trials. Expert knowledge is present on the cultivation, harvesting and processing of hemp fibres, and on integrated pest management and functional agrobiodiversity. The experimental farm has a long history in bilateral research with companies concerning product development, crop management, plant genetics and testing of crop protection products, bio-control organisms and biostimulants.
Do you want to know more? Contact us via afn@hogent.be
B
Brewery and
fermentation
The Innovation Centre for Brewery & Fermentation (HOGENT/UGent) has a long-standing tradition of services and research for the Belgian brewery industry. The pilot brewery of 70 liters is ideal for the preparation of test brews. In the well-equipped lab, our experts perform physicochemical analyses for barley, malt, raw grains, wort, hops and beer. Other routine analyses include the determination of sugar with HPAEC-PAD and of total nitrogen and protein content of wort and beer. Moreover, we are specialized in the microbiological control of beer and yeast and offer microbiological analyses of beer. We can help develop procedures for storage, washing, propagation, identification, differentiation, and quality control of pitching yeast for main and secondary fermentation. There is specific expertise on isothermal brewing, the fermentation process, the production of gluten-free beer, the potential of alternative cereals for beer production, the use of bread losses in the brewing process and the production of low- and non-alcoholic beers.
Do you want to know more? Contact us via afn@hogent.be
F
Food
Our food labs are equipped with extensive infrastructure to answer questions on product development, product evaluation and food safety. We offer support in optimising recipes, labelling, organising sensory analyses and drawing up product specifications. We perform microbiological, texture and nutrition analyses and provide advice on hygiene, allergen management and food legislation.
Do you want to know more? Contact us via afn@hogent.be
M
Multifunctional
green management
Our experts can offer advice and support on natural pest management and (functional) biodiversity in public green spaces, on restoration and management of natural grasslands, and on the construction and management of inspiring and biodiverse gardens for healthcare centres.
Do you want to know more? Contact us via afn@hogent.be
Our networks.
