Soils of the Western European loess belt are intensively cultivated and particularly prone to runoff and soil erosion. Besides threatening soil resources, overland flows cause muddy floods that damage infrastructure downstream and pollute water bodies by transferring nutrients and pesticides.

Her team focuses on microbiological processes that remove contaminants or provide high-value chemicals to society.

Soils are complex ecosystems affected by various contaminants, including trace elements and pesticides. Despite their low environmental concentration, trace elements pose important risks to human and ecosystem health due to their toxicity and their mobility that is influenced by complex formation with organic compounds.

In ‘The Descent of Man’, published in 1871, Charles Darwin proposed a synthetic theory of the human biological and cultural evolution, but some of his most remarkable ideas were lost as the social sciences and life sciences became separate disciplines.

The expanding global population poses challenges in waste management and food production, necessitating sustainable solutions like black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) for organic waste recycling and protein production. This PhD thesis evaluates the use of BSFL as poultry feed, focusing on the conversion of human food waste and livestock forage into high-nutrient biomass.

Humid tropical environments, particularly the SAVA region in northeastern Madagascar, face crucial challenges in water resource management, exacerbated by land-use changes and climate modifications.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key component of ecosystems, influencing soil health, fertility, and the carbon cycle. Intensive agricultural practices have led to SOC losses, increasing atmospheric carbon levels. This study explores the spatio-temporal variability and sequestration potential of SOC in cropland under different managementpractices.