Suchergebnisse

Trials with large-leaved lupine ('Lupi') and early red clover ('Jõgeva 433') as green manure were carried out to study their suitability for green manure production. The trials were carried out on the trial fields of the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2008-2010. Biomass production abilities of various plants grown with or without a cover crop were examined. In the experiment, different green manure crops with undersowing and pure sowing were compared for amounts of N, C, P, K and organic matter driven into soil and their effect on cereal yield. The value of these green manure crops as manure was estimated, based on their effect on the succeeding cereal yield. From green manure plants, sown with cover crops, red clover gave the best results, while large-leaved lupine was better grown as pure crop (18% more biomass than red clover in similar situation). Biomass from large-leaved lupine, grown without cover crop, was also the most efficient in returning nutrients into the soil. Pure green manure had bigger effect and it lasted longer if grown as undersowing.

The size distribution of wheat-grain starch granules has an impact on the yield of fine flour. The aim of the study was to compare the impact of conventional (mineral fertilizers, pesticides) and organic farming treatments (cover crops, composted cattle manure) on (i) the size distribution of starch granules, (ii) the level of the first break whole and fine flour yield. The grain samples of winter wheat cv Fredis were taken from a long-term field crop rotation experiment established in 2008 at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu County (58 220 N, 26 400 E) on Stagnic Luvisol soil. The weather conditions during the grain filling period of winter wheat had a strong impact (p < 0.001) on the grain starch granule size distribution. The proportion of starch granules with a smaller diameter (C-type granules) was higher in years with a longer grain filling period. The size distribution of starch granules was not influenced by farming system. The increased proportion of C-type granules increased the fine flour yield significantly. Fertilisation with organic manure and twice with mineral nitrogen increased significantly the mean diameter value of different starch granules. ; The study has been supported by Estonian University of Life Sciences project 8–2/T13001PKTM, by Institutional Research Project B36002 and by ERA–NET CORE-ORGANIC II project TILMAN—ORG. ERA Chair for Food (By-) Products Valorisation Technologies of Estonian University of Life Sciences-VALORTECH, has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 810630.

Purpose
To clarify needs and requests of the young generation to the contemporary and future education on food systems, this paper aims to examine the following issues: students' background knowledge, students' behaviour as consumers and food citizenship, most interesting topics of SFS for students and students' preferences and expectations in developing different skills, topics and preferences in teaching/learning methods.


Design/methodology/approach
This study was performed as an online-survey amongst eight European Universities in seven European Union (EU) countries to which 1,122 students responded. Data was analysed with descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses.


Findings
Taste and Health are the most important values and motives that influence students' food buying and consumption decisions, but significant differences were found amongst students from different universities and countries. The most important topics for students for future teaching courses are "organic food", "fair trade", "organic agriculture" and most important skills to learn are "ability to make a judgement and justify decisions" and the "ability to create and innovate". Excursions and field trips as teaching methods was given the highest ranks.


Research limitations/implications
Different study programmes and cultural backgrounds of the participating students in the different universities could be a limiting factor for the interpretation of some results.


Originality/value
These results provide a basis for improvement of higher education in the EU towards sustainable food systems based on experiential learning/teaching methods.