Associated Research Groups
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research
ILVO (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research)
Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96 bus 1
9820 Merelbeke (Belgium)
Tel. : +32 9 272 25 00
Fax : +32 9 272 25 01
ILVO
ILVO (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research) is a scientific institute, belonging to the ‘Agriculture and Fisheries’ Department of the Flemish Government.
ILVO’s mission consists of performing and coordinating policy-supporting scientific research and the associated public service in view of a sustainable agriculture and fishery in an economic, ecological and social perspective.
ILVO employs about five hundred people, half of whom are statutory whereas the other half are paid by the Corporate Personality. More than one third of the staff are researchers.
ILVO has about 200 ha for field trials, 15.000 m² of greenhouses and more than 20.000 m² of experimental animal houses. A diagnostic centre for plant diseases and accredited laboratories for the analysis of plant-related parameters, animal feed, spray technology, food quality and GMO-detection are also present. ILVO has also test banks, a dairy test installation, a seed reception and processing unit and a test factory for dairy products at its disposal.
Plant Sciences Unit
Important research themes at ILVO in Applied Genetics and Breeding are (i) the development of efficient selection strategies for crops in the context of sustainable agricultural practices, (ii) the use of DNA-marker assisted breeding techniques for quantitative and qualitative traits and (iii) the analysis of genetic diversity and identity of agricultural crops.
In the perspective of energy crops, we are currently using translational genomics to improve seed yield in rapeseed. The genetic knowledge generated in the model organism Arabidopsis is exploited in rapeseed in order to increase the biodiesel yield/ha. In addition, from 2007 on we will start activities for the improvement of Miscanthus, a C4 grass with high photosynthetic efficiency. This crop is currently used for combustion and is one of the most promising crops for the production of second generation biofuels (bio-ethanol and FT-diesel). In a first step, the genetic potential of Miscanthus will be estimated combining a genetic diversity study with a small yield trial using commercially available cultivars.
The research at ILVO in Crop Husbandry and Environment is focused on the behaviour of agricultural and horticultural crops under different growth conditions. The aim is to improve the yield and quality in a sustainable way. It is emphasized on (i) crop husbandry and ecophysiological research on fodder crops and ornamentals, (ii) evaluation of the value for cultivation and use, distinctness, stability and homogeneity of new varieties, (iii) chemical and physical research of plant, soil and water. Regarding energy crops, we studied the potential of several varieties of energy maize in a low input system. In the near future we plan to investigate the impact of the chemical composition on the net biogas production of grasses and maize.
We are open for collaborative research to evaluate potential energy crops for Flanders and to exploit our expertise in the field of genetics, crop husbandry and ecophysiology to improve crops for bio-energy production.
Contact:
Hilde.Muylle@ilvo.vlaanderen.be,Joost.Baert@ilvo.vlaanderen.be, Alex.DeVliegher@ilvo.vlaanderen.be,
Isabel.Roldán-Ruiz@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Technology & Food Unit
The expertise of Technology & Food Unit lays in food quality and food safety, next to GMO characterisation, detection and implementation and adaptation of European GMO legislation. It has also expertise in the application of engineering sciences in animal and plant production.
In the latter section, the ALT-Demonstration project ‘Rapeseed oil as fuel’ (KOBRA) aims to emphasize the possibilities of PPO to Flemish farmers through demonstrations and the circulation of information. The KOBRA project aims to stimulate the cooperation between producers (farmers) and consumers (horticulturists, companies, individuals and authorities). Actions are planned to stimulate public bodies and communities to use PPO. Emphasis is put on processing of rapeseed on the farm, its application and marketing. Different presses and a range of possibilities of PPO use on the farm are demonstrated. To guarantee the PPO availability to the community, farmers will be encouraged to establish cooperatives.
Throughout the project farmers and potential customers are informed through the press, publications, information and demonstration sessions.
Contact:
Stijn.Windey@ilvo.vlaanderen.be, Marc.DeLoose@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Social Sciences Unit
The Social Sciences Unit of ILVO has the mission to present and clarify, on a scientific basis, the social choices concerning a sustainable and competitive agriculture and fisheries in Flanders. Research on farmers’ production choices fits perfectly into this mission. In the context of society’s concern about sustainable energy, agricultural holdings need to make decisions about producing energy crops or investing in small scale energy production. Research may be on socio-economic consequences of these choices, but also on environmental and regional development outcomes. Up till now, the case of rapeseed for pure plant oil (PPO) or biodiesel was explored for Flanders in the annual environmental report. Farm economic decisions were simulated with the SEPALE-model according to different price and production level scenario’s. Production attitudes have been checked with an inquiry on the 2005 Agribex international fair for agriculture, which revealed quite some doubts with farmers. As adoption potentialities are influenced by agronomical, economic, environmental and social factors, continued research into a decision support system requires an integrated, interdisciplinary and knowledge consolidating approach. These are building blocks which ILVO can provide, but collaborative research across institutes is also possible.
Contact:
Hilde.Wustenberghs@ilvo.vlaanderen.be, Ludwig.Lauwers@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Animal Science Unit
The ILVO-Animal Science Unit has the expertise to determine the feeding value of the by-products of bio-energy production. We may expect that these products will be available in vast quantities on the market in the near future. Based on the information available at present, the Animal Science Unit anticipates to focus its research on rapeseed cake, glycerol and dry distillers grains and solubles (DDGS), the latter originating from the bio-ethanol production.
A screening test of the nutritive value of rapeseed cake from different origins as well as a feeding experiment with dairy cattle is integrated in a demonstration project of the Flemish Government. A first approach to determine the energy value of glycerol for fattening pigs and to determine the effect of glycerol on rumen fermentation in dairy cows is currently being investigated in an IWT-innovation project. Moreover, an extensive 4 year IWT-research project has been submitted to study the nutritive value and the effect of DDGS, glycerol and rapeseed cake on the performance of cattle, pigs and poultry.
The Animal Science Unit is looking for industrial partnerships in the research topics proposed.
Contact:
Daniel.DeBrabander@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Links:
http://www.meeroverkoolzaad.be/