News and insights

European research aims to make cities more resilient to extreme heat

New research coordinated by WUR will develop practical solutions to help European cities and regions become cooler, healthier and more resilient.

From climate-resilient crops to better humanitarian aid: eleven WUR researchers awarded Veni grants

Eleven researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) have been awarded a prestigious Veni grant this year, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) announced today. The funding will enable them to further develop their independent research over the next three years.

Almost a quarter of Dutch bee colonies did not survive last winter

Winter losses among Dutch honey bee colonies remain high. Last winter, 24% of honey bee colonies died, with substantial differences between regions.

Scientists discover new route to strong, biodegradable bioplastics

Wageningen researchers, together with colleagues in Amsterdam and China, have developed a new plant-based plastic that biodegrades naturally.

European research aims to make cities more resilient to extreme heat

New research coordinated by WUR will develop practical solutions to help European cities and regions become cooler, healthier and more resilient.

From climate-resilient crops to better humanitarian aid: eleven WUR researchers awarded Veni grants

Eleven researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) have been awarded a prestigious Veni grant this year, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) announced today. The funding will enable them to further develop their independent research over the next three years.

Dutch horticulture grows despite uncertain years

How is the Dutch horticulture sector developing economically? New figures show that the sector has experienced strong growth over the past four years.

Dying bacteria help the population survive antibiotics

Bacteria defend themselves against antibiotics not only as individual cells, but also as a community. New research reveals how dying bacteria help the survivors.

New study shows timescale is crucial for assessing extinction risk

How do we know which species are most at risk of extinction? According to a new study published in Science Advances, the answer depends not only on where we look, but also on how far back in time we look.

Water-exchange openings linked to distinct marine communities inside offshore wind foundations

Marine communities have developed inside offshore wind turbine foundations with water exchange holes that differ from the communities on the outside.

The Next Chapter of the Wageningen Forest

How a tree planting initiative evolved into a collaborative research project in Kenya

Implementation of biosecurity measures on poultry farms needs to be improved

Research shows that improving compliance with biosecurity measures on poultry farms helps prevent avian influenza and other animal diseases.

Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC) receives funding for major upgrade

The Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC) has been awarded NWO funding to carry out a major five-year upgrade of its national plant phenotyping facility.

Almost a quarter of Dutch bee colonies did not survive last winter

Winter losses among Dutch honey bee colonies remain high. Last winter, 24% of honey bee colonies died, with substantial differences between regions.

Why most flies fly alike

A PLOS Biology study shows that most flies, mosquitoes and other dipterans use remarkably similar flight strategies despite their enormous diversity.

Fisheries record modest profit for second consecutive year

Dutch marine fisheries posted a €17 million net profit in 2025, but uncertainty continues to hamper investment in innovation and sustainability.

Supermarket food waste remains at lowest level since start monitoring

For the third consecutive year, Dutch supermarkets have kept food waste at its lowest level since monitoring began in 2018. After a sharp decline over recent years, the reduction now appears to be levelling off.

Students win ACT Award 2026 for project on Equal Trade Certification

The Academic Consultancy Project (ACT) “Changing the narrative with Equal Trade Certification for Afropulse’s plant-based ingredients supply chain between Ghana and Europe” received the ACT Award 2026.

Salmon, sea trout and sea lamprey each choose their own moment

New research shows how salmon, sea trout and sea lamprey passed the Haringvliet Sluices before Kierbeheer and why passage opportunities differ between species.

Victor Viveen appointed director of Digitalisation Information Services

Victor Viveen has been appointed director of WUR’s new Digitalisation Information Services unit, strengthening the organisation’s digital capabilities.

More grey seals counted in the Wadden Sea

The numbers of grey seals and pups in the Wadden Sea and on Helgoland continue to increase. Most animals were recorded in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea.

Detmer Sipkema appointed Personal Professor of Marine Microbiology

Detmer Sipkema has been appointed Personal Professor of Marine Microbiology within the Microbiology Chair Group, with effect from 1 July 2026. In this role, he will focus on the ecology and chemical interactions of marine organisms and the microbes with which they coexist.

Chemical tweak makes seawater-soluble plastic potentially more biodegradable

New WUR research has led to an improved plastic that dissolves in seawater and biodegrades more effectively, helping to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on marine life.

Omid Noroozi appointed personal professor at WUR

As of 1 July 2026, Omid Noroozi has been appointed personal professor of Technology-Enhanced Transformative Learning.

Consumers value organic food, but production lags behind ambitions

Consumers are generally positive about organic food, although price and a lack of encouragement remain barriers.

Arjen Buijs appointed Personal Professor of Human-Nature Relations and Transformative Change

As of 1 July 2026, Arjen Buijs has been appointed Personal Professor of Human-Nature Relations and Transformative Change at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Buijs is an environmental sociologist in the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, where he studies how relationships between people and nature contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainability transitions.

Vivianne Vleeshouwers elected EMBO Member

Vivianne Vleeshouwers is elected as EMBO Member. EMBO Membership is a lifetime recognition for researchers who excel in the life sciences.

Why regenerative agriculture needs data

Regenerative approaches are gaining ground as agriculture becomes more focused on sustainability. They focus on restoring soils and nature while ensuring a viable business model for farmers.

Bird flu in cows: should we be worried?

In the US, humans became infected during an outbreak of bird flu among cattle. Could that happen in Europe too?

Corporate accountability: what is the human and environmental cost of doing business?

How can companies be held accountable for their impact on people, climate and biodiversity? Research explores law, governance and responsibility.

Why food transitions get stuck – and how we can get them moving again

WUR researchers Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters and Anne-Charlotte Hoes explain where the resistance against transitions come from and how you can steer change.

‘The key thing in an emergency? Neighbours’

If you really want to survive a disaster, it is smarter to invest in social relationships. ‘Disasters are essentially social in nature.’

Between melting ice and mass tourism

Antarctica is remote but not pristine. While ecologists living in extreme conditions study krill, birds and marine mammals, it is rapidly becoming a tourist destination.

Governing means looking ahead. Time to act

Climate change demands long-term thinking. Wieke Pot argues for a Parliamentary Committee for the Future and a stronger role for citizens.

Cultured meat is the future, but needs promoting

The question is no longer whether it is possible, but whether it is affordable and gets accepted.

'Nutrition should help people get the best out of themselves'

As he retires from WUR, Professor Renger Witkamp reflects on 20 years of research and his lifelong quest to understand what keeps people healthy.

The home dialysis machines of kidney patients will contain Dutch jack beans

Wageningen University & Research is working to improve the cultivation of the jackbean, the enzymes from which are crucial for filters in dialysis machines.

Broad research into Ebola vaccine gains new urgency

A new Ebola outbreak highlights the need for broader vaccines. Wageningen University @ Research are developing protection against Ebola and Marburg viruses.

Why is clothing recycling still so difficult (and how can it be improved)?

Why is so little textile recycled into new clothing? Explore the technical, economic and sustainability challenges facing clothing recycling.

Plant breeder René Smulders: “Real progress only comes from working better together”

From developing wheat with lower levels of gluten to research into the effects of climate change on crops: René Smulders’ field of work has always been broad. He will retire in June 2026.

Shared research facilities: 'Shared equipment, shared expertise'

Startup Revyve rents an advanced confocal microscope from WUR via Shared Research Facilities (SRF), part of WUR. For this fast-growing food tech company, it’s a smart way to conduct in-depth research without the costs of owning their own equipment.

How biotechnology is bringing new futures, fast

WUR’s Richard Harrison explains how growing knowledge is democratising science and accelerating biotechnology for diverse future farming systems.

Smart Water Use in Egypt: 50 Years of Impact

Beyond water scarcity: How 50 years of science-policy collaboration support efficient water use in Egypt’s agriculture

Not all biobased plastics are biodegradable, nor do they need to be

Maarten van der Zee and his team are developing a new test to measure the degradability of plastics, with a view to a more sustainable and less polluted future.

A century of entomology in Wageningen: from pest control to malaria prevention

What began as a small laboratory for insect research has grown over the past 100 years into an internationally leading research group. The Entomology chair group at Wageningen University & Research plays a key role in areas such as biological pest control and malaria prevention.

Rising food prices due to the war in Iran: causes and consequences

Food may become more expensive as a result of the war in Iran. This could affect consumers in the Netherlands, but also in countries in Africa and Asia, where it may have consequences for food security. The reason lies in the fertiliser market.

Turning dairy emissions into opportunities: how climate finance can drive climate-smart dairy

Cattle produces about one-third of human-caused methane, an important greenhouse gas. Initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge are increasingly targeting the dairy sector for reducing short-term climate warming.

VHLGenetics invests in Aviti sequencer with guaranteed shared use

VHLGenetics invested in an advanced Aviti sequencer in autumn 2025, while WUR-Bioscience guarantees a minimum number of runs per year. The team coordinating the Shared Research

Sea levels are much higher than often assumed. How is that possible?

Philip Minderhoud and Katharina Seeger discovered that sea levels at the coast are much higher than most scientific studies assumed

Biotechnology scientist Nico Claassens: ‘Building a living cell is a bizarre challenge’

Nico Claassens’ aim is to help bring about a circular bio-economy in which bacteria use CO₂ as an input to produce the raw materials for bioplastics and proteins.

Peddling manure

Livestock farmers not only pay large sums to offload their manure, they also have to buy more artificial fertilizer to give their land the nutrients it needs.

Drought

Wageningen University & Research studied the effect this drought has on agriculture, nature and living circumstances.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential building block for life, but high nitrogen deposition on natural areas causes biodiversity loss.

Wildfires

Wageningen University & Research conducts research into the effects of forest fires, heathland fires and roadside fires on nature. For example, the causes of erosion and flooding after a wildfire are being investigated. Researchers in Wageningen also provide advice to authorities, enabling them to focus on the rapid restoration of ground-covering vegetation after a wildfire. This helps the soil remain as intact as possible and recover quickly.

Wolves

After an absence of approximately 150 years, the wolf has re-established itself in the Netherlands. This dossier provides you with the latest news, background information and results of Wageningen University & Research on wolves in the Netherlands.

Bird flu

On this page, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WVBR) informs you about the latest bird flu (avian influenza) developments in the Netherlands. This research institute performs diagnostics for bird flu and advises the Dutch government on preventive measures.

Methane

Dutch livestock farmers have already made considerable strides towards a sustainable livestock sector. A critical task, as one of the climate agreement goals, is to further reduce the emission of methane (CH4).

Cellular agriculture

Cultivated meat and fish, and animal-free dairy products are rapidly becoming viable alternatives to animal-based products and could significantly reshape our future protein supply.