Soybean cultivation in Germany:
Bees, Beans, and Citizen Science [19.10.21]
1000 gardens - the flourishing soybean experiment: The country needs home-grown soybean – and, for this, the inquiring minds of thousands of hobby gardeners throughout Germany
Soybean from domestic organic farming, boasting excellent performance and good quality – this is possible if you have the right cultivars. The State Plant Breeding Institute of the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart and the tofu manufacturer Taifun-Tofu in Freiburg are working towards this goal. In their "1000 Gardens" project, they are now inviting amateur gardeners throughout Germany to take part for the third time. www.1000gaerten.de
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY TAIFUN-TOFU AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOHENHEIM
The University of Hohenheim is launching a new edition of the Citizen Science project "1000 Gardens" together with the Freiburg-based tofu manufacturer Taifun. Gardeners nationwide grow the plants and accompany their development from sowing to harvesting. Registration is open now and will close on 28 February 2022.
Participation conditions: An inquiring mind and 5 square meters of space for the plants
For the first time, not only soybean seeds are being dispatched but also seeds for flowering plants, which are sown between the rows of soybean. The result is a blossoming soybean experiment that provides food for insects, protects the soil and, at the same time, generates data for plant research at the University of Hohenheim.
The more diverse the gardens, the more valuable the data that will subsequently undergo scientific analysis: Which soybean cultivars thrive best in which regions of Germany? What role do climatic conditions play? And more particularly: How do flower strips affect soybean and, by extension, tofu quality?
The goal: To find flowering plants that can be used to make soybean cultivation even more ecological. And to develop soybean cultivars that are suitable for organic cultivation in Germany therefore creating independence from soya imports and global seed corporations.
The fact that the environmental performance of soybean grown in monocultures around the world is often catastrophic is not the bean's fault. There is another way: Soybean can be grown successfully in Germany. As part of prudent crop rotation and without any synthetic chemical sprays. However, the right cultivars are needed for this. Right means for Taifun-Tofu and the University of Hohenheim: Soybean cultivars that thrive in our latitudes, have high enough yields, and are suitable for tofu production due to their high protein content, among other things.
Dr. Volker Hahn researches soy from regional cultivation.
Image source: University of Hohenheim / Sacha Dauphin
Text: Taifun-Tofu / Elsner
Contact for press:
Taifun-Tofu GmbH, T +49 761 15210-0, E presse@taifun-tofu.de
Dr. Volker Hahn, University of Hohenheim, State Plant Breeding Institute, Sunflower and Legumes Working Group
T +49 7852 9188-17, E volker.hahn@uni-hohenheim.de
