News

This summer, Estonian University of Life Sciences is happy to host honorary consuls of the Republic of Estonia.

The Conference of Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Estonia takes place in June 19-23 2024. As our city Tartu together with the wider region of Southern Estonia is an European cultural capital this year, part of the conference programme takes consuls to visit Tartu and experience its research, innovation and recreation potential.

Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ) has a relevant role in Estonian higher education and research, being responsible for key areas such as agriculture, food and health, environment, forestry, rural economy and related technologies for ensuring sustainable life and society. The University has knowledge on how to sustainably manage natural resources throughout the entire value chain and create research based circular bioeconomy solutions to facilitate green transition for the enterprises.

During the conference, honorary consuls have a possibility to take a closer look at the work and outcome of some of the high-level research groups of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

Plant stress physiology. Professor Ülo Niinemets, Head of the Crop Science and Plant Biology Chair at EMÜ introduces at the lab, what happens when a plant becomes feel uncomfortable? Professor Niinemets´ main research interest is what determines vegetation distribution on the globe and how plants interact with and affect their environment. His studies currently specifically focus on plant acclimation and adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. Specifically, how volatile organic compounds excreted by plants are precisely measured and what can be done with this knowledge in terms of crop production and agriculture. And how does this all relate to global warming?

Professor Ülo Niinemets is among the most cited scientists in his field in the world. According to the latest data from the research portal Research.com, his scientific activity has placed Professor Niinemets in an extremely high 18th ranking among scientists in the field of plant science and agronomy all over the world.

Circular bioeconomy on the example of the insect farming lab. The researchers are investigating how to valorize fly larvae as a resource in animal feed production and bioeconomy. The fly laboratory has become the basis for the further development of insect farming in Estonia, fly larvae can be used as a protein and fat component of animal feed for chickens, fish, pigs and pets.

One of the leaders, Rihard Reissaar is currently a PhD student of agriculture in the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at EMÜ. He has a background in applied biology for both his BSc and MSc and is currently mainly focusing on industrial biology. His main topic of research is insect farming and biowaste management. He applied for funding in his Masters' studies and received a project for two years that enabled him to construct the Estonian University of Life Sciences Applied Entomology Practice Base, where he has been studying Black Soldier Flies for the past 5 years. Rihard also has his own start-up company called Klareva (www.klareva.com) focusing on insect farming automation technologies and animal feed manufacturing. As of today, they are currently trying to apply for 2m € funding to build a pilot factory to valorize food production waste into aquaculture feed.

Valuing wood in the biorefining laboratory. Professor Timo Kikas, Head of the Chair of Biosystems Engineering at EMÜ, introduces the possibilities for valorisation of the wood. The wood industry generates production waste of uneven quality. Is the only option just to use it for heating? Why

should biomass be torrefied? How can one raw material become several different and high-value products at the same time? Is this the solution to getting rid of petroleum-based products?

Chair of Biosystems Engineering at EMÜ is a multifaceted consortium of research topics ranging from biorefining, biomass valorisation to autonomous agricultural machinery. As biomass is becoming more and more important as a resource for chemical engineering as well, it is of utmost importance that this resource is handled efficiently and without waste towards high-value products. These processes and products often require multiple integrated steps to achieve the set goals. Chair of Biosystems Engineering combining know-how from both, engineering and biorefining has designed multiple processes and engineered many reactors to unlock the biomass potential to its fullest.

The main research interests of Professor Timo Kikas include biomass valorisation through thermochemical, chemical, physiochemical and microbiological processes. The innovative approach allows his research group to selectively separate all three main components of any biomass – hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin.

On the following day, it is possible to visit Järvselja Ürgmets, the oldest forest reserve in Estonia. It means 100 years of unspoilt nature. Several tree giants, grow at Järvselja, including famous King´s Pine.

Academic education of thousands of Estonian nature science students has included practical training in Järvselja. World-class forestry, biology, ecology, atmospheric etc research is still carried on in Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre of EMÜ. For example, SMEAR Estonia station measures concentrations and fluxes of energy and matter in the atmosphere—biosphere system.

According to these few examples, it is not surprising that the Estonian University of Life Sciences ranks high in the ranking of world universities the field of agriculture and forestry – 54 place in a year 2024 (Quacquarelli and Symonds specialty ranking, April 2024).