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National Growth Fund finances Dutch Holomicrobiome Institute
The government of the Netherlands has allocated €200 million from the country’s National Growth Fund for a public-private consortium that will conduct research into 'microbiomes' and economically interesting applications thereof. In the consortium, NIOO is partnering with ten Dutch universities, five university-medical centres, four universities of applied sciences, many other knowledge organisations and together with dozens of small and large companies and societal organisations. -
Follow-up funding for microbial fight against parasitic weed in Africa
Can micro-organisms in the soil help the fight against parasitic weeds in Africa? That question launched Promise six years ago. After promising initial results, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has now awarded follow-up funding to the project. -
Beneath your feet, soil microbes are getting fat
Microbes, like humans, can eat 'junk food' and grow fat. This even happens when you might not expect it, according to NIOO researcher Kyle Mason-Jones -
Soil has no borders, and neither should soil policy
Zonder gezonde, biodiverse bodem geen gezonde samenleving. Maar hoe vertaal je dat in goed beleid? -
New greenhouse gas-eating bacteria found in highly acidic sulphur cave
A team of ecologists and microbiologists that includes NIOO's Paul Bodelier has identified a unique organism in samples from a Romanian cave nicknamed 'Stinky Mountain'. The novel bacteria can grow on methane, an important greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. -
Live-in bacteria protect plants against infections
Micro-organisms living inside plant roots team up to boost the plant’s growth and tolerance to stress. This research is featured this week in the scientific journal Science. -
The world's most spoken language is...Terpene
If you’re small, smells are a good way to stand out. A team of researchers led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has demonstrated for the first time that two different types of micro-organisms – bacteria and fungi – use fragrances, known as terpenes, to hold conversations. And that’s not all. “We actually believe that terpenes are the most popular chemical medium on our planet to communicate through.” -
Micro-organisms will help African farmers
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal in the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, many farmers rely on this grain for food and feed. But Striga, a parasitic weed, can have a devastating impact on crop yield. With an 8-million-dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an international team will now explore the potential of soil microbes to offer crop protection. The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is coordinating this 5-year project. -
Sniffing out your dinner in the dark: how miniature predators get their favourite soil bacteria
Tiny predators in the soil can literally sniff out their prey: soil bacteria, which communicate with each other using scent. A team of researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has discovered that these predators - called protists - 'eavesdrop' on the bacteria's communication. It's a discovery that opens up perspectives for agriculture. The results are available online this month in The ISME Journal, from the publishers of Nature.