We are interested in identifying and selecting the best-suited agroecology practices for the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change through carbon stored in soils matching 2 topics of theme 2 of the call.
The central questions of our work are:
Which agricultural measures can build up soil carbon and how much?
How should soil carbon formation and carbon farming be evaluated in the context of climate change mitigation?
How are soil carbon stocks changing and for what reasons?
Which mechanisms control carbon stabilisation in agricultural soils?
What functions does soil organic matter have for soil health and soil fertility?

We use a wide range of methods, focussing on field research at locations in Germany and Europe. We have experience in sampling soils and plant biomass, including long-term field experiments. At the same time, we have high-performance laboratory analytics for the quantification and characterisation of soil organic matter and for recording the microbial conversion processes. We use various process models and statistical models (e.g. machine learning) to extrapolate results and to calculate scenarios on a national and European scale. Finally, we utilize our access to a network of 150 research farms across Germany.

The Thünen Institute is a national research institute based in Braunschweig/Germany that focuses on various aspects of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The institute conducts research to support sustainable land use, resource management, and rural development. Our work encompasses a wide range of topics including climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, soil and water management, and agricultural economics.