Research for biodiversity and healthy diets
The Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) is presenting its research focus on the diversity of vegetable cabbage varieties (Brassica oleracea) at the International Green Week. Colloquially known as cabbages, they are varied in colour, shape, smell and taste.
Cabbages contain a wide range of ingredients - important nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet or fragrances that can attract beneficial insects, but which are also recognised by pests.
We analyse plant diversity for natural foods enriched with bioactive ingredients and to reduce the use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation.
Projects
Project: SharpGreens
Biodiversity in Brassica oleracea to improve the health value in human nutrition.
Project: VEGAMIN
Deciphering enzymatic amine formation from glucosinolates in Brassica vegetables.
Project: Biodiversity analysis of glucosinolates
Analysis of cultivar-specific patterns of secondary metabolites and modifying enzymes in Brassica vegetables.
Project: Combat root fly in oilseed rape
Designing sustainable strategies to combat cabbage root fly infestation in oil seed rape (Brassica napus)
Research Groups
The IGZ works on a wide range of research topics for the knowledge-based design of sustainable agricultural and food systems. The following working groups are currently conducting research on the projects presented:
QUALITY 2
Optimization of Glucosinolate Degradation Pathways
BIOTIC 1
Plant-Microbe Systems
BIOTIC 2
Plant Biotic Interactions
ADAPT 1
Temperature Sensing in Plants
Get involved - support our research!
Participants (m/f/d) wanted for Behavioral Economics Studies
What? Academic study on the subject of nutrition - questions are to be answered and simple tasks solved on the computer (duration approx. 1 hour).
Who? Anyone over the age of 18 who lives in the Berlin area and speaks German and/or English.
Vegans/vegetarians are particularly welcome!
Compensation? On average 25€/h.
Where? Berlin-Mitte, the address will be given in the invitation.
Who is conducting the study? The IGZ together with the project "Inclusive Food System Transistions" (IFST) and the Humboldt University of Berlin.
To register for non-binding invitations: via the button below or the QR code in the image.
We offer Bachelor and Master Theses!
Are you interested in the IGZ's key research areas and looking for a Bachelor's or Master's thesis? We offer theses for committed students.
Send an e-mail to Dr Katja Witzel with a short CV, the period in which you would like to write your thesis and the topic or research group you are interested in.
About the IGZ
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops
Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau
The Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) conducts basic plant research with a view to possible uses for vegetable and ornamental plants and the use of plant biodiversity.
The IGZ contributes to a better understanding of plants and their interactions with the environment, and uses this knowledge to develop sustainable management systems in horticulture. Our research is positioned at the interface of plants, humans and the environment.
Our scientific expertise covers the full spectrum from plant molecular physiology and biochemistry, human nutrition and food security, to horticultural production systems.
This provides a diverse and interdisciplinary scientific environment where current problems in agri-food systems can be addressed across multiple levels of observation: from the basic molecular, cell and organismic levels to the more applied individual, sectoral and global levels.