Ons laatste nieuws
Scientists Use Dead Seabirds to Track Ocean Plastic for Four Decades
Wageningen, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Wageningen researchers have been examining storm petrel stomachs since 1980, revealing that 58% of these seabirds now exceed safe plastic levels. This groundbreaking monitoring system uses the birds as living pollution detectors, providing crucial data on North Sea contamination. While plastic levels have decreased over 20 years, current trends suggest the EU safety threshold won’t be met until 2087, highlighting the persistent challenge of marine plastic pollution.
Laatste nieuws in green
Europe Faces Critical Land Use Decisions as Agricultural Space Shrinks by 8 Million Hectares
Wageningen, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Without new sustainability policies, the European Union could lose over 8 million hectares of agricultural land by 2050 due to urbanization and farm closures, according to comprehensive Wageningen University research commissioned by the European Commission. The study reveals stark regional differences in land pressure, with Northwest Europe facing intense competition between housing, infrastructure, and food production, while Mediterranean regions struggle with irrigation demands and tourism expansion. This research provides policymakers with detailed scenarios ranging from business-as-usual to Green Deal ambitions, analyzing impacts on emissions, water quality, soil health, and food security across all 27 EU member states.
Laatste nieuws in community
North Holland Province Renews GO!-NH Startup Acceleration Program with ROM InWest Partnership
Amsterdam, Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
The GO!-NH acceleration program has been revamped with a sharper focus and new implementation partners to support innovative companies in North Holland. ROM InWest now plays a crucial role in startup recruitment, selection, and guidance. The renewed program targets not only startups and scale-ups but also established SME companies with innovative products or services, broadening its reach to strengthen the entire regional entrepreneurial ecosystem in one of the Netherlands’ key economic regions.
Laatste nieuws in data
Dutch Company Secures €25 Million EU Loan to Protect Global Internet Cables
Amsterdam, Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Europe’s digital lifelines face growing threats, but Dutch innovator Optics11 just secured crucial funding to defend them. The Amsterdam-based company received a €25 million loan from the European Investment Bank on January 14, 2026, to advance fiber-optic sensors that can detect sabotage attempts on undersea cables carrying global internet traffic. With 70% of Europe’s trade flowing through maritime routes, this technology provides early warning systems for submarine monitoring and critical infrastructure protection, strengthening European strategic autonomy against underwater security threats.
Laatste nieuws in semicon
Dutch University Plans to Train 2,000 Extra Semiconductor Engineers to Meet Industry Demand
Eindhoven, Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
Eindhoven University of Technology will dramatically expand its semiconductor programs, adding nearly 2,000 master’s students and creating 15 new specialized tracks to address critical talent shortages in the Netherlands’ chip industry. The ambitious expansion, supported by €90 million in government funding through the Beethoven initiative, includes hiring 10 new electrical engineering professors and building new cleanroom facilities by 2027. This strategic move reinforces the Netherlands’ position as a global semiconductor hub, particularly supporting ASML and the broader Brainport Eindhoven ecosystem.
Laatste nieuws in bio
AI Expert Takes Charge of Plant Breeding at Top Agricultural University
Wageningen, Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Professor Agnieszka Golicz brings cutting-edge artificial intelligence and genomics expertise to revolutionize crop development at Wageningen University starting March 2026. Her appointment signals a major shift toward data-driven plant breeding methods that could accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. Golicz emphasizes how AI is transforming agriculture by predicting optimal plant crosses and understanding biological processes at unprecedented speed and precision.
