News/All pieces

EDELNASS workshop

Three years of research on wetland biomass.

16/06/2026  What can be produced from wetland biomass — and how can sustainable value chains be created from it? The EDELNASS project presents its findings on these questions after three years of research. The closing workshop on June 23, 2026, at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy will focus on the use of wetland biomass for paper, basic chemicals, and other bio-based products. Researchers will present their findings and discuss with industry stakeholders the opportunities and challenges for the future use of peatland and marsh biomass.
In addition to the project results, the focus will be on exchange and looking ahead: What next steps are needed to ensure that innovative products and value chains derived from wetland biomass make the leap into practical application? The event starts at 11 a.m. (reception at 10 a.m.) and ends at 4 p.m. Afterward, interested attendees can tour ATB laboratories and facilities. Participation is possible both in person and online.
Further information and registration: https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/e4f89709-ceed-45bc-981b-79deb00dc6f6/select

GMC warns against changes to the EEG

01/06/2026  Peatland based photovoltaic systems could lose their special status: the current draft bill for the EEG amendment proposes scrapping the preferential treatment afforded to PV on peatland installations. The Greifswald Moor Centrum believes this sends the wrong signal at the wrong time.
In a recent statement, the GMC points out that PV on peatlands creates an important incentive for the rewetting of peatlands. The combination of climate protection and renewable energy generation can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands whilst opening up new economic prospects for land use.
If this preferential treatment is removed, rewetting projects could lose momentum. At the same time, there is a risk that photovoltaic systems will continue to be built on drained peatland soils, generating further climate-damaging emissions, whilst opportunities for climate, species and peatland conservation remain untapped. The GMC therefore advocates retaining peatland PV as a technology particularly worthy of support under the EEG.

The full statement on the draft EEG is also available online.

PhotoVoice in Ammerland

Join in!

28/05/2026  Do you enjoy taking photos and sharing your pictures and thoughts on peatlands? Then we have just the thing for you here in the Ammerland district: the interactive photo project “Encounters with the Peatland” as part of the #MOOSland project warmly invites you to capture the diversity of the peatlands in photographs and stories – with several events over three months.

Register by 7 June (via the following link: https://survey.academiccloud.de/f/757768?lang=de) for our kick-off event and become part of our exciting research project on a sustainable future for people and the peatlands.

The interactive photo project entitled “Encounters with the Peatland” is part of the MOOSland collaborative project. It explores what people in Ammerland associate with the peatland and where they encounter it. Over a period of two weeks, participants will capture their images of the peatland and then discuss them. Participation is free of charge.

Further information can be found in the project flyer.

Save the Date: Paludiculture Conference

Focus on peatland use in Lower Saxony

New policy briefs published

Peatland rewetting for climate neutrality

18/05/2026  The Greifswald Moor Centrum has published a new series of policy briefs. Titled “2026 Policy Briefs: Rewetting drained peat soils supports climate neutrality”, the publications highlight how rewetting drained peat soils can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support national and European pathways towards climate neutrality.

The series includes an EU-level edition as well as country-specific versions for Germany, Belgium, Finland, Austria, and Poland. The policy briefs provide science-based and practice-oriented insights for policy and decision-making, illustrating how peatland rewetting as a nature-based climate solution can contribute to achieving climate goals.

The publications are aimed at policymakers, administrations, and practitioners and offer context-specific information tailored to different national settings.

Further information and access to the policy briefs are available online: GMC briefing papers

Paludiculture – how does it work?

Online seminar on value creation

13/05/2026  How can paludibiomass be used as a raw material for construction, manufacturing and energy? This question will be addressed in the free online seminar ‘Value Creation & Utilisation: Peatland Biomass as a Raw Material for Construction, Industry and Energy’ on 10 June 2026 from 10:00 to 12:30.

The seminar will focus on material and energy applications of peatland crops, market potential and practical examples along the value chain. The event is aimed at stakeholders from agriculture, business, science and public administration.

The programme includes presentations by Roman Adam on the link between peatland climate protection and value creation through MoorFaser, by Henning Voigt on cattail as a peatland crop, and by Frank Havemeyer on the development of regional value creation structures using peatland biomass in the Teufelsmoor.

The seminar series, jointly organised by FNR, the Farmers’ Association and the Greifswald Moor Centrum, is designed to be interactive and offers opportunities for exchange and discussion, as well as new perspectives on the sustainable use of peatland soils.

More information and registration for the seminar online.

Open Call: Join the Innovation!

Ideas for paludi biomass wanted.

11/05/2026  Researchers, students, and early-stage teams are invited to apply for the new “greenCHEM x Paludi Challenge”. The innovation program supports the development of new applications and value chains for underutilized paludi biomass and its side streams.

The challenge is looking for ideas for sustainable materials, chemical building blocks, or scalable processes that can contribute to climate-positive land-use approaches.

Participants will gain access to laboratories, infrastructure, equipment, and biomass, alongside workshops, mentoring from academia and industry, and opportunities to test and validate ideas in practice. The program also offers networking opportunities within a strong innovation ecosystem and support for further validation projects or funding opportunities.

Applications are now open. The application deadline is 30 May 2026.

The initiative involves besides the Greifswald Mire Centre also the Universität Greifswald, Technische Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and additional partners.

Further information and application details are available online.

Spin the big wheel of peatland knowledge

at Science Day 2026 in Greifswald

08/05/2026  At Science Day 2026 on 27 June 2026, peatland researchers from the University of Greifswald and the Greifswald Mire Centre will be spinning the wheel – the wheel of peatland knowledge – offering insights into their work on peatlands and climate protection.  At an own stand, they will demonstrate the role peatlands play for the climate, the environment and society, and why peatland research is important both locally and globally.

Visitors can find out more through these activities:

• spin the big (lucky) wheel of peatland knowledge to discover curious peatland facts and set the record straight on some peatland myths,

• peatland-match – find out which peatland plant can be turned into which product

• take a look at thousands of years of Earth’s history through the pollen puzzle and under the microscope

• find the nearest peatland in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the ‘Peatland near you?’ map

The peatland researchers are happy to stamp your acquired peatland knowledge. There is a small reward for a full collection card.

The Science Day in Greifswald in 2026 will focus on “One Health” and, with lectures, guided tours and numerous hands-on activities, invites visitors to discover science and engage in conversation with researchers. At the same time, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences will be celebrating its 75th anniversary.

You can find more information on the website.

What EU CAP means for paludiculture

Supportive but not yet fully

17/04/2026  The current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027 of the European Union channels €387 billion through national CAP Strategic Plans across the Member States. It creates more opportunities than previous funding periods for peatland protection, rewetting and paludiculture, as a new report issued within the project Paludi4all shows. However, the extent to which these opportunities can be realised in practice, still depends on how Member States reflect the CAP framework in their national strategic plans.

For the first time, the current CAP creates a clearer framework for peatland and paludiculture. It sets a minimum protection standard for peatland and wetland protection, addresses eligibility for direct payments and opens the door for eco-schemes to support paludiculture and peatland rewetting. Beyond this, the CAP toolbox offers further opportunities to advance paludiculture through agri-environment-climate schemes, investment support, cooperation, advice and training.

Direct payment eligibility remains a key challenge for paludiculture. Important paludiculture crops such as reed, cattail and sphagnum moss are still classified as non-agricultural products, and so far only six of the 27 Member States have implemented the new derogation rule that can maintain payment eligibility. Wet grassland paludiculture may still qualify as permanent grassland, but this status can be lost if non-fodder plants become dominant. For farmers and land managers, this creates ongoing uncertainty when considering a transition to paludiculture.

The report estimates, that, even so, the current CAP is becoming more supportive for peatlands and paludiculture, countries including Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom already provide useful examples. They already show, how different national instruments and policy approaches can work together within and beyond the CAP. Looking ahead, a policy mix could help support the transition. This would include positive incentives for paludiculture and peatland ecosystem services, while gradually phasing out support for drainage-based peatland use. Additional instruments, such as a CO₂ tax, could also help to improve planning security in the long-term.

The new Palu Directive

1.75 bn earmarked for peatland climate protection

17/04/2026  Long awaited and published today, the Federal Environment Ministry’s Palu Directive now provides clarity on funding for rewetting and sustainable peatland management. As part of the Natural Climate Protection Action Programme, it is set to promote peatland conservation measures across the country in agriculturally used peatlands over the coming years. A total of €1.75 billion has been earmarked for this purpose. According to the Greifswald Mire Centre, the programme thus offers, for the first time, a genuine opportunity for a breakthrough in scaled-up peatland climate protection in Germany. More detailed information can be found in the Ministry of the Environment’s press release and an assessments in the GMC press release.