A3 – New Organisms & Product Quality
In order to further increase the system's performance, subproject A-3 is testing additional crops, fish, and insect species that work particularly well in closed cycles. These include, for example, new vegetable crops, protein-rich specialty plants, and alternative insect species that can efficiently utilize plant residues. The aim is to produce food that is not only sustainable but also particularly valuable in terms of nutritional physiology.
At the same time, biological processes are being developed to completely break down residues with the help of fungi and microorganisms—an important step toward a zero-waste approach. In addition, the team is researching new ways to fortify food, such as enriching plants and insects with valuable ingredients.
Another focus is on animal welfare standards for fish and insects. Innovative sensor and video technology makes it possible to monitor behavior and health, minimize stress, and promote natural behavior. The result is a system that redefines ecological and ethical standards.
Dr. Wael Yakti is a biotechnologist with a Master of Science in entomology and a Ph.D. in the field of plant-fungus interactions.
He has practical experience in the production of black soldier flies and focuses his work at CUBES Circle on the InsectCUBE and its integration with the Plant and FishCUBE.
Contact: wael.yakti(at)hu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Ulrichs holds a doctorate in entomology and has worked as an entomologist for the Technical University of Munich, the US Department of Agriculture and the World Vegetable Center, among others. His work as a system analyst focused primarily on the development and evaluation of management systems for insect pests and systems for the production of beneficial insects. Further work dealt with the chemical ecology of selected insects on their natural host plants.
Contact: christian.ulrichs(at)hu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Stefan Kühne
Contact: stefan.kuehne(at)julius-kuehn.de
Simon Schulz (M. Sc.) is an entomologist and biotechnologist with a degree in land use and water management.
With his many years of experience in breeding black soldier flies, his focus at the CUBES research facility is on operating the InsectCUBE and integrating insect production into the overall production system.
Contact: simon.valentin.schulz(at)hu-berlin.de
Dr. Christopher Shaw a research associate at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and conducts research in the field of sustainable aquaculture. With a Ph.D. in specialized aquaponics fish feed and practical experience operating a land-based recirculating system for salmon farming, his focus in the CUBES Circle project is on minimizing the use of marine resources in fish feed, ensuring product quality for human consumption, and optimizing processes to minimize the need for mineral fertilizers in aquaponics.
Contact: christopher.shaw(at)igb-berlin.de
Dr. Klaus Knopf holds a doctorate in zoology and works in the fields of fish parasitology and immunology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries. His contribution to CUBES Circle covers aspects of fish health and welfare.
Contact: klaus.knopf(at)igb-berlin.de
Sophia Tadesse (M. Sc.) has a background in social sciences and agricultural sciences. After graduating in horticultural sciences, she now focuses on the integration of decomposers, specifically edible mushrooms, into multitrophic production systems such as CUBES Circle. One focus is on the reuse of waste streams that accumulate in the system and can be repurposed for mushroom production.
Contact: sophia.tadesse(at)hu-berlin.de
