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Environmental Technology Lab

News

Welcome to our “news” section, where we share the latest updates, research highlights, and achievements from our laboratory. Stay informed about our ongoing projects, upcoming events, and milestones as we continue advancing scientific discovery.

  • Annual Lab Hike and BBQ Mark the End of the Academic Year (29.05.26)

Last week, our team gathered for the annual lab hike and BBQ to celebrate the successful completion of another academic year. The day began with a visit to Taevaskoja, one of Estonia’s most well-known natural landmarks, famous for its impressive Devonian sandstone outcrops. We hiked about 10 km. The program continued with a canoe trip on the Ahja River, providing an opportunity to enjoy the region’s unique natural environment from a different perspective. What was initially planned as a relaxing canoe trip soon turned into a friendly race, as it became important to determine whether everyone had sufficient energy reserves for the upcoming peak fieldwork season.


The event offered a welcome chance for team members to spend time together outside the laboratory, reflect on the past year, and strengthen connections across the group.

  • The First NitroScope Newsletter Has Been Published (5.05.26)

We are pleased to announce that the first NitroScope project newsletter has now been published! The newsletter provides an overview of the project’s recent activities, key achievements, and upcoming developments. You can access the newsletter here.

  • ForPeat Project Consortium Meeting in Portugal (28.-30.04.26)

This week, the ForPeat project consortium gathered in Alpiarça, Portugal. The event was hosted at the historic Quinta da Atela wine estate, a remarkable venue with a history dating back to the 14th century. The meeting also included a visit to the Paúl da Gouxa wetland, one of the project’s Open Labs. During the meeting, project partners shared recent progress and research results from the various Open Labs. The Estonian Open Lab team also presented the first overview of data collected from the Estonian study site.
The gathering provided an excellent opportunity to discuss project developments, exchange knowledge and experiences, strengthen collaboration among partners, and plan the next steps of the ForPeat project.

Our Team was represented by Kuno, Joosep, and Annabel.

  • NitroScope fieldwork site set-up (21.04.26)

Today marked the establishment of a new NitroScope intensive monitoring site. While automated chamber-based N₂O measurements are planned to commence in 2027, biweekly field monitoring has already begun. Using analyzers from Aeris Technologies Inc., a Project Canary Company, and LI-COR, we are measuring N₂O fluxes from wheat fields and field strips, alongside the collection of various soil parameters.

A big thank you to our team members Kuno, Isaac, Mihkel, and Annabel, who were on site setting up the monitoring station.

  • FutureScapes Fieldwork Workshop Day (30.03.26)

Today, our team organized and participated in a fieldwork workshop as part of the FutureScapes project. As an intensive fieldwork period begins in April, the purpose of today’s session was to ensure that all participants are familiar with the measurement equipment and can carry out measurements correctly. Among other things, we reviewed how to measure water levels, as well as water pH and oxygen content, soil composition, and gas fluxes. The day was successful, and we are now fully prepared for the upcoming fieldwork.
A special thanks to Ilona for organizing such a well-structured and valuable workshop.

  • ForPeat project highlights the role of forested peatlands in climate and sustainable management (24.02.26)

A new explanatory video from the ForPeat project has been released, highlighting the role of forested peatlands in the climate system and their sustainable management. The video explains how peatlands function as major carbon sinks, but can become significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions when drained or intensively managed. It also provides an overview of the project’s objectives and the need for science-based solutions to reduce environmental impacts. Watch the video here.

  • Tartu University Open Doors Day (26.02.26)

Our working group participated in the Tartu University Open Doors Day with an exciting workshop titled “What Do Plants Breathe? Come See the Invisible!”. The workshop took place in a unique and interesting atmosphere — inside a bomb shelter — adding an extra layer of curiosity and engagement for visitors.

During the workshop, we discussed and demonstrated the properties of carbon dioxide and methane to visitors. We provided detailed explanations and hands-on demonstrations of how we perform chamber measurements during our fieldwork to estimate greenhouse gas fluxes. Especially enthusiastic participants even had the chance to try on some of our fieldwork equipment.

In the final practical part of the workshop, participants were challenged to identify different types of natural water in various containers. To assist them, we provided our water chemistry measurement device, which displayed multiple water parameters such as oxygen content, conductivity, pH, and more.

To wrap up, we discussed the activities of our working group, shared insights on university life in general, and discussed our personal experiences in research.

The workshop was led by Jürgen, Joosep, Ilona, and Annabel.

You can read more about the event here.

  • Our Working Group at the Maarjavälja Career Day (18.02.26)

For the first time, institutes and their research groups were invited to participate in the university-organized Maarjavälja Career Day. Naturally, our working group was pleased to participate and showcase our research activities at the event. Our team was represented by Annabel and Lii.

The aim of the Career Day is to introduce students in the fields of natural sciences and technology to a wide range of career opportunities. During the event, we were primarily looking for motivated students interested in writing their Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD theses within our group. In addition, we also offered internship opportunities.

The day was a great success — we had the opportunity to meet many enthusiastic and curious students and to introduce them to our research topics and ongoing projects.

You can read more about the event here.

  • Annual Writing Retreat at Kääriku Sports Center (16.-18.02.26)

Our team once again gathered at the Kääriku Sports Center for our traditional annual doctoral writing retreat — a focused event dedicated primarily to advancing PhD manuscripts and dissertation work, alongside ongoing research papers.

Several studies are currently in progress. Our Professor Kuno continues working on finalizing his paper on methane (CH₄) dynamics in savanna ecosystems. Ilona has started drafting a new global methane manuscript focusing on flux drivers in free-surface water ecosystems. Kadir is nearing completion of his study addressing energy and water balance in abandoned peat extraction areas and restored peatlands.

Research on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from drainage ditches is also progressing. Joosep is analysing ditch GHG fluxes before and after ditch reconstruction works. In parallel, Jürgen is finalizing a paper on changes in water quality following peatland forest drainage ditch reconstruction, together with potential mitigation measures.

We are also pleased to highlight that Isaac has officially begun working on his PhD thesis during the retreat.

As always, the retreat combined focused writing sessions with sports activities and sauna — keeping both mind and body energized throughout the process.

FutureScapes – ForPeat – REWET

Nitrogen management takes a major step forward in Europe

NitroScope project launches in Ghent

Nitrogen is a cornerstone of agricultural productivity, yet its excessive use continues to harm soil health, water quality, and climate. To address this challenge, the NitroScope project officially kicked off with a two-day meeting at Ghent University. The project aims to advance the quantification, management, and conservation of nitrogen fluxes across Europe, helping farmers and policymakers adopt more sustainable practices.

Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is a central goal of the European Green Deal. However, soil-derived gaseous nitrogen emissions from agriculture are often overlooked due to challenges in monitoring.

Kick-off meeting overview

Hosted by the coordinating partner Ghent University, the meeting brought together representatives from 25 partner organisations across Europe, including universities, research centres, and industry leaders. Over 50 experts from 15 countries convened to align on a shared vision for monitoring and reducing nitrogen losses from European soils.

Throughout the two days, the consortium:

  • Addressed the NitroScope objectives and methodologies, focusing on the reduction of nitrogen losses from agriculture and improving nitrogen use efficiency.
  • Outlined the deployment of innovative sensing technologies, including multi-sensor soil platforms and remote sensing, across over 100 data collection sites and 5 pilot sites, representing Europe’s diverse pedo-climatic zones.
  • Discussed multi-actor engagement strategies to involve farmers, advisors, and policymakers in monitoring nitrogen fluxes and co-developing sustainable management practices.

NitroScope objectives

NitroScope’s ambition is to provide systemic solutions for better quantification and management of nitrogen fluxes, from the field to the continental scale. The project will:

  • Develop and validate sensor-based tools and models to monitor nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions in real time.
  • Create a European nitrogen database and cloud platform, ensuring open access and harmonisation of soil, crop, and emission data.
  • Design farm management add-ons integrated into existing decision support systems to help farmers optimise fertiliser application with precise temporal and spatial accuracy.
  • Update the European nitrogen budget, for the first time in over two decades, using new data and advanced modelling.
  • Deliver policy recommendations supporting the EU Green Deal, the Soil Strategy for 2030, and the Nitrates Directive.

Kick off meeting outcomes

The kick-off meeting established a comprehensive action plan, clarifying technical milestones, stakeholder engagement timelines, and communication activities. The partners also agreed on the strategy for the NitroScope five pilot sites, located in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, and Greece, which will test precision nitrogen management and conservation practices tailored to local conditions.

“NitroScope will generate the most detailed picture yet of Europe’s nitrogen flows, helping farmers and decision-makers take concrete steps toward sustainable soil management,” said Professor Abdul Mouazen at Ghent University, and coordinator of NitroScope. “By combining cutting-edge science with practical tools, we aim to make nitrogen efficiency a reality across Europe”.

Next steps

In the coming months, NitroScope partners will begin deploying sensors, establishing farm networks, and setting up the project’s cloud-based database. Early findings on nitrogen flux patterns and management practices are expected in mid-2026, contributing to Europe’s transition towards climate-smart and resilient agriculture.

Project consortium

Ghent University
Hahn-Schickard
Walloon Agricultural Research Center
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
University of Helsinki
University of Tartu
Technical University of Crete
Agricultural University of Athens
Ca Colonna Società Agricola
FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
University of Edinburgh
NGO Soil Protection
Institute for Development and Innovation
Prinsus
University of Kaiserslautern-Landau
EarthDaily Agro
Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops
Cesens Technologies
ena Development Consultants
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Agroscope

For further information, you may contact the project coordinator, Professor Abdul Mouazen, and the communication manager, Mrs Zafeiro Vaxevanidou at info@nitroscope.eu

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