Climate protection through Torfmoos: Young researchers from Husum starts field trial!

Cornelius Quint, a 21-year-old researcher from Husum in the district of North Friesland, has developed an innovative process to accelerate the growth of peat mosses. His approach is an answer to the challenges of climate change. By rewetting raised bogs in Schleswig-Holstein, he strives to locate Torfmoos, which contributes to the storage of carbon dioxide. Quint received two awards for his idea in the "Jugend Forscht" federal competition in 2022: the special prize of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture as well as the prize for the most original work, donated by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

Although he is currently studying medical studies, Quint is still intensively committed to his project. Together with his family, he made around 100 kilograms of peat moss cubes for the first attempt. These cubes consist of self-bred peat moss, which is covered with a vegetable gelatin replacement and distilled water. The aim is to grow the cubes in the damp bog floor in order to accelerate the resettlement with Torfmoos. The first field trial began on April 23, 2025 in the Offenbüttel Moor in the Dithmarschen district, in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Foundation Schleswig-Holstein, where Quint threw the moss cubes on the prepared test area. A renewed inspection of the site is planned for September 2025 to review initial successes.

one -time free -range attempt for peat moss cultivation

In addition to Quint's work, there are important developments for peat moss cultivation in Germany. In the spring of 2011, a one-time free-range attempt was started to clarify the feasibility of peat moss as a peat replacement in horticulture and to upgrade degraded raised bog locations. This project is carried out by the Universities of Greifswald and Rostock in cooperation with practice partners. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection and aims to reduce the use of peat, since Germany is the largest consumer of peat in Europe and the supplies in West and Central Europe are almost exhausted.

peat moss, such as the Sphagnum, have similar properties such as Weißtorf and are suitable as a cultural substrate. Their cultivation could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by being wet drained bogs again. The resettlement of peat moss could also lead to the revival of the raised bog character and to promote rare animal and plant species. The first successful forerunner projects in the greenhouse and on smaller areas show that peat moss substrates are well suited for decorative plants.