SDG 15 - Life on Land - 2. SUPPORTING LAND ECOSYSTEM THROUGH ACTION - Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
SDG 15 - Life on Land
SDG 15 - Life on Land - 2. SUPPORTING LAND ECOSYSTEM THROUGH ACTION
Last modified: 23. November 2025
2. SUPPORTING LAND ECOSYSTEM THROUGH ACTION
2.1. Sustainable use, conservation and restoration of land
MATE’s Commitment to the European Landscape Convention
MATE proudly complies with the European Landscape Convention, which aims to protect, manage, and plan landscapes across Europe, encompassing natural, rural, urban, and peri-urban areas. This alignment emphasizes MATE’s dedication to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, mountains, and agricultural lands associated with the university. Through this commitment, MATE enhances its policies on biodiversity and ecological stewardship, contributing to a more sustainable environment for future generations.
The Permachile Project: Climate Change Monitoring in the Chilean Andes
The Permachile project, involving professors from MATE University, studies climate change impacts, focusing on glaciology and permafrost in the Chilean Andes. Research conducted in 2022/23 also examined the effects of environmental changes on large carnivores. This interdisciplinary project aids in understanding ecosystem dynamics in high-altitude regions.
For more details, visit the https://permachile.com/en/website:
Sharper El Niño Forecasts for a Changing Climate
The research at MATE explores advanced climate‑modeling methods to improve predictions of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). By enhancing forecasting techniques, the project aims to increase lead times and accuracy, which is crucial for understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate change on global weather patterns. Better El Niño forecasts could help in preparing for extreme climate events such as droughts and floods, and support more resilient adaptation and mitigation strategies in sectors like agriculture, water management, and environmental conservation.
A breakthrough forecast model that delivers the most accurate ENSO predictions to date, and the data-driven seasonal forecast can be accessed here:
Data‑Driven Cattle Diagnostic
The project titled “Data‑Driven Cattle Diagnostic Decision Support System Integrating the Effects of Climate Change”, carried out in a consortium led by Béke Agrár Ltd. with MATE as a partner, aims to develop an advanced monitoring system for cattle. This system enables more precise tracking of herds by integrating multiple physiological parameters, including heart rate variability, body temperature, movement, and location. Unlike existing solutions, it is designed to operate reliably even under heat stress, offering continuous, lifelong monitoring of stress via heart rhythm analysis. Using wireless sensors placed in the animals’ ears, the system digitally collects and streams data to a central hub, where predictive algorithms interpret the information and present actionable insights to farmers through a user‑friendly interface. It can predict heat stress, detect diseases early, and reliably forecast estrus and calving. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve animal welfare and productivity, especially in large dairy operations, by enabling real-time, stress-aware herd management.
https://palyazatok.uni-mate.hu/en/GINOP_PLUSZ-2.1.1-21-2022-00164
Flagship Research Groups’ projects related to regenerative agricultural practices
The “Nature Based AgriEcosystem Restoration Research Group” research group at MATE focuses on the intersection of biology, agriculture, and ecology, emphasizing regenerative grazing as a method to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Using an interdisciplinary approach that includes zoologists, botanists, microbiologists, soil scientists, and animal husbandry experts, the team studies how local mixed herds can restore ecosystems while maintaining agricultural productivity. Their long-term research provides science-based insights and practical guidelines for sustainable land use, balancing ecological integrity with farm productivity.
https://vadgazdalkodas.uni-mate.hu/mate-kiemelt-kutatocsoportok-program-2024
Over the past century, agricultural industrialization has prioritized productivity through chemicals and mechanization, often degrading soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. MATE’s "Regeneratve Agricultural Technologies" research group evaluates regenerative agricultural practices—such as reduced or zero tillage, longer mulch coverage, and cover crops maintaining living roots—by monitoring soil properties, water regimes, climatic conditions, crop productivity, stress levels, yield quality, and phytosanitary status, compared with conventional fields across different pedoclimatic settings. This multidisciplinary study highlights how regenerative practices enhance resilience, sustainability, and climate neutrality, supporting European policies like the Farm to Fork, Biodiversity, and Soil Strategies, the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, and the European Green Deal, while advancing MATE’s research priorities in sustainable resource use, biodiversity preservation, and climate adaptation.
https://research.uni-mate.hu/w/regeneratve-agricultural-technologies-research-group
The “Environmental Fate and Ecotoxicity Assessment” research group at MATE studies the occurrence, persistence, and effects of microcontaminants from agriculture and other human activities, aiming to protect environmental and food safety. Using innovative methods like laser-induced fluorescence and enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassays, the team monitors pollutants in soils, water, and waste systems, evaluates their ecotoxicity, and develops comprehensive databases. By integrating chemistry, ecology, toxicology, and analytical sciences, the group provides actionable insights for sustainable pollutant management and circular economy approaches.
https://research.uni-mate.hu/hu/w/environmental-fate-and-ecotoxicity-assessment-research-group