By Robin Muehlebach
It was a huge shock for researcher Dr. Eleonora Zickenheiner. The work of many years was suddenly gone: Your entire research field was plundered!
Thieves sabotaged their apple professorship! For many years Dr. Eleonora Zickenheiner on her habilitation at the Humboldt University Berlin. This is about a unique project in her hometown of southern Baden, in which she is investigating how climate change affects old apple varieties.
The agricultural scientist planted and grew 230 trees with 200 different old apple varieties near Lörrach. She was able to carefully collect the plants from farmers, gene databases and pomology associations.
This photo shows a small portion of the crop a week before it was stolen Photo: Michael Hahn
The researcher, who is married to former Bundestag member Gerhard Zickenheiner (62, Green Party), told BZ: “Since 2021, I have been examining every single fruit during the harvest and recording quality, color or possible insect damage and fungal diseases.”
The police are looking for the thieves
The research results of the South Baden native are valuable: This makes it easier to assess which varieties promise better yields in which regions. In addition, Dr. Eleonora Zickenheiner the allergy tolerance of the different apple genera.
On Saturday she wanted to start this year’s harvest and was stunned: the lock on the garden gate had been broken. There were hardly any apples left on the trees.
The researcher has now hung a surveillance camera on her apple orchard Photo: Michael Hahn
Chief Inspector Benjamin Woldert (41): “We estimate that the unknown perpetrators captured around 400 kilos of apples and transported them away in a vehicle.” Officials at the police station in Weil am Rhein are investigating.
A successful search would be little consolation for the apple researcher who was stolen: “The theft has left a large gap in my research work. I had hoped to finish my habilitation by the end of 2028. This will now be delayed by at least a year.”
The president of the Baden Farmers’ Association (BLHV), Bernhard Bolkart (60), is horrified: “I hope that this great research project does not fail because of this act – and that the police can quickly catch the perpetrators.”
Who saw anything? Who can say anything about the brazen thieves? Information to the police at ☎ 07621/97970.