In research and knowledge transfer, the department focuses on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of agricultural and food policies in a globalized world.
For the agricultural and food system in the EU, one of the great challenges of the future is to shape the greening of the agricultural and food industry in open agricultural markets. Corporate diversification, regional path dependencies in the political design of the complex multi-level political framework and in the thinking of many actors lead to a situation in the political field that is conflict-ridden and marked by strong differences in political positions, but also by divergent values and interests.
In this area of conflict, we see it as our task to contribute to an empirically founded and factual discussion with internationally recognized policy field analyses, policy impact assessments and knowledge transfer and to show design options for changes and their effects.
The three main topics of our research are:
- Analysis and design of political processes
- Analyses related to the sustainable transformation of the agricultural and food system in open markets
- Policy impact assessment on the design and impact of agricultural and food policies in the context of international trade, regional integration, food safety and animal health
Even if there is a regional focus on European agricultural policy, we are also intensively involved in a coherent design of EU-Africa relations in the agricultural and food-related nexus of agricultural, development, environmental and trade policy. We take into account the internationality of our students and the University of Hohenheim as a whole by our vested interest in agricultural and food policies in countries of Central Asia, China, Brazil, specific African countries or the USA.
Our methodology is broadly based and we apply qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a focus on econometric models and simulation models for policy impact assessment.
Information on our research projects can be found here. Information on publications and conference contributions can be found on the staff pages and in the institute's Twitter Feed.
