Blog

2025 / 07

Erika Quendler presented to South Korean Delegation

On 7 July 2025, a delegation from the Jeonam Province Rural Women Leaders Federation in South Korea visited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management in Vienna. The event served as a platform for international knowledge exchange on youth and women in agriculture. Dr Erika Quendler, Senior Researcher at the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics and Mountain Research, was invited as a speaker. In her presentation...

Participation in 28th Congress of the Austrian Association for Sociology (ÖGS)

From June 30 to July 2, 2025, the 28th Congress of the Austrian Sociological Association (ÖGS) took place at the University of Graz. Under the theme "The Climate of Society", the congress explored the current state of social climate and the role sociology can play in addressing the climate crisis. Katrin Hofer and Somaye Latifi participated on the first day of the congress. The event was officially opened by Alexander Bogner, President of the ÖGS. The opening keynote lecture was delivered...

2025 / 06

Conference report: IFCN Dairy Conference 2025

The International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) invited dairy researchers from all over the world to its 26th Dairy Conference in the Netherlands. The theme of this year's conference was ‘Future dairy farming systems: resilience as a path to sustainability’. The event took place in Leeuwarden, a key hub for innovation and research in the dairy industry in the Netherlands, which plays a central role in promoting sustainable and efficient dairy farming practices. The event took place from...

SERIGO case study Verein Silbersberg: Field research at Quellenhof

From 2 to 4 June, Somaye Latifi and Katrin Hofer were in Schwarzau im Gebirge to collect data for their individual case study on the Silbersberg Association. They spent two days at the association’s Quellenhof farm and one afternoon at its main site in Gloggnitz. Currently, six men with varying degrees of intellectual disability live at Quellenhof. Together with caregivers and day clients who commute daily from Gloggnitz to the Höllental, they carry out the farm’s agricultural work....

Persistency of the shrinkage challenge in eastern Germany, legacy effects and limited policy impact

The article is a contribution to the Special Issue of the Journal of Rural Studies ‘Beyond Competitiveness - Place-based understandings of narratives of rural shrinking, and post-growths goals as points of departure for more appropriate strategies’ and can be downloaded free of charge until 1 August 2025 at the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1lFh%7E2eyKFzBMq The article is based on the empirical results of a study region in Saxony-Anhalt (DE), which was examined as part...

RUSTIK Project Meeting in Joensuu, Finland

From June 3 to 5, 2025, the consortium of the EU Horizon project RUSTIK gathered in Joensuu, Finland, for its fourth project meeting. Around 50 participants from the 14 Living Labs and scientific partner institutions came together to discuss insights and methodological approaches for shaping rural transformation pathways. From BAB, the colleagues Ingrid Machold, Karin Schroll, and Daria Ernst took part in the meeting. Day 1 The first day focused on the 14 Living Labs. Results, experiences...

2025 / 05

The Second SERIGO Consortium Meeting in Maribor

From May 6th to 8th, Georg Wiesinger, Somaye Latifi and Katrin Hofer took part at the second in-person progress meeting of the HORIZON+ SERIGO project in Maribor, Slovenia. This meeting gathering brought together over 30 academic and pilot partners, the latter attending a face-to-face meeting for the first time. The aim of the meeting was to get to better know all project partners, to foster closer collaboration and mutual understanding between theory and practice. Over the course of three...

Invitation to the workshop: Ecosystem services in agriculture and forestry

We are pleased to invite you to the scientific workshop “Quantification and Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Agriculture and Forestry Data, Scientific Methods & Policy Instruments” Date: 27 June 2025 Time: 9:00 – 14:00 Location: Federal Institute of Agricultura Economics, Rural and Mountain Research, Dietrichgasse 27, 1030 Vienna, Austria and online Background The main task of agriculture and forestry is the provision of food and renewable raw materials. The targeted production of...

18th World Agritourism Day 2025: What Does Agritourism Mean Globally? Insights from 17 Countries – A presentation.

The 18th World Agritourism Day, held on May 15–16, 2025, focused on the theme “Innovating Agritourism for a Sustainable Future: Empowering Rural Economies and Preserving Cultures.” Organized by the India Agritourism Development Corporation with support from the Global Agritourism Network (GAN), the event highlighted how agritourism can strengthen rural regions, boost local economies, and preserve cultural heritage. A special highlight was a presentation “Agritourism Around the World:...

2025 / 04

Business analysis of staggered transition periods

Business analysis of staggered transition periods to minimum housing standards in pig fattening and piglet rearing Following the annulment of the 2022 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act (TSchG) and the 1st Animal Husbandry Ordinance (THVO) by the Constitutional Court (VfGH), this study conducts a business analysis of staggered transition periods to minimum housing standards in pig fattening and piglet rearing. To evaluate the changes in costs and performance associated with the transition...

RURACTIVE Konsortium-Meeting in Zadar

The annual progress meeting of the RURACTIVE consortium took place in Zadar, Croatia, from 7 to 11 April. The meeting brought together the participating coordination team from Bologna, project partners and regional stakeholders from all over Europe who are committed to innovative and sustainable solutions in rural areas. The focus was on evaluating the progress of the project so far and planning the next steps to promote sustainable and inclusive rural development. The meeting in Zadar...

RURACTIVE - Project video is out!

RURACTIVE strives to support the just and sustainable transition of European rural areas. This video highlights the goals and anticipated impact of the project. It shares the importance of empowering rural communities across Europe through innovation, sustainability, and social inclusion. More on RURACTIVE: www.ruractive.eu RURACTIVE _ Project video is out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10SIfKdrIxc

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