Natural Resourceshttps://bab.gv.at/index.php2024-03-28T10:17:25+01:00Bundesanstalt für Agrarwirtschaft und Bergbauernfragenwebmaster@bab.gv.atJoomla! - Open Source Content ManagementBAB 075/24: GreeNet2024-02-08T13:09:41+01:002024-02-08T13:09:41+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2309:bab-075-24-greenet&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<p>Grassland is valued not only as a source of fodder, but also as a habitat for a variety of plant and animal species and for its aesthetic and cultural value. Nevertheless, ecologically important grassland areas are under threat in many parts of Europe. Conservation measures are required to halt this deterioration. To be effective, these measures must take into account the landscape level.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The main objective of the project is to identify proven and cost-effective conservation measures and their spatial arrangement that enhance and protect the landscape and ensure the long-term resilience of European grasslands to biophysical degradation and adverse socio-economic developments.<br />GreeNet brings together agronomists, agricultural economists, biologists and landscape ecologists to analyze the interaction of conservation measures between fields, farms and the landscape in several European case studies. The results will feed into the scientific debate on resilient landscapes and support policy planners in developing effective strategies to protect biodiversity in European landscapes while maintaining the provision of diverse ecosystem services to local communities and society as a whole.<br /><br />GreeNet develops, modifies and applies a range of ecological methods (e.g. models, indicator assessments) to identify biodiversity and ecosystem service targets and analyze appropriate conservation actions at both field and landscape scales. The integration of results from bioeconomic farm models, the application of a landscape-level action planning model and the application of scenarios for future global change allow the derivation of optimal strategies to maintain or improve the resilience of landscapes. GreeNet will analyze the agricultural perspective by incorporating surveys of conservation decisions at the farm level. Finally, GreeNet will develop proven conservation incentive schemes and management strategies. This and the upscaling of the results to comparable grassland areas in Europe will allow to inform administration and policy makers about the need for protected landscapes and incentive options across Europe. Therefore, stakeholder involvement in several project steps is crucial.</p>
<h3>Planned work 2024</h3>
<p>Management of the international consortium, management of work package 1, survey of farmers (discrete choice experiment); creation and application of a farm model, co-supervision of the AT case study, development of nature conservation measures in agri-environmental programs, supervision of participatory processes</p>
<p>Timetable</p>
<p>roject start: 01.04.2023<br />Project end: 31.03.2026</p>
<p><br /><br />Translated with DeepL.com (free version)</p><p>Grassland is valued not only as a source of fodder, but also as a habitat for a variety of plant and animal species and for its aesthetic and cultural value. Nevertheless, ecologically important grassland areas are under threat in many parts of Europe. Conservation measures are required to halt this deterioration. To be effective, these measures must take into account the landscape level.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The main objective of the project is to identify proven and cost-effective conservation measures and their spatial arrangement that enhance and protect the landscape and ensure the long-term resilience of European grasslands to biophysical degradation and adverse socio-economic developments.<br />GreeNet brings together agronomists, agricultural economists, biologists and landscape ecologists to analyze the interaction of conservation measures between fields, farms and the landscape in several European case studies. The results will feed into the scientific debate on resilient landscapes and support policy planners in developing effective strategies to protect biodiversity in European landscapes while maintaining the provision of diverse ecosystem services to local communities and society as a whole.<br /><br />GreeNet develops, modifies and applies a range of ecological methods (e.g. models, indicator assessments) to identify biodiversity and ecosystem service targets and analyze appropriate conservation actions at both field and landscape scales. The integration of results from bioeconomic farm models, the application of a landscape-level action planning model and the application of scenarios for future global change allow the derivation of optimal strategies to maintain or improve the resilience of landscapes. GreeNet will analyze the agricultural perspective by incorporating surveys of conservation decisions at the farm level. Finally, GreeNet will develop proven conservation incentive schemes and management strategies. This and the upscaling of the results to comparable grassland areas in Europe will allow to inform administration and policy makers about the need for protected landscapes and incentive options across Europe. Therefore, stakeholder involvement in several project steps is crucial.</p>
<h3>Planned work 2024</h3>
<p>Management of the international consortium, management of work package 1, survey of farmers (discrete choice experiment); creation and application of a farm model, co-supervision of the AT case study, development of nature conservation measures in agri-environmental programs, supervision of participatory processes</p>
<p>Timetable</p>
<p>roject start: 01.04.2023<br />Project end: 31.03.2026</p>
<p><br /><br />Translated with DeepL.com (free version)</p>BAB 044/20: The Challenge of Land Abandonment after 2020 and Options for Mitigating Measures2020-07-01T08:45:29+02:002020-07-01T08:45:29+02:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=282:bab-044-20-the-challenge-of-land-abandonment-after-2020-and-options-for-mitigating-measures&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>The problem of abandonment of agricultural land is a central challenge for many European regions in view of the efforts to achieve sustainable development. Within the framework of the work of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, the European Parliament has invited tenders for a study on this topic and selected the joint offer of ÖIR and BAB for implementation. The study is to present an overview of the European situation within the next few months and to put forward alternative courses of action for dealing with the problem.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The loss of agricultural land and the abandonment of cultivation are particularly severe in disadvantaged and especially in mountainous areas. An analysis of the long-term developments and relevant influencing factors seems to be urgent as a basis for adapted policy programs. Through the discussion of the study, the European Parliament intends to contribute to ensuring the positive impact of farming for the preservation of regional agriculture, settlement and ecological development, and to make the interrelationships of large-scale and small-scale impact factors more visible, and to stimulate a comprehensive evaluation of the positive and negative aspects of the abandonment of agricultural land.</p>
<h3>Status of the project and work in 2021</h3>
<p>The project was selected for implementation by the European Parliament at the end of June and is being carried out within the framework of the work of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development. In 2020, the following activities have been carried out:</p>
<ul>
<li>Presentation of the theoretical concept of management abandonment, the different categories of land use change, and the multiple causes and effects of management abandonment (literature review).</li>
<li>Regionalized data analysis of the management task and the threat potential for the next years</li>
<li>Implementation of four European case studies Development of scenarios under different external influences</li>
<li>Policy recommendations and implementation proposals</li>
</ul>
<p>The final report of the study was published at the end of 2020 and is available for download on the website of the European Parliament: <a href="https://bit.ly/39ElcFJ">https://bit.ly/39ElcFJ</a></p>
<h3>Timeline</h3>
<p>Start of the project: July 2020<br />End of the project: March 2021</p>
<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>The problem of abandonment of agricultural land is a central challenge for many European regions in view of the efforts to achieve sustainable development. Within the framework of the work of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, the European Parliament has invited tenders for a study on this topic and selected the joint offer of ÖIR and BAB for implementation. The study is to present an overview of the European situation within the next few months and to put forward alternative courses of action for dealing with the problem.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The loss of agricultural land and the abandonment of cultivation are particularly severe in disadvantaged and especially in mountainous areas. An analysis of the long-term developments and relevant influencing factors seems to be urgent as a basis for adapted policy programs. Through the discussion of the study, the European Parliament intends to contribute to ensuring the positive impact of farming for the preservation of regional agriculture, settlement and ecological development, and to make the interrelationships of large-scale and small-scale impact factors more visible, and to stimulate a comprehensive evaluation of the positive and negative aspects of the abandonment of agricultural land.</p>
<h3>Status of the project and work in 2021</h3>
<p>The project was selected for implementation by the European Parliament at the end of June and is being carried out within the framework of the work of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development. In 2020, the following activities have been carried out:</p>
<ul>
<li>Presentation of the theoretical concept of management abandonment, the different categories of land use change, and the multiple causes and effects of management abandonment (literature review).</li>
<li>Regionalized data analysis of the management task and the threat potential for the next years</li>
<li>Implementation of four European case studies Development of scenarios under different external influences</li>
<li>Policy recommendations and implementation proposals</li>
</ul>
<p>The final report of the study was published at the end of 2020 and is available for download on the website of the European Parliament: <a href="https://bit.ly/39ElcFJ">https://bit.ly/39ElcFJ</a></p>
<h3>Timeline</h3>
<p>Start of the project: July 2020<br />End of the project: March 2021</p>
BAB 040/20: Biophysical processes of agricultural land use in Austria2020-01-01T13:53:12+01:002020-01-01T13:53:12+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=274:bab-040-20-biophysical-processes-of-agricultural-land-use-in-austria&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<h2>modelling and analysis</h2>
<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>In times of climate change and increasingly limited resources, Austrian agriculture is caught between economic efficiency and ecologically sustainable production. In addition to general questions on forms of agricultural land management, changing framework conditions and agricultural policy measures are also of importance. In Austria, a wide range of measures under the ÖPUL agri-environmental program promote environmentally friendly farming. There are numerous interactions between the different economic and ecological sub-areas of the agricultural, environmental and food systems, which can result in conflicts of objectives but also synergy effects. <br />In addition to theoretical, conceptual considerations, quantitative methods can also be helpful in demonstrating these complex interrelationships. For example, mathematical models for the simulation of plant growth (crop models) depict biophysical processes such as biomass production, nutrient cycles, soil water balance and erosion. With the help of model scenarios and depending on the site conditions, relationships between plant yields and management measures as well as the environmental effects of cultivation can be analyzed. In addition to the complex and data-intensive crop models, there are a number of other quantitative methods with varying degrees of detail, data requirements and explanatory potential.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The aim of the project is to develop an analytical concept for the investigation of negative and positive environmental effects of agricultural land use and, conversely, the effects of current and expected future ecological framework conditions on agricultural land use. This concept should include a theoretical framework based on a systematic approach, a database consisting of relevant data and indicators as well as a selection of methods for quantitative analysis. Adapted to regional conditions and equipped with a certain flexibility, the analysis concept can be a valuable basis for decision-making for a variety of questions in the agri-environmental sector.</p>
<h3>Status of the project</h3>
<p>For the theoretical framework, an extensive collection of literature was compiled and substantive and methodological knowledge was acquired as part of the projects "Systemic considerations in the agricultural, environmental and food sector" (BAB 056/22) and "Economic studies and consultation in connection with the OECD and WTO" (BAB 003/86).Data on the environmental effects of agricultural land use, such as those on natural conditions like topography, soil quality and meteorological data, as well as on management measures like crop rotation, irrigation, tillage and the use of fertilizers and pesticides were taken from various data sources (including the BML geodata catalog) and compiled on a site-specific basis.</p>
<p>In the area of methods, an overview was gained of the open source crop models used in research, which differ from one another in terms of model scope, data requirements and implementation, among other things.<br />In addition, research was carried out into statistical methods. While the large data requirements of crop models, which are sometimes difficult to fulfill, can also be a source of uncertainty, the statistical methods used in this thermal area are usually less data-intensive, but often less detailed and designed in the form of a black box, i.e. without replicating the causal relationships. Information was also collected on methods that combine models and statistical procedures, as well as on the integration of remote sensing as a data source. An initial selection of these methods was studied and tested in detail.</p>
<h3>Work 2024</h3>
<p>For the theoretical framework, the information acquired as part of the projects "Systemic considerations in the agricultural, environmental and food sector" (BAB 056/22) and "Economic studies and advice in connection with the OECD and WTO" (BAB 003/86) is to be compiled and supplemented in order to be able to present relevant processes, interactions, framework conditions and system boundaries at a conceptual level.</p>
<p>The database is to be further completed and expanded into a clear reference work for data and indicators in the agri-environmental sector that can also be used for other projects. Fundamental considerations on data quality, limitations of existing indicators, data gaps and possible further developments, especially with regard to remote sensing, are also to be made.Time series of satellite data (sentinel) can provide information about growth periods or plant vitality, for example, with the help of calculated indices.For a higher resolution, aerial photographs can be used if necessary.The considerations regarding the database should also refer to the data requirements to be expected in the future, which could arise, for example, due to stronger regulations or the increasingly results-based design of measures.</p>
<p>In the area of methods, the strengths, weaknesses and requirements of various methods and possible combinations are to be examined, compared and assessed with regard to the purpose of the project.<br />The possibility of using remote sensing to close data gaps and improve the accuracy of the methods will also be investigated.The first step will be to analyze data availability and data quality.In the second step, the methodological approach and technical solutions with which remote sensing data can be used sensibly will be explored.Finally, the methods that appear to be suitable for the project will be implemented and parameterized in order of increasing complexity and then compared in terms of detail, data requirements and availability as well as accuracy of the results. Among other things, the revenue data of the accounting companies are available for validation.</p>
<p>The analysis concept developed is intended to illustrate relationships between agricultural soil use and environmental effects from a systemic perspective and, where possible, to analyze them quantitatively.An initial analysis could deal with the effects of regionally increased drought on yields, growing seasons and soil properties.In addition, cooperation and combination possibilities with the "Model System" project (BAB 009/04), in which, among other things, a database and models or methods for answering economic questions, especially at the interface between agriculture and the environment, are being developed, should be examined.This would possibly contribute to a more comprehensive ecological-economic approach.</p>
<h3>Timetable</h3>
<p>Project start: 01/2020<br />Project end: 12/2024</p>
<p> </p>
<p><small>This text has been automatically translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator.</small></p><h2>modelling and analysis</h2>
<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>In times of climate change and increasingly limited resources, Austrian agriculture is caught between economic efficiency and ecologically sustainable production. In addition to general questions on forms of agricultural land management, changing framework conditions and agricultural policy measures are also of importance. In Austria, a wide range of measures under the ÖPUL agri-environmental program promote environmentally friendly farming. There are numerous interactions between the different economic and ecological sub-areas of the agricultural, environmental and food systems, which can result in conflicts of objectives but also synergy effects. <br />In addition to theoretical, conceptual considerations, quantitative methods can also be helpful in demonstrating these complex interrelationships. For example, mathematical models for the simulation of plant growth (crop models) depict biophysical processes such as biomass production, nutrient cycles, soil water balance and erosion. With the help of model scenarios and depending on the site conditions, relationships between plant yields and management measures as well as the environmental effects of cultivation can be analyzed. In addition to the complex and data-intensive crop models, there are a number of other quantitative methods with varying degrees of detail, data requirements and explanatory potential.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The aim of the project is to develop an analytical concept for the investigation of negative and positive environmental effects of agricultural land use and, conversely, the effects of current and expected future ecological framework conditions on agricultural land use. This concept should include a theoretical framework based on a systematic approach, a database consisting of relevant data and indicators as well as a selection of methods for quantitative analysis. Adapted to regional conditions and equipped with a certain flexibility, the analysis concept can be a valuable basis for decision-making for a variety of questions in the agri-environmental sector.</p>
<h3>Status of the project</h3>
<p>For the theoretical framework, an extensive collection of literature was compiled and substantive and methodological knowledge was acquired as part of the projects "Systemic considerations in the agricultural, environmental and food sector" (BAB 056/22) and "Economic studies and consultation in connection with the OECD and WTO" (BAB 003/86).Data on the environmental effects of agricultural land use, such as those on natural conditions like topography, soil quality and meteorological data, as well as on management measures like crop rotation, irrigation, tillage and the use of fertilizers and pesticides were taken from various data sources (including the BML geodata catalog) and compiled on a site-specific basis.</p>
<p>In the area of methods, an overview was gained of the open source crop models used in research, which differ from one another in terms of model scope, data requirements and implementation, among other things.<br />In addition, research was carried out into statistical methods. While the large data requirements of crop models, which are sometimes difficult to fulfill, can also be a source of uncertainty, the statistical methods used in this thermal area are usually less data-intensive, but often less detailed and designed in the form of a black box, i.e. without replicating the causal relationships. Information was also collected on methods that combine models and statistical procedures, as well as on the integration of remote sensing as a data source. An initial selection of these methods was studied and tested in detail.</p>
<h3>Work 2024</h3>
<p>For the theoretical framework, the information acquired as part of the projects "Systemic considerations in the agricultural, environmental and food sector" (BAB 056/22) and "Economic studies and advice in connection with the OECD and WTO" (BAB 003/86) is to be compiled and supplemented in order to be able to present relevant processes, interactions, framework conditions and system boundaries at a conceptual level.</p>
<p>The database is to be further completed and expanded into a clear reference work for data and indicators in the agri-environmental sector that can also be used for other projects. Fundamental considerations on data quality, limitations of existing indicators, data gaps and possible further developments, especially with regard to remote sensing, are also to be made.Time series of satellite data (sentinel) can provide information about growth periods or plant vitality, for example, with the help of calculated indices.For a higher resolution, aerial photographs can be used if necessary.The considerations regarding the database should also refer to the data requirements to be expected in the future, which could arise, for example, due to stronger regulations or the increasingly results-based design of measures.</p>
<p>In the area of methods, the strengths, weaknesses and requirements of various methods and possible combinations are to be examined, compared and assessed with regard to the purpose of the project.<br />The possibility of using remote sensing to close data gaps and improve the accuracy of the methods will also be investigated.The first step will be to analyze data availability and data quality.In the second step, the methodological approach and technical solutions with which remote sensing data can be used sensibly will be explored.Finally, the methods that appear to be suitable for the project will be implemented and parameterized in order of increasing complexity and then compared in terms of detail, data requirements and availability as well as accuracy of the results. Among other things, the revenue data of the accounting companies are available for validation.</p>
<p>The analysis concept developed is intended to illustrate relationships between agricultural soil use and environmental effects from a systemic perspective and, where possible, to analyze them quantitatively.An initial analysis could deal with the effects of regionally increased drought on yields, growing seasons and soil properties.In addition, cooperation and combination possibilities with the "Model System" project (BAB 009/04), in which, among other things, a database and models or methods for answering economic questions, especially at the interface between agriculture and the environment, are being developed, should be examined.This would possibly contribute to a more comprehensive ecological-economic approach.</p>
<h3>Timetable</h3>
<p>Project start: 01/2020<br />Project end: 12/2024</p>
<p> </p>
<p><small>This text has been automatically translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator.</small></p>BAB 032/19: APCC Special Report Land Use, Land Management and Climate Change2019-09-02T16:50:00+02:002019-09-02T16:50:00+02:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=258:bab-032-19-apcc-special-report-land-use-land-management-and-climate-change&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>Land use is very closely linked to climate. On a global scale, land use is a key driver of climate change, but at the same time is strongly influenced by changes in climate conditions. Global land use is particularly associated with unprecedented sustainability challenges, such as the maintenance of food security, the loss of biodiversity or the deteriorating state of ecosystems. On the other hand, ecosystems have relevant means for climate protection, e.g. through the ability of plants to sequester and store large amounts of CO2. The 1.5 degrees report of the IPCC (2018) argues that the development and implementation of such land-based climate change mitigation strategies will be crucial for the future of socio-economic developments. Also in Austria, rural ecosystems are already strongly influenced by climate change, e.g. through higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme events.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The APCC Special Report on Land Use, Land Management and Climate Change will systematically review, summarise and assess the current state of knowledge. An open process will be developed and followed, allowing the entire Austrian community of researchers and experts in the field of land system research to actively contribute to it.<br />Austrian agriculture and forestry are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change. For both sectors, different effects on productivity are known, which make self-sufficient food production increasingly difficult. One challenge is to develop adaptation strategies that do not impede climate protection or even lead to higher emissions. The Special Report will present the impacts of climate change in Austria on land use - and vice versa. Furthermore, the future role of land use for climate change adaptation and mitigation will be presented and mapped with relevant socio-economic and ecological contexts. </p>
<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>Land use is very closely linked to climate. On a global scale, land use is a key driver of climate change, but at the same time is strongly influenced by changes in climate conditions. Global land use is particularly associated with unprecedented sustainability challenges, such as the maintenance of food security, the loss of biodiversity or the deteriorating state of ecosystems. On the other hand, ecosystems have relevant means for climate protection, e.g. through the ability of plants to sequester and store large amounts of CO2. The 1.5 degrees report of the IPCC (2018) argues that the development and implementation of such land-based climate change mitigation strategies will be crucial for the future of socio-economic developments. Also in Austria, rural ecosystems are already strongly influenced by climate change, e.g. through higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme events.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The APCC Special Report on Land Use, Land Management and Climate Change will systematically review, summarise and assess the current state of knowledge. An open process will be developed and followed, allowing the entire Austrian community of researchers and experts in the field of land system research to actively contribute to it.<br />Austrian agriculture and forestry are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change. For both sectors, different effects on productivity are known, which make self-sufficient food production increasingly difficult. One challenge is to develop adaptation strategies that do not impede climate protection or even lead to higher emissions. The Special Report will present the impacts of climate change in Austria on land use - and vice versa. Furthermore, the future role of land use for climate change adaptation and mitigation will be presented and mapped with relevant socio-economic and ecological contexts. </p>
BAB 018/19: Organic Crop Yields2019-01-02T10:49:13+01:002019-01-02T10:49:13+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=230:bab-018-19-organic-crop-yields&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>Organic farming has been an important part of agricultural production in Austria for many years. Around 25% of agricultural land is currently farmed organically. The BML is making efforts to promote and further develop organic farming by focusing on specific measures. Information on area yields of the various crops as well as total quantities, local differences, potential demand and actual yield differences compared to conventional production are fundamental to this. In 2016, the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics carried out and published special evaluations and projections on this topic for the period 2003-2015 in the scientific project AWI/54/16 W: Yields from organic farming. This time series has been continuously updated since then.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The aim of the project is to present Austria-wide volume yields from organic farming. Based on existing data, specific evaluations are to be carried out according to regions (dry, occasionally dry and wetlands) and main agricultural production areas. Existing data sets will be supplemented to provide an overview of the quantities produced in organic farming and thus improve the availability of statistical information in organic production.</p>
<h3>Work 2023</h3>
<p>For the Green Report 2023, the harvest quantities of selected organic crops and the organic yields per hectare were calculated and published in tabular form. Evaluations were also carried out for the project "Crop contributions and data bases for farm planning" (BAB/015/10). While the allocation of the farming method in previous years was based on the information provided by the farmers, since 2021 the organically farmed areas have been identified via participation in the "Organic farming method" measure according to INVEKOS.</p>
<h3>Work in 2024</h3>
<p>A calculation of organic yields and the relative differences to conventional yields per hectare is also planned for 2024 in accordance with the methodology and presentation developed in the AWI/54/16 W scientific project.</p>
<h3>Initial situation</h3>
<p>Organic farming has been an important part of agricultural production in Austria for many years. Around 25% of agricultural land is currently farmed organically. The BML is making efforts to promote and further develop organic farming by focusing on specific measures. Information on area yields of the various crops as well as total quantities, local differences, potential demand and actual yield differences compared to conventional production are fundamental to this. In 2016, the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics carried out and published special evaluations and projections on this topic for the period 2003-2015 in the scientific project AWI/54/16 W: Yields from organic farming. This time series has been continuously updated since then.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>The aim of the project is to present Austria-wide volume yields from organic farming. Based on existing data, specific evaluations are to be carried out according to regions (dry, occasionally dry and wetlands) and main agricultural production areas. Existing data sets will be supplemented to provide an overview of the quantities produced in organic farming and thus improve the availability of statistical information in organic production.</p>
<h3>Work 2023</h3>
<p>For the Green Report 2023, the harvest quantities of selected organic crops and the organic yields per hectare were calculated and published in tabular form. Evaluations were also carried out for the project "Crop contributions and data bases for farm planning" (BAB/015/10). While the allocation of the farming method in previous years was based on the information provided by the farmers, since 2021 the organically farmed areas have been identified via participation in the "Organic farming method" measure according to INVEKOS.</p>
<h3>Work in 2024</h3>
<p>A calculation of organic yields and the relative differences to conventional yields per hectare is also planned for 2024 in accordance with the methodology and presentation developed in the AWI/54/16 W scientific project.</p>
AWI/59/18 W: Ongoing evaluation of the Rural Development Programme 2014-20202018-01-03T11:24:53+01:002018-01-03T11:24:53+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2058:awi-59-18-w-ongoing-evaluation-of-the-rural-development-programme-2014-2020&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<p><strong>Coordination of “Evaluation Package E”, focus areas “Improving water management“ (4B) and “Preventing soil erosion and improving soil management” (4C) in the Austrian Agri-environment Programme</strong></p>
<p>Initial situation<br />The Federal Institute for Agriculture was involved in various stages of the evaluations of the previous rural development programmes as well as in the ex ante evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme. Therefore, it has expertise in various areas of the programme, which is now being used to support the BMNT in the planning and implementation of the evaluation as a member of the evaluation team. For the evaluation of LE 14-20, the BMNT has grouped certain priority areas or assigned project types into so-called "evaluation packages". The Federal Institute for Agricultural Economics has taken over the evaluation of various evaluation packages and contributed to the preparation of the first extended implementation report (SFC report) for the European Commission as well as the national evaluation report in 2017.</p>
<p><br />Objective<br />The aim of the project is to coordinate and support the work of the BMNT on the accompanying evaluation of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 in accordance with the requirements and recommendations of the European Commission within the framework of the "Evaluation Package E". Based on the experience gained so far, the evaluation for the extended implementation report (in SFC format) for the European Commission as well as for the national detailed report for the year 2019 will be prepared and carried out within the framework of the project. In particular, the evaluation questions specified by the European Commission will be answered and the corresponding indicators quantified.<br />The "Evaluation Package E" comprises the coordination of the priority areas 4B (improvement of water management, including the use of fertilisers and pesticides) and 4C (prevention of soil erosion and improvement of soil management) for selected and substantively related project types of the ÖPUL programme as well as project type 7.6.1 (support and investments for the conservation of natural heritage); see table below. In addition, other project types with impacts on these two priority areas are assigned, which are evaluated by other persons from the evaluation team and with whom coordination takes place in the preparation of the extended implementation report (in SFC format).</p>
<p>Status of the project<br />In 2018, mainly coordinative and preparatory work took place with regard to the preparation of the Extended Implementation Report and the National Detailed Report for the reporting year 2019. The activities mainly comprised the organisation of the evaluation of priority areas 4B and 4C in coordination with the evaluation team of these two priority areas. This includes data management, preparation of the report, support for the evaluators of priority areas 4B and 4C, cooperation with coordinators and evaluators of other evaluation packages or cross-cutting themes and other institutions (e.g. AMA, WIFO).</p>
<p>Work in 2019<br />The activities within the project include the coordination of the "Evaluation Package E" with the following tasks:<br />- Coordination of the technical evaluation to answer the evaluation questions concerning the project types with regard to the priority areas 4B and 4C, supported by evaluators and evaluation studies;<br />- Providing texts and evaluations for the extended annual implementation report 2019 and the national detailed report 2019;<br />- Providing support for the evaluation studies commissioned under Priority Areas 4B and 4C;<br />- Contact person for the coordinators and evaluators of the other evaluation packages to answer questions arising from overlaps in content, as well as contact person for the bodies responsible for priorities or cross-cutting themes (persons responsible for measures in the BMNT and other research institutions).</p>
<p>Schedule<br />Project start: January 2018<br />End of project: December 2019</p><p><strong>Coordination of “Evaluation Package E”, focus areas “Improving water management“ (4B) and “Preventing soil erosion and improving soil management” (4C) in the Austrian Agri-environment Programme</strong></p>
<p>Initial situation<br />The Federal Institute for Agriculture was involved in various stages of the evaluations of the previous rural development programmes as well as in the ex ante evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme. Therefore, it has expertise in various areas of the programme, which is now being used to support the BMNT in the planning and implementation of the evaluation as a member of the evaluation team. For the evaluation of LE 14-20, the BMNT has grouped certain priority areas or assigned project types into so-called "evaluation packages". The Federal Institute for Agricultural Economics has taken over the evaluation of various evaluation packages and contributed to the preparation of the first extended implementation report (SFC report) for the European Commission as well as the national evaluation report in 2017.</p>
<p><br />Objective<br />The aim of the project is to coordinate and support the work of the BMNT on the accompanying evaluation of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 in accordance with the requirements and recommendations of the European Commission within the framework of the "Evaluation Package E". Based on the experience gained so far, the evaluation for the extended implementation report (in SFC format) for the European Commission as well as for the national detailed report for the year 2019 will be prepared and carried out within the framework of the project. In particular, the evaluation questions specified by the European Commission will be answered and the corresponding indicators quantified.<br />The "Evaluation Package E" comprises the coordination of the priority areas 4B (improvement of water management, including the use of fertilisers and pesticides) and 4C (prevention of soil erosion and improvement of soil management) for selected and substantively related project types of the ÖPUL programme as well as project type 7.6.1 (support and investments for the conservation of natural heritage); see table below. In addition, other project types with impacts on these two priority areas are assigned, which are evaluated by other persons from the evaluation team and with whom coordination takes place in the preparation of the extended implementation report (in SFC format).</p>
<p>Status of the project<br />In 2018, mainly coordinative and preparatory work took place with regard to the preparation of the Extended Implementation Report and the National Detailed Report for the reporting year 2019. The activities mainly comprised the organisation of the evaluation of priority areas 4B and 4C in coordination with the evaluation team of these two priority areas. This includes data management, preparation of the report, support for the evaluators of priority areas 4B and 4C, cooperation with coordinators and evaluators of other evaluation packages or cross-cutting themes and other institutions (e.g. AMA, WIFO).</p>
<p>Work in 2019<br />The activities within the project include the coordination of the "Evaluation Package E" with the following tasks:<br />- Coordination of the technical evaluation to answer the evaluation questions concerning the project types with regard to the priority areas 4B and 4C, supported by evaluators and evaluation studies;<br />- Providing texts and evaluations for the extended annual implementation report 2019 and the national detailed report 2019;<br />- Providing support for the evaluation studies commissioned under Priority Areas 4B and 4C;<br />- Contact person for the coordinators and evaluators of the other evaluation packages to answer questions arising from overlaps in content, as well as contact person for the bodies responsible for priorities or cross-cutting themes (persons responsible for measures in the BMNT and other research institutions).</p>
<p>Schedule<br />Project start: January 2018<br />End of project: December 2019</p>AWI/49/16 W: Functions and services of agriculture and their value to society2016-05-02T13:42:53+02:002016-05-02T13:42:53+02:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2044:awi-49-16-w-functions-and-services-of-agriculture-and-their-value-for-society&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<p>Agriculture provides a wide range of functions and services that go far beyond the cultivation of agricultural land and the production of food. In addition to pure agricultural production or the production of marketable goods, farms produce a range of products and services (so-called non-commodity outputs or non-market goods) that represent different elements of "multifunctionality" in agriculture (OECD, 2001). These diverse products and services often have the characteristics of public goods. In order to assess the social value associated with the different functions or outputs of farms, multifunctionality can be considered in the context of (positive and negative) externalities. As by-products or effects of agricultural production or farm activities, these externalities are socially relevant.<br /><br />In the course of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), non-commodity outputs or externalities of agriculture have been increasingly taken into account, especially in the context of rural development programmes. In the course of this, certain functions and services of farms (e.g. ecological or infrastructural functions) are also rewarded as a value for society.<br /><br />The aim of the research project, which is coordinated by the Technical University of Munich (Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer, Chair of Production and Resource Economics), is to analyse the functions and services of farms that go beyond agricultural production. The project title on the part of the main project management at the Technical University of Munich is "The Social Added Value of Farming - A Supraregional Study with a Focus on Bavaria". For Bavaria, the focus of this project is on the social added value of agriculture (i.e. services to society that go beyond pure agricultural production), which is achieved in particular through "rural agriculture". In accordance with the research questions, the characteristics of "rural agriculture" and relevant indicators for measuring them are to be recorded. On the other hand, the causal effects of "rural agriculture" and also the social evaluation or appreciation of these effects are to be determined. The studies can contribute to a clarification of the social significance of different forms of agriculture and thus to a further development of CAP measures in the course of its reforms.<br /><br />The cooperation of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics in this project is an initiative of the Technical University of Munich and the BMNT. The tasks of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics are, in particular, to participate in literature research and the preparation of literature, in data provision, collection and analysis, in workshops, conferences and seminars, as well as in the preparation of project reports and other publications.</p>
<p>In 2016, the Federal Institute for Agricultural Economics carried out literature work on family farms (family farming), on the use of the term "farming", and on the functions and performance of farms and their evaluation. The results of the literature work were presented and discussed in the same year with the project partners at a workshop organised by the Federal Institute in Vienna. At this workshop, the project partners from the Technical University of Munich presented the planned methodological approaches (e.g. cluster analysis, regression discontinuity, choice experiments) as well as possible indicators for specific agricultural services. In the years 2016 to 2018, the project partners continuously checked the availability of data in the respective regions (Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Norway) on farm characteristics and with regard to effects to be analysed. In 2017, the first results of the project partners from the Technical University of Munich for Germany (definition of "peasant" farms, analysis of the causal effects of farms) were presented and discussed at a workshop in Bolzano. In 2018, interim results of the project partners of the Technical University of Munich on causal effects of "peasant farming" in Germany on ecological, economic and social sustainability were discussed at a workshop in Oslo. The workshop also discussed the concept of the project partners of the Free University of Bolzano for a planned consumer survey for a Structural Equation Model (SEM) and a Choice Experiment. The aim is to analyse which values consumers associate with "rural agriculture" and what willingness to pay exists for this form of agriculture. All project partners also held a public seminar on "Family farming in Europe: What's at stake?" at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) in Oslo. Furthermore, in 2018, the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, in coordination with all project partners, collaborated in the development of the questionnaire of the project partners at the Free University of Bolzano and compiled a data set for the analysis of causal effects of family farming in Austria by the project partners at the Technical University of Munich.<br /><br />In 2019, work on the country-specific analyses (Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Norway) was completed in close cooperation between the project partners. The methodological work and empirical analyses of the causal effects of the farms were largely coordinated and carried out by the project partners at the Technical University of Munich. The consumer survey in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Norway was coordinated and analysed by the project partners of the Free University of Bolzano. In addition, the Federal Institute participated in further project-internal workshops, in the processing and interpretation of the results, in the development of recommendations for action, in the preparation of the interim and final report, in the presentation of the results in the context of conferences and seminars, and in the further utilisation of the results in the context of various publications.<br /><br />Project start: May 2016<br /><br />Project end: December 2019</p><p>Agriculture provides a wide range of functions and services that go far beyond the cultivation of agricultural land and the production of food. In addition to pure agricultural production or the production of marketable goods, farms produce a range of products and services (so-called non-commodity outputs or non-market goods) that represent different elements of "multifunctionality" in agriculture (OECD, 2001). These diverse products and services often have the characteristics of public goods. In order to assess the social value associated with the different functions or outputs of farms, multifunctionality can be considered in the context of (positive and negative) externalities. As by-products or effects of agricultural production or farm activities, these externalities are socially relevant.<br /><br />In the course of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), non-commodity outputs or externalities of agriculture have been increasingly taken into account, especially in the context of rural development programmes. In the course of this, certain functions and services of farms (e.g. ecological or infrastructural functions) are also rewarded as a value for society.<br /><br />The aim of the research project, which is coordinated by the Technical University of Munich (Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer, Chair of Production and Resource Economics), is to analyse the functions and services of farms that go beyond agricultural production. The project title on the part of the main project management at the Technical University of Munich is "The Social Added Value of Farming - A Supraregional Study with a Focus on Bavaria". For Bavaria, the focus of this project is on the social added value of agriculture (i.e. services to society that go beyond pure agricultural production), which is achieved in particular through "rural agriculture". In accordance with the research questions, the characteristics of "rural agriculture" and relevant indicators for measuring them are to be recorded. On the other hand, the causal effects of "rural agriculture" and also the social evaluation or appreciation of these effects are to be determined. The studies can contribute to a clarification of the social significance of different forms of agriculture and thus to a further development of CAP measures in the course of its reforms.<br /><br />The cooperation of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics in this project is an initiative of the Technical University of Munich and the BMNT. The tasks of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics are, in particular, to participate in literature research and the preparation of literature, in data provision, collection and analysis, in workshops, conferences and seminars, as well as in the preparation of project reports and other publications.</p>
<p>In 2016, the Federal Institute for Agricultural Economics carried out literature work on family farms (family farming), on the use of the term "farming", and on the functions and performance of farms and their evaluation. The results of the literature work were presented and discussed in the same year with the project partners at a workshop organised by the Federal Institute in Vienna. At this workshop, the project partners from the Technical University of Munich presented the planned methodological approaches (e.g. cluster analysis, regression discontinuity, choice experiments) as well as possible indicators for specific agricultural services. In the years 2016 to 2018, the project partners continuously checked the availability of data in the respective regions (Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Norway) on farm characteristics and with regard to effects to be analysed. In 2017, the first results of the project partners from the Technical University of Munich for Germany (definition of "peasant" farms, analysis of the causal effects of farms) were presented and discussed at a workshop in Bolzano. In 2018, interim results of the project partners of the Technical University of Munich on causal effects of "peasant farming" in Germany on ecological, economic and social sustainability were discussed at a workshop in Oslo. The workshop also discussed the concept of the project partners of the Free University of Bolzano for a planned consumer survey for a Structural Equation Model (SEM) and a Choice Experiment. The aim is to analyse which values consumers associate with "rural agriculture" and what willingness to pay exists for this form of agriculture. All project partners also held a public seminar on "Family farming in Europe: What's at stake?" at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) in Oslo. Furthermore, in 2018, the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, in coordination with all project partners, collaborated in the development of the questionnaire of the project partners at the Free University of Bolzano and compiled a data set for the analysis of causal effects of family farming in Austria by the project partners at the Technical University of Munich.<br /><br />In 2019, work on the country-specific analyses (Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Norway) was completed in close cooperation between the project partners. The methodological work and empirical analyses of the causal effects of the farms were largely coordinated and carried out by the project partners at the Technical University of Munich. The consumer survey in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Norway was coordinated and analysed by the project partners of the Free University of Bolzano. In addition, the Federal Institute participated in further project-internal workshops, in the processing and interpretation of the results, in the development of recommendations for action, in the preparation of the interim and final report, in the presentation of the results in the context of conferences and seminars, and in the further utilisation of the results in the context of various publications.<br /><br />Project start: May 2016<br /><br />Project end: December 2019</p>BF 141/15: Diversity and Resilience2015-01-05T09:44:39+01:002015-01-05T09:44:39+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2052:bf-141-15-diversity-and-resilience&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<h4>Dynamics and development paths of socio-ecological systems, illustrated by the Salzburg Lungau and Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve</h4>
<p>Biosphere parks contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of large-scale representative sections of natural and cultural landscapes. Together with the local population, concepts for the protection and sustainable development of the region are developed and implemented. The objective of this project is to gain fundamental insights into the complex interrelationships of social-ecological systems using the example of the Alpine Biosphere Reserve Salzburg Lungau and Carinthian Nockberge. Diversity in its social, economic and ecological dimensions represents a central factor for regional development and is crucial for the ability to react to, manage and shape change. The example region Biosphärenpark Salzburger Lungau and Kärntner Nockberge, which was recognised as a biosphere park by UNESCO in 2012, represents an effective analytical framework for examining the significance of this spatial protection and development concept in an exemplary manner.</p>
<p><br />Due to involvement in other project work, the completion of the project has been delayed. Selected project results were already presented and discussed at the ÖGA meeting in September 2018. It is also planned to present the results of the project to a broad public from science and practice via specialist articles and further conference contributions.</p><h4>Dynamics and development paths of socio-ecological systems, illustrated by the Salzburg Lungau and Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve</h4>
<p>Biosphere parks contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of large-scale representative sections of natural and cultural landscapes. Together with the local population, concepts for the protection and sustainable development of the region are developed and implemented. The objective of this project is to gain fundamental insights into the complex interrelationships of social-ecological systems using the example of the Alpine Biosphere Reserve Salzburg Lungau and Carinthian Nockberge. Diversity in its social, economic and ecological dimensions represents a central factor for regional development and is crucial for the ability to react to, manage and shape change. The example region Biosphärenpark Salzburger Lungau and Kärntner Nockberge, which was recognised as a biosphere park by UNESCO in 2012, represents an effective analytical framework for examining the significance of this spatial protection and development concept in an exemplary manner.</p>
<p><br />Due to involvement in other project work, the completion of the project has been delayed. Selected project results were already presented and discussed at the ÖGA meeting in September 2018. It is also planned to present the results of the project to a broad public from science and practice via specialist articles and further conference contributions.</p>BF 138/14: Social factors influencing the success of passive flood protection 2014-01-03T10:13:45+01:002014-01-03T10:13:45+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2054:bf-138-14-social-factors-influencing-the-success-of-passive-flood-protection&catid=112&lang=en&Itemid=413Michaela Hager<p><em>Georg Wiesinger, Theresia Oedl-Wieser, Thomas Lampalzer</em></p>
<p>Passive flood protection defines spaces that are essentially dedicated to the "flowing retention" of water bodies. Other uses of these spaces, for example agricultural and forestry, are possible in a limited form. Overall, this is a sustainable, albeit land-extensive, option for protecting the (remaining) cultivated area from flood damage. Due to the extensiveness of the area, planners have to take complex actor-network relationships into account. There are well-known projects that could not be established despite considerable planning efforts. They get stuck due to supposed "trivialities" within the social project sphere. On the other hand, there are projects that could be successfully realised - with more or less compromises. It is assumed that there are significant differences in the project-specific information, communication, power and hierarchy structures, as well as in the local socio-historical development patterns. In contrast, no serious differences in the technical quality of the projects are expected.<br /><br />The research interest is directed towards social factors influencing the feasibility of passive flood protection and leads to the question: How do the respective actor networks function?<br /><br />The distant goal is to incorporate the material obtained into a more theoretically oriented work on dealing with so-called natural hazards from the perspective of spatial planning. The focus will be on the question of winners and losers in sustainable and public welfare-oriented protection projects.<br /><br />Elaborated projects for passive flood protection will be reconstructed. Two project categories will be distinguished in advance:<br /><br /> Projects that show patterns of rapid realisation.<br /> Projects that show patterns of impeded realisation or unrealisability. The actor networks relevant to each project are to be identified and compared with regard to categories that have an accelerating or inhibiting effect on the realisation of passive flood protection.<br /><br />In cooperation with the Torrent and Avalanche Control, all qualitative interviews in the three flood protection project regions Schlattenbach (Lower Austria), Pertisau (Tyrol) and Johnsbach (Styria) were completed, transcribed and qualitatively analysed, interpreted and written up using MAXQDA.<br /><br />The project was concluded at the beginning of 2019 with Facts&Featuires No. 58 "Actor networks in preventive protective hydraulic engineering of the Forest Engineering Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control" and presented to a wider public in the field of science and practice.</p><p><em>Georg Wiesinger, Theresia Oedl-Wieser, Thomas Lampalzer</em></p>
<p>Passive flood protection defines spaces that are essentially dedicated to the "flowing retention" of water bodies. Other uses of these spaces, for example agricultural and forestry, are possible in a limited form. Overall, this is a sustainable, albeit land-extensive, option for protecting the (remaining) cultivated area from flood damage. Due to the extensiveness of the area, planners have to take complex actor-network relationships into account. There are well-known projects that could not be established despite considerable planning efforts. They get stuck due to supposed "trivialities" within the social project sphere. On the other hand, there are projects that could be successfully realised - with more or less compromises. It is assumed that there are significant differences in the project-specific information, communication, power and hierarchy structures, as well as in the local socio-historical development patterns. In contrast, no serious differences in the technical quality of the projects are expected.<br /><br />The research interest is directed towards social factors influencing the feasibility of passive flood protection and leads to the question: How do the respective actor networks function?<br /><br />The distant goal is to incorporate the material obtained into a more theoretically oriented work on dealing with so-called natural hazards from the perspective of spatial planning. The focus will be on the question of winners and losers in sustainable and public welfare-oriented protection projects.<br /><br />Elaborated projects for passive flood protection will be reconstructed. Two project categories will be distinguished in advance:<br /><br /> Projects that show patterns of rapid realisation.<br /> Projects that show patterns of impeded realisation or unrealisability. The actor networks relevant to each project are to be identified and compared with regard to categories that have an accelerating or inhibiting effect on the realisation of passive flood protection.<br /><br />In cooperation with the Torrent and Avalanche Control, all qualitative interviews in the three flood protection project regions Schlattenbach (Lower Austria), Pertisau (Tyrol) and Johnsbach (Styria) were completed, transcribed and qualitatively analysed, interpreted and written up using MAXQDA.<br /><br />The project was concluded at the beginning of 2019 with Facts&Featuires No. 58 "Actor networks in preventive protective hydraulic engineering of the Forest Engineering Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control" and presented to a wider public in the field of science and practice.</p>NIEDERMAYR, Julia2001-12-04T01:00:00+01:002001-12-04T01:00:00+01:00https://bab.gv.at/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=69:niedermayr-julia&catid=115&lang=en&Itemid=512Michaela HagerDietrichgasse 27Dietrichgasse 27