Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy
- About us
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Our team at the Professorship of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy seeks to understand how agricultural, food and environmental policies influence human and natural resource use and thus contribute to achieving societal goals. Technical and social change in agriculture gives rise to conflicts with consumer expectations of ecologically sound, locally, or “fair” produced and traded food. For example, more intensive cropping or livestock husbandry potentially enhance the productivity of scarce environmental resources such as arable soils or water. They thus contribute to global food security and income generation in rural areas. However, such intensification and commercialisation stoke resentment on the side of consumers and advocacy groups concerned about pollution, animal welfare, or the future of family farming. Our research engages theories, collects evidence and conducts analysis in order to design policies that mitigate such trade-offs.
- Former colleagues
- Research
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Harnessing insights from the economic and social sciences, we carry out empirically grounded research on the determinants, impacts and evaluation of political action in the area of agriculture, food, and the natural environment. We investigate policymaking with a local, national, European and international dimension. Our research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods that enable linkages to multidisciplinary approaches.
We focus on two main research areas:
- The regulation of modern agricultural value chains with regard to environmental and social concerns, and
- The sustainable agricultural development and natural resource use in emerging and transition economies.
In several projects, the group cooperates with Justus Liebig University’s Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU) as well as the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Halle (Saale), where Prof. Petrick holds a visiting research fellowship.
- Teaching
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Prof. Martin Petrick directs the interdisciplinary MSc study programme “Transition Management”, fully taught in English language at Justus Liebig University.
Topics for MSc and BSc Theses are occasionally published on ILIAS. Feel free to contact Professor Petrick or team members via email about your individual proposals any time.
Our team hosts the International PhD Program in Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) of Justus Liebig University, directed by Prof. Petrick and coordinated by Dr. Nadia Keudel.
Our team also hosts the Structured PhD Programme Sustainable Agricultural Development in Central Asia (SUSADICA), coordinated by Dr. Nozilakhon Mukhamedova.
We contribute to academic teaching in the framework of our affiliations with Faculty 09 - Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management and the Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU).
Modules taught by our staff members at Justus Liebig University:
- BK 014 Politik der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft
- BK 058 Bioökonomie
- BP 142 Umweltökonomie und –politik
- MK 067 Theory and Practice of Economic Development
- MK 068 Empirical Research Methods
- MK 080 Resource Economics, Sustainability and Environmental Management
- MK 097 Internationale Agrar- und Ernährungspolitik
- MK 100 Transition in Practice
- MK 127 Socio-Economic Perspectives on Food Systems
- MP 187 Climate Change and Development
- MP 208 Concepts of Ecological Economics
- MP 209 Field Work in Agricultural and Environmental Economics
- MP 210 Land Governance for Sustainable Land Use in Africa
- MP 214 Econometrics & Modelling Applications
- MP 215 Regulation of Agricultural Value Chains
- MP 218 The Economics of Nitrate Pollution
- MP 222 Introduction to International Trade
- MP 223 Applied Econometric Methods for the Social Sciences
- MP 224 International Agricultural Development