Institute for Rural Development Research in Frankfurt/Main

The Institute for Rural Development Research (IfLS) was established in 1956 as an independent research institute attached to the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt. A Scientific Board links the IfLS with the University. Several faculties that are relevant for the research and consultancy work carried out at the IfLS are represented on this board: Social and Political Science, Earth Science and Geography, Environmental Sciences, Economics and Business Administration, Law. Funding for research and consulting projects constitutes the financial basis of the Institute. The executive board is supported by a managing director in charge of the institute's day-to-day business. This task is fulfilled by Dip Agricultural Engineer Jörg Schramek.

Our principal clients are the European Commission, German federal ministries (agriculture, regional development, environment, economy), the German Laender, the Federal Environment Agency, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation as well as various foundations and non-governmental organisations.

The main fields of research and consulting are the integration of agricultural with rural development and environmental objectives, the exploration of agricultural structural change and of its determinants and implications, monitoring and evaluation of the effects of agricultural policy coupled with advice on policy formulation and – related to that – concepts and programmes for supporting sustainable development in rural areas. The multifunctionality of agriculture and of rural areas is a key question in several on-going research and consultancy projects. In the last 50 years the IfLS has co-operated with EU and national bodies, programmes, networks and initiatives on over 400 projects.

At present, the IfLS employs fifteen researchers from a wide range of disciplines and it is integrated with a significant research network at the university. The principal staff disciplines include: agricultural and environmental sciences; political sciences; rural sociology; political, regional and general economics; marketing research. The language competence of our staff members covers: German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

The capability of identifying, evaluating and connecting holistic contexts is characteristic of our working approach.

Cross-project work e.g. by using the results of our own research and evaluation work.

Holistic coverage e.g. of ecological, economic and social dimensions. Accordingly, we are involved in numerous interdisciplinary projects.

Strong practical orientation e.g. in locally, regionally and enterprise oriented projects as well as in policy studies at the EU, German federal and Laender government level.

Strong commitment and involvement e.g. in international research networks, in which joint projects are worked on co-operatively.

Special focus of interest e.g. concerning questions related to European integration and global change, which is documented by our numerous international contacts, by hosting international symposia as well as by a multitude of transnational studies.