Project details

Due to the need for the protection of biodiversity, there is an urgent requirement to create the social framework conditions for economically viable, sustainable agricultural enterprises. How these framework conditions can be designed is an unresolved research question, which is being investigated in GOBIOM for concrete forms of agricultural production in two model regions. Given the importance of grassland use for biodiversity conservation, the focus of the project described above is on dairy production.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to a substantial improvement in the biodiversity of the areas managed by dairy farms in the two organic model regions of Freiburg and Ravensburg. In phase 1 (2020 - 2021), a model for a transformation towards economically viable and biodiversity-promoting dairy production systems was developed. In phase 2 (2021 - 2024), a system analysis will be used to record interrelationships, identify success factors and obstacles, and use them in on-farm biodiversity consulting to work towards the transformation goal. Biodiversity-relevant aspects of the milk production systems will in turn be mapped and quantified by means of life cycle assessments. Ultimately, design approaches are to be developed from this and recommendations for action for control mechanisms are to be worked out.

The core team of the project consists of the Öko-Institut (project management), Büro Grünweg [german website] and the Institute for Rural Structural Research at the Goethe University Frankfurt (IfLS). The project is supported throughout its entire duration by an advisory board consisting of important regional actors.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the framework of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation (FEdA).