Institut für Sozialwissenschaften des Agrarbereichs

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hohpublica.uni-hohenheim.de/handle/123456789/18

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Assessment of stakeholder perception of implementing power-to-gas in the biogas sector
implications for risk governance
(2019) Pestalozzi, Johanny Arilexis; Bieling, Claudia
The connection of power-to-gas (PtG) with biogas facilities to convert excess renewable electricity into biomethane represents an innovation in the biogas industry. This concept could play a role in stabilizing the German renewable energy system and make the biogas value chain and derived products more competitive and environmentally friendly. With increasing interest in this technology, potential risks, uncertainties and challenges associated with the implementation of PtG in the biogas industry need to be assessed. The biogas sector is controversial in German society mainly due to its environmental and economic impacts and its critical safety deficiencies. Against this background, this thesis aims at analyzing how the German biogas chain could be transformed with the emergence of a PtG concept and at identifying approaches to efficiently tackle potential risks, uncertainties and challenges accompanying this renewable energy concept. The investigation draws on notions of risk perception and risk governance as a theoretical framework to identify and assess influential factors determining risk management for the implementation of PtG in the biogas sector and characterize essential requirements in the process of diffusion of the technology, its acceptance and legitimation. Following a random as well as a purposive sampling strategy, 27 experts representing key interest groups of the German biogas sector, i.e., industry, politics, research and associations, were interviewed face-to-face. Their perspectives on potential environmental, safety, sociopolitical and techno-economic risks and challenges that could hinder the implementation of PtG in the biogas value chain were systematically examined with the method of qualitative content analysis. With this technique, conclusions were derived based on a thorough scrutiny of the data collected. Overall, the participants of this study perceived a low risk of accidents, such as fires, explosions and environmental pollution, from biogas installations running with a PtG concept. They identified a lack of business models, missing political incentives as well as stigmatization of the sector as the main challenges in the adoption of PtG in the biogas sector. The stakeholders emphasized a knowledge gap in the general public to explain the low popularity of the biogas sector and its biobased products. In a successful deployment of this technological concept, the interviewees envisioned a replacement of farm-based biogas plants with fully industrialized facilities. The interviewed experts strongly emphasized the existence of regulations as the principal means to avoid potential technological risks. The perception of the stakeholders corresponds with hierarchists as in the Cultural Theory of Risk. This mindset influences the way the experts recognize, manage and communicate risks. The participants prominently identified politicians as the primary accountable actors to handle risks, challenges and uncertainties of biogas associated with PtG. Although the media was broadly seen as a knowledge broker, the interviewees did not consider it as an instrument for effective risk communication to deal with distrust and stigmatization in the public and the controversies influencing the biogas sector, which could potentially affect the diffusion of PtG in the industry. The present study delivers key insights for the governance of the adoption of this technological concept in German society. In order to create a joint understanding among relevant stakeholders, facilitate informed decision-making and ultimately promote legitimacy for this technology, it is recommended to increase risk awareness among actors dealing with biogas and PtG. It is essential to foster deliberate communication among the multiple interest groups on diverging perceptions of risk and corresponding management options, so that an effective, accountable and participatory strategy to risk governance can be developed.
Connecting resonance theory with social-ecological thinking: Conceptualizing self-world relationships in the context of sustainability transformations
(2025) Brossette, Florian; Bieling, Claudia
Relationships and interactions between humans and their environment play an important role in sustainability transformations. However, their conceptualization remains a big challenge in current social-ecological research. We propose resonance theory by the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa as a fruitful framework to advance social-ecological thinking. Resonance theory investigates the quality of the relationships between self and world and scrutinizes their relevance for transformations. To illustrate the potentials of resonance theory, we use a vignette approach to cases of landscape stewardship initiatives in the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve in Germany. In distinguishing between self and world and highlighting the role of relationships, resonance theory brings ontological and epistemological clarity, while overcoming a strict dichotomy between social and ecological. We find that resonance theory provides a much needed framework to describe how system-wide transformations emerge from interactions and out of relationships at the individual level. We argue that resonance theory contributes to social-ecological systems thinking by adding the notion of uncontrollability in transformations and shifting the debate on agency towards relationships. Synthesis and applications: This paper demonstrates the meaningfulness of relational paradigms for real-world transformations in theory and practice.
Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: Stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany
(2024) Bücheler, Hannah; Bieling, Claudia; Feuerbacher, Arndt
This study explores the understudied role of privately financed ecosystem service provision in biodiversity conservation, focusing on the example of wildflower strips in Germany. Using qualitative methods, it investigates the diversity of private financing schemes, stakeholder involvement, scheme implementation and farmers motivations to engage in private schemes. The results draw on literature-based stakeholder analysis and expert interviews, including ecol- ogists and practitioners, in three German federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Findings include a stakeholder map, the identification of four types of private financing schemes, and the formulation of 17 design criteria covering ecological, economic, and social aspects. These criteria aim to guide providers and sponsors and to emphasise the diverse nature of private wildflower strip financing schemes and their role as crucial links among farmers, the private sector, and society. The study highlights private schemes as viable alternatives to public funding but raises concerns about quality control and coordination with public measures. Combining publicly funded agri-environment schemes with private financing is controversial among stakeholders. Government intervention could formalise the private market, improving control and protection, possibly limiting private sector flexibility and attractiveness due to higher levels of bureaucracy. In any case, transparency in management and financial structures is crucial. Policy recommendations overall include incentivising private sector conservation involvement, offering tax credits for private financing, improving government mechanisms, streamlining coordination of public and private conservation at the landscape level and fostering stakeholder networking. Consequently, this study lays a foundational framework for further exploration into the realm of private financing in biodiversity conservation.
Food-related well-being in times of crisis: A study on Syrian refugees in Germany
(2024) Al-Sayed, Lubana; Bieling, Claudia
Forced migration, stemming from conflict, persecution, or other compelling circumstances, often thrusts individuals into unfamiliar territories, presenting a multitude of challenges. These challenges extend beyond mere physical displacement, disrupting social, economic, and cultural norms. The Syrian forced migration following the Arab Spring in 2011 emerged as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing 14 million people from their homes. Throughout their journey to safety, refugees encounter peril, uncertainty, trauma, and loss. Even upon arrival at their destination, whether in neighbouring countries or distant lands, refugees confront intricate systems of aid, bureaucracy, and integration, all while grappling with the profound impacts of their experiences. Among the array of challenges faced, food insecurity emerges as a critical concern, affecting not only physical health but also overall well-being. Moreover, when migrating to host countries vastly different from their native regions, individuals encounter unique obstacles in accessing local food environments and possess limited knowledge of available food resources and services. These challenges may be exacerbated by language barriers, currency disparities, and unfamiliarity with local food products. Collectively, these factors significantly shape refugees’ overall well-being, particularly concerning food. However, despite the significance of food-related well-being, substantial gaps persist in the literature. There is a notable lack of understanding regarding refugees’ subjective perceptions of food-related well-being, which are deeply rooted in their experiences during conflict, migration, and post-arrival in the host country. Additionally, little is known about how refugees acquire food-related knowledge when relocating to host countries vastly different from their own, and the role of this knowledge in enhancing their well-being and that of their relatives in crisis areas. Therefore, this research aims to address these knowledge gaps by exploring the hedonic, psychological, and social well-being of refugees concerning food, and by investigating the food-related knowledge networks in which refugees are involved. To guide this investigation, a conceptual framework is developed, integrating the three dimensions of well-being (hedonic, psychological, and social) with the three motivations for food intake (functional, symbolic, and hedonic). The empirical work is conducted in two periods, August to October 2017 and April to June 2018, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods among Syrian refugees in Stuttgart, Germany. This work comprises a total of three research articles, with the first two being published in peer-reviewed international journals and the third one submitted. The first article (chapter 3) describes the hedonic dimension of well-being, specifically focusing on the affective and cognitive components within a dietary context. The main hypothesis posits that hedonic well-being is augmented when food successfully fulfils both its functional and hedonic goals. The findings revealed that interviewees associated food with a range of positive and negative emotions. Negative affects were predominantly linked to the challenges the respondents faced, such as sadness stemming from family dispersion, nostalgia, psychological discomfort, as well as the conditions of their current living situations, such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, and loneliness. Associations between food and life satisfaction were found to be intertwined with various factors, including food availability and accessibility, physical health and bodily functioning, emotions, social interactions, and overall life satisfaction. Furthermore, a good and happy food-related existence was linked to various characteristics at each stage of food interaction (purchasing, preparing, eating and post-eating). Adhering to a nutritious diet with the aim of improving physical health, enhancing psychological well-being through positive emotions, and fostering social support and stability emerged as primary factors in improving refugees’ well-being. Equally significant were the sensory experiences of eating and the pleasurable emotions experienced when sharing meals with others. The second article (Chapter 4) delves into the psychological and social dimensions of food-related well-being among refugees. It highlights how food-related well-being varies across different stages of the migration journey—specifically, during wartime, along the migration route, and after arriving in the host country. During wartime, the availability and accessibility of food are crucial factors. Amidst the challenges of conflict, ensuring access to food becomes paramount for survival. Conversely, during the migration journey itself, food often takes a backseat to the primary objective of reaching a safe destination. Basic necessities become the priority for refugees as they navigate their way to safety. Upon arrival in the host country, various psychological and social factors come into play, significantly influencing refugees’ food-related well-being, such as living conditions, the local food environment, and the social practices surrounding food. This article highlights the profound connection between food and one’s cultural roots, which serves to mitigate the adverse effects of exile on individuals’ lives. The third paper (Chapter 5) is motivated by the insights gleaned from the findings of the first and second articles, which highlight the critical role of sharing food-related knowledge in bolstering refugee food security and improving their overall well-being in relation to food. As refugees encounter a new food environment upon resettling in a host country, they actively engage in constructing and restructuring their social networks to obtain vital information about available resources in their new surroundings. Therefore, the third article explores the food-related knowledge networks that refugees are part of, shedding light on their structure and their role in enhancing their well-being. The findings revealed two types of networks: those within the same ethnic groups and those encompassing multiple ethnicities (primarily Germans and Arabs), exhibiting significant differences in network measures. Furthermore, it identified the primary sources of information, the content of the shared knowledge, and its mode of transmission. Additionally, the paper suggests measures to enhance the transmission of food-related knowledge among refugees and between refugees and their families in crisis areas. These three articles were collectively further discussed in the concluding section (Chapter 6), where I assessed the connections of the proposed framework integrating the various dimensions of well-being with food goals. This assessment drew upon the empirical findings of this research, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between food-related well-being and the multifaceted aspects of refugees’ experiences. Furthermore, I proposed a new definition for food-related well-being in the context of conflict and displacement. Finally, I examined the main factors influencing refugees’ food-related well-being, offering insights into potential avenues for intervention and support.
Landscape stewardship in under-use contexts
a transdisciplinary social-ecological analysis of common pastures in the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve
(2024) Brossette, Florian; Bieling, Claudia
The common pastures of the UNESCO Black Forest Biosphere Reserve are the ecological hotspot, identification element and key feature of the cultural landscape in the southern Black Forest, Germany. In the second half of the 20th century, the Black Forest has witnessed an ongoing decline in grazing activity and pastureland, so that diverse actors of civil society, politics and science are concerned with how the social-ecological importance of the Black Forest common pastures can be sustained. Declining land use and the abandonment of traditional land-use practices constitute an important threat to cultural landscapes not only in the Black Forest, but also in many places all across the world. However, sustainability sciences have been mostly concerned with questions of overexploitation so far. Research addressing the social and ecological drivers of under use, and their interplay, is still lacking. Recent studies on under-used cultural landscapes offer insights into governance arrangements. Still, the consideration of relationships between people and their environment, a key approach to analyse and lever sustainability, are yet missing in the context of under use. Against this background, this cumulative dissertation draws on common pastures in the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve as a case study to develop social-ecological perspectives for cultural landscapes threatened by under use. The three research articles that form the basis for this dissertation explore the diverse interactions between humans and their environment to ask the question what changes in terms of adaptations and transformations are required to sustain the common pastures. The dissertation asks how conceptual insights on organizational design of common pastures, adaptive governance and social-ecological resilience help to grasp and to advance farmers’ perspectives on future pathways for grassland which is endangered by under use. Furthermore, the dissertation poses the question on how resonance theory, a qualitative analysis of relationships between self and world, contributes to a better understanding of the different types of relationships that characterise action in pursuit of landscape sustainability, referred to by the term landscape stewardship. This dissertation follows a transdisciplinary research approach, in the sense that practitioners motivated this research, provided data and validated the findings. The author’s practical experience as staff of the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve links research, practice and landscape stewardship. The dissertation is rooted in social-ecological systems thinking. The notion of social-ecological systems understands common pastures in terms of interlinked social and ecological elements and processes. The research articles make use of the concepts of Ostrom Design Principles, Social-Ecological Systems Framework, social-ecological Resilience Principles, relational approaches in social-ecological thinking and Resonance Theory. Resonance characterizes the occurrence of meaningful relational encounters that potentially transform self-world relationships. The notion of landscape stewardship refers to the diversity of meanings that motivate action in pursuit of landscape sustainability. Landscape stewardship thus serves as a frame to connect the different concepts and research articles of the present work. Rooted in empirical social research, this dissertation adopts a qualitative methodology but includes quantitative data to illustrate and support qualitative findings. Given the rich conceptual foundation and transdisciplinary approach, the results of this dissertation allow for both conceptual advancements and practical recommendations. The results of the research articles show that place-based practical perspectives and social-ecological concepts reinforce one another. Practitioners’ central assertion that diverse small-scale farming initiatives are required to sustain common pastures illustrate and substantiate the conceptual groundings of adaptive governance, resilience, and Resonance Theory. Concerning adaptive governance, this research finds that a central element of organizational design in the under-use context of the Black Forest common pastures is to include all actors that take advantage of the cultural landscape. This implies to motivate and incentivize diverse actor groups, such as tourism and local population, to contribute to landscape stewardship in a way that corresponds to their benefits. Relational and resilience arguments emphasize the importance of multiple and diverse structures in grassland farming. This implies that specific support to match the needs and challenges of initiatives such as landcare groups, common pasture organizations or small-scale farming is required. The resilience perspective adds to this in highlighting that polycentric governance should find stronger application to encourage reciprocal learning and maintain the social-ecological diversity connected to common pastures. The introduction of Resonance Theory into social-ecological research provides important contributions to the debate on sustainability transformations. By emphasizing the uncontrollable and unpredictable character of meaningful relationships, Resonance Theory shifts the practical and conceptual focus on agency towards the quality of relationships. The axes of resonance provide a framework to analyse different types of relationships between self and world that are present in initiatives of landscape stewardship. From the perspective of Resonance Theory, adaptive governance should be directed towards enabling or favouring the emergence of meaningful relationships between people, livestock and the landscape. The practical and conceptual recommendations to sustain common pastures call for changes in terms of adaptations and transformations. The importance and consequences of these key changes, such as improved commercialization of pasture products, the integration of local people into landscape stewardship, or to fit the administrative frameworks and support schemes to the social-ecological reality of common pastures, depend on the social-ecological perspective of analysis. As grassland farmers or public administration have their specific view on common pastures, the anticipated effects of and the required commitment to these changes differ, so that they may appear as adaptations to one group, while constituting transformations to another. To conclude, this dissertation shows that the application of different social-ecological concepts to rich contextual data advances both conceptual and practical understandings of under use and the interconnectedness of humans and their environment. In bringing together science and practice, biosphere reserves are particularly suited for transdisciplinary approaches. For supporting landscape stewardship, the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve will need to include more actors benefiting from common pastures to contribute to their sustenance. Moreover, it is important to create conditions that enable meaningful relationships and resonance in landscape stewardship. There is a need for further place-based research in under-use contexts to provide more knowledge of the organizational and relational aspects that characterize under use. To benefit from the full potential of the resonance perspective, it is necessary to show how contextual, institutional and cultural conditions that foster or inhibit resonance can be accounted for in social-ecological research.
Social assessment of miscanthus cultivation in Croatia: Assessing farmers' preferences and willingness to cultivate the crop
(2023) Marting Vidaurre, Nirvana A.; Jurišić, Vanja; Bieling, Claudia; Magenau, Elena; Wagner, Moritz; Kiesel, Andreas; Lewandowski, Iris
Social aspects of miscanthus cultivation have been investigated in a limited way in the scientific literature. Adopting existing frameworks for social life‐cycle assessment enables assessments to include numerous social aspects; however, the relevance of these aspects depends on the local context. This study aims to identify the most relevant social aspects from the farmers' perspective using a previously proposed framework for the assessment of the stakeholder ‘farmer’. It is based on a case study for miscanthus production in Sisak Moslavina in Croatia. The existence of abandoned lands in Croatia presents an opportunity for the cultivation of miscanthus as a potential source of biomass for the production of bio‐based materials and fuels. The study seeks to assess the feasibility of cultivating miscanthus in the region, taking into account potential challenges and opportunities, as well as farmers' willingness to adopt the crop, and to understand the reasons behind land abandonment. We conducted a survey among 44 farmers in the region and used a scoring method to identify the most relevant social aspects. The aspects most valued by the farmers were health and safety, access to water, land consolidation and rights, income and local employment, and food security. Responses to the question of whether they would adopt the crop highlight the importance of an established market, good trading conditions and profitability of cultivation. The survey also enabled an understanding of farmers' preferences with respect to the production conditions of crops. The farmers regarded the provision of subsidies as one of the main factors that render a crop attractive. Opportunities for the adoption of the miscanthus cultivation include high yields and low input requirements. Barriers include land conflicts and land availability. Despite the opportunities for miscanthus development in the region, there are important challenges to consider for successful implementation of the crop.
Understanding small‐scale private forest owners is a basis for transformative change towards integrative conservation
(2024) Tiebel, Malin; Mölder, Andreas; Bieling, Claudia; Hansen, Peter; Plieninger, Tobias
1. Balancing societal demands on forests is a major challenge in current forest management. Small-scale private forest owners are an important ownership group that is rarely addressed directly in this discussion. Our study aims to identify and differentiate between private forest owner groups. Based on this, we take a systemic approach and determine leverage points that can be used to foster transformative change towards integrative conservation-oriented forest management. 2. We conducted a survey of 1656 small-scale private forest owners in northwest Germany within a typical European multi-ownership landscape and formed three clusters based on their activities. 3. While all groups generally perceived nature conservation as important, they differed with regard to their forest management activities. Multiple-use-oriented forest owners (45%) were most active, including in terms of conservation measures. Conservation-oriented owners (25%) mainly focused on passive measures, and conventional owners (30%) showed only a little engagement with conservation-related activities. Despite the differences, common instruments promoting conservation activities were identified. They included, for example on-site consultation, information about legal regulations and financial incentives. 4. Based on four system characteristics (parameters, feedback, design and intent), we identified leverage points towards transformative change. The deep and thus effective leverage points are changing the discourse, accounting for the heterogeneity of private forest owners as well as for uncertainty related to climate change and adapting measures to local contexts. Furthermore, working towards increasing awareness, knowledge and interest as well as accounting for the desire for autonomy and control are promising pathways for change. 5. A holistic transformation of forest policy and management towards integrative conservation is urgently needed to meet the current challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and timber demand. This transformation has to go beyond the adaptation of existing policy instruments and instead focus on systematic and cross-sectoral changes in the underlying policy orientation, its design and its implementation.

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