Institut für Agrarpolitik und Landwirtschaftliche Marktlehre
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Publication Nachhaltigkeitstransformation im Agrar- und Ernährungssektor: Verbraucherakzeptanz von Innovationen bei Lebensmitteln(2024) Wendt, Marie-Catherine; Weinrich, RamonaThe current agricultural and food system is under significant pressure to transform and is in- creasingly confronted with numerous sustainability challenges and environmental, climate, and socio-political demands. Innovations in the food sector play a key role in addressing global sustainability challenges and accelerating the transformation of production and consumption patterns. However, the successful market introduction of innovative products and technologies requires consumer acceptance. This dissertation aims to investigate consumer acceptance of innovative food technologies and farming systems through empirical consumer surveys and to identify societal acceptance barriers. The study is exemplified by two subject areas. Subject Area I: “Consumer Acceptance of Technological Food Innovations” highlights that technological innovations in the food sector often face rejection, significantly hindering their market success and the transformation process. It is evident that Food Technology Neophobia (FTN) – the fear or aversion towards novel foods – is a significant predictor of the acceptance of innovative food technologies. Consumers with high FTN show a lower willingness to accept innovative food products and technologies. Assessing FTN prior to product launches is crucial for product development and marketing research. This assessment allows for estimating the success rate of innovative food products in the market, identifying potential risks early, and subsequently developing targeted strategies to overcome or reduce FTN. For the success of innovative food technologies, such as the production of cultured meat, con- sumer trust in the food industry, regulatory authorities, and science is essential. The second contribution segments the German population based on their trust in cultured meat and various actors along the food chain. Four consumer segments were identified, with trusting consumers (17.5%) forming the smallest segment. In contrast, 24.3% are classified as mistrustful consum- ers. The largest group comprises the cautious consumers (37.5%), who, together with the skep- tical consumers (20.7%), are undecided regarding their trust and purchase intention for cultured meat. Since these segments constitute almost 60% of the German population, the findings sug- gest that researching trust-building communication measures for these segments is particularly relevant. This could expand the potential target group for cultured meat and facilitate a success- ful market entry in Germany. A new agricultural concept is characterized by the complete abandonment of chemically syn- thetic pesticides while maintaining mineral fertilization. This has the potential to drive the trans- formation process towards more sustainable agriculture. In the second subject area, “Consumer Acceptance of Sustainability Innovations in Primary Production”, the market potential of pes- ticide-free animal products is examined in two interrelated contributions. Potential consumers (22.9%) show a willingness to consume pesticide-free products and to pay 31% more for pes- ticide-free milk, 23% more for cheese, and 24% more for butter than for conventional dairy products. The acceptance of these products is fostered by health consciousness, chemophobia, and perceived consumer effectiveness, while price sensitivity negatively affects acceptance. Targeted market positioning as a sustainable but more affordable alternative to organically pro- duced foods could make this innovative farming system attractive to a broad consumer base. Based on the findings, societal acceptance debates can be explained and resolved through the following aspects: (1) There is a general skepticism towards innovations in the food sector within the German population, mainly due to a lack of trust and insufficient information about production and regulatory processes. (2) Targeted communication approaches are necessary to clearly convey the added value of these products to consumers. (3) Increasing acceptance re- quires an integrative approach that includes education, transparency, and regulatory measures. Through targeted and coordinated efforts, companies, governments, and educational institu- tions can build consumer trust and promote the acceptance of new food technologies. This is essential for successfully transforming the agricultural and food system and achieving global sustainability goals.Publication Exploring private financing for biodiversity conservation: Stakeholder perspectives and governance in the case of wildflower strips in Germany(2024) Bücheler, Hannah; Bieling, Claudia; Feuerbacher, ArndtThis 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.Publication Animal welfare in non-anthropocentric cost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions: A critical review to guide practical application(2024-10) Dusel, Sara; Wieck, ChristineCost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions are two closely related methods to evaluate impacts of policies on humans (producers, consumers etc.) and animals. In cost-benefit analysis, the impacts on animals are currently either disclosed as intangible impacts or monetised from the human (anthropocentric) perspective through production costs, revenues and willingness to pay. Social welfare functions are more flexible to aggregate and trade-off impacts on animals, but they are not yet applied in practice. In the literature, advances have been made to monetise policy impacts from the animals’ (non-anthropocentric) perspective and to include animals in social welfare functions. Yet, policy analysts who seek to implement any of these approaches in practice face substantial challenges because the available studies differ considerably in the methodologies and underlying normative assumptions. We conduct a critical review of the scientific and grey literature with the aim to synthesise the available material, to facilitate an informed debate on conflicting normative assumptions, and to eventually guide the practical application of non-anthropocentric cost-benefit analysis and social welfare functions. The results of the critical review are presented in the form of a checklist that allows to better comprehend key steps of the methodologies. Step-by-step, the checklist gives an overview of the alternative options and normative assumptions in the literature, and points to any remaining research gaps. Beside the academic debate, this is relevant for practical policy analysts who need to make methodological choices for their policy questions at hand.Publication Navigating the indicator jungle: A roadmap to analyze common agricultural policy indicators(2024-09-01) Gorn, Anne-Kartrin; Barissoul, Ayoub; Wieck, ChristineThe CAP monitoring framework includes a wide range of policy indicators, covering output, results, context, and impact. In environmental policy sciences, the complexities of analysing policy instruments and indicators are well known and techniques like statistical pattern analysis and grouping indicators into "umbrella" or composite indicators are recommended to simplify analysis. These methods are less common in agricultural economics and political sciences. This working paper investigates methods for constructing umbrella indicators and presents a literature-based roadmap for their application to the CAP indicators. It demonstrates that these methods can be successfully applied not only in other scientific fields but also to CAP indicators.Publication Nachhaltigkeitsexzellenz in der Landwirtschaft: Mehr Sichtbarkeit für die versteckten Leuchttürme der Alltagspraxis(2024-09) Gebhardt, Beate; Hellstern, LauraIm Projekt NEAL wurde die Bedeutung von exzellenter Mikro-Nachhaltigkeit und die Rolle von Nachhaltigkeitsawards sowie weiterer unterstützender Instrumente einer nachhaltigen Transformation in der Landwirtschaft untersucht. Die Erkenntnisse des Projektes sollen landwirtschaftlichen Unternehmen, Verbänden sowie weiteren relevanten Akteuren der land¬wirtschaftlichen Wertschöpfungsketten eine Orientierung geben in den Fragen: • Welche Nachhaltigkeitsthemen benötigen in Zukunft ein größeres Augenmerk? • Wie können Landwirt*innen in ihrer Nachhaltigkeitstransformation gefördert werden? • Welche Rolle spielen Nachhaltigkeitsawards in der Nachhaltigkeitstransformation? Für das Forschungsprojekt NEAL wurden dazu (a) 310 Landwirt*innen und 59 landwirtschaftsnahe Verbände in einem bundesweiten Nachhaltigkeits-Crowd-Screening im Frühjahr 2022 online befragt und hierbei insgesamt 236 herausragende, awardwürdige Nachhaltigkeitsaktivitäten identifiziert, die in der Landwirtschaft bereits umgesetzt oder geplant werden. Mittels Awards-Matching und Clustering wurde (b) der webbasierte, interaktive CSR-Award Finder mit über 150 Wettbewerben erstellt und Ende 2022 online gestellt. Der CSR-Award Finder macht die Welt der Awards für Unternehmen übersichtlicher und einfacher zugänglich, insbesondere erleichtert dies den Zugang kleiner Unternehmen und landwirtschaftliche Betriebe. Zentrale Aussagen der Studie lauten: 1. Nachhaltigkeit ist für Landwirt*innen ein relevantes Thema und viele „versteckte“ nachhaltige Tätigkeiten werden auf den befragten Betrieben bereits umgesetzt. 2. Bio-Betriebe zeigen sich als Vorreiter von Nachhaltigkeitsexzellenz in der Landwirtschaft. 3. Bodennutzung, Biodiversität, regionale Wertschöpfung und Tierwohl sind wichtige Bereiche, in denen viele nachhaltigkeitsbezogene Maßnahmen von Landwirt*innen umgesetzt und als besonders hervorgehoben werden. 4. „Blinde Flecken“ in Nachhaltigkeitsansätzen korrespondieren mit Bewertungen der Landwirtschaft.. 5. Leuchttürme der Mikro-Ebene kommen auf der Makro-Ebene kaum an. 6. Eine heterogene und multifunktionale Landwirtschaft benötigt vielfältige, multiple Instrumente zur Förderung von Nachhaltigkeit auf Betriebsebene. 7. Nachhaltigkeitstransformation in der Landwirtschaft benötigt mehr gemeinsame An-strengungen. 8. Nachhaltigkeitsexzellenz in der Landwirtschaft benötigt mehr Mut und Sichtbarkeit. Die Ergebnisse im Projekt NEAL unterstreichen: Ein Ansatz alleine ist nicht ausreichend. Aufgrund der Heterogenität der landwirtschaftlichen Betriebe gilt dies gerade auch für die Landwirtschaft. Sustainable Finance und Awards sind dabei zwei verschiedene Ansätze bzw. Instrumente, die beide als wichtig und unterstützend gelten, um die Nachhaltigkeitstransformation landwirtschaftlicher Systeme und Betriebe voranzubringen. Beiden Ansätzen wird bescheinigt, ein wichtiges Instrument unter vielen zu sein, aber singulär einen eher geringen Hebel zu haben, da nicht alle landwirtschaftlichen Betriebe damit eingebunden werden können oder sich dadurch angesprochen fühlen. Die Ergebnisse im Projekt NEAL zeigen außerdem, Awards sind in die Toolbox der bekannten Instrumente und Anreize zur Stärkung der Nachhaltigkeitstransformation einzubinden. Sie stehen damit neben ökonomischen Anreizen im Markt oder regulativen Anreize, die vom Staat gesetzt werden. Awards setzen am Positiven und an der Sichtbarmachung des Vorbildhaften und Innovativen in der Landwirtschaft an. Sie können damit das verborgene Besondere, die nachhaltigen Aktivitäten und die versteckten Leuchttürme in der Landwirtschaft, nach außen tragen und zum Leuchten bringen, und damit die Nachhaltigkeits-Motivation der Landwirt*innen erheblich steigern.Publication Bioprinting of 3D adipose tissue models using a GelMA-bioink with human mature adipocytes or human adipose-derived stem cells(2022) Albrecht, Franziska Brigitte; Schmidt, Freia F.; Volz, Ann-Cathrin; Kluger, Petra J.Adipose tissue is related to the development and manifestation of multiple diseases, demonstrating the importance of suitable in vitro models for research purposes. In this study, adipose tissue lobuli were explanted, cultured, and used as an adipose tissue control to evaluate in vitro generated adipose tissue models. During culture, lobule exhibited a stable weight, lactate dehydrogenase, and glycerol release over 15 days. For building up in vitro adipose tissue models, we adapted the biomaterial gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) composition and handling to homogeneously mix and bioprint human primary mature adipocytes (MA) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), respectively. Accelerated cooling of the bioink turned out to be essential for the homogeneous distribution of lipid-filled MAs in the hydrogel. Last, we compared manual and bioprinted GelMA hydrogels with MA or ASCs and the explanted lobules to evaluate the impact of the printing process and rate the models concerning the physiological reference. The viability analyses demonstrated no significant difference between the groups due to additive manufacturing. The staining of intracellular lipids and perilipin A suggest that GelMA is well suited for ASCs and MA. Therefore, we successfully constructed physiological in vitro models by bioprinting MA-containing GelMA bioinks.Publication Bioplastics for food packaging: Environmental impact, trends and regulatory aspects(2022) Cruz, Rui M. S.; Krauter, Victoria; Krauter, Simon; Agriopoulou, Sofia; Weinrich, Ramona; Herbes, Carsten; Scholten, Philip B. V.; Uysal-Unalan, Ilke; Sogut, Ece; Kopacic, Samir; Lahti, Johanna; Rutkaite, Ramune; Varzakas, TheodorosThe demand to develop and produce eco-friendly alternatives for food packaging is increasing. The huge negative impact that the disposal of so-called “single-use plastics” has on the environment is propelling the market to search for new solutions, and requires initiatives to drive faster responses from the scientific community, the industry, and governmental bodies for the adoption and implementation of new materials. Bioplastics are an alternative group of materials that are partly or entirely produced from renewable sources. Some bioplastics are biodegradable or even compostable under the right conditions. This review presents the different properties of these materials, mechanisms of biodegradation, and their environmental impact, but also presents a holistic overview of the most important bioplastics available in the market and their potential application for food packaging, consumer perception of the bioplastics, regulatory aspects, and future challenges.Publication Sustainable food packaging: An updated definition following a holistic approach(2023) Dörnyei, Krisztina Rita; Uysal-Unalan, Ilke; Krauter, Victoria; Weinrich, Ramona; Incarnato, Loredana; Karlovits, Igor; Colelli, Giancarlo; Chrysochou, Polymeros; Fenech, Margaret Camilleri; Pettersen, Marit Kvalvåg; Arranz, Elena; Marcos, Begonya; Frigerio, Valeria; Apicella, Annalisa; Yildirim, Selçuk; Poças, Fátima; Dekker, Matthijs; Johanna, Lahti; Coma, Véronique; Corredig, MilenaFood packaging solutions need to be redesigned to be more sustainable, but determining which solution is ‘more optimal’ is a very difficult task when considering the entire food product value chain. Previous papers paved the way toward a sustainable food packaging definition, but it is far from being commonly accepted or well usable in the broad food systems domain, which further results in uninformed choices for sustainable food packaging made by all stakeholders in the value chain: producers, distributors, practitioners and consumers. Therefore, this work aims first at giving a state-of-the-art overview of sustainable food packaging terms (38 similar terms were identified and grouped into four clusters: Sustainable, Circular, Bio and Other sustainable packaging) and definitions using systematic (narrative) review analysis and ‘controlled expert opinion feedback’ methodology. Second, it aims to offer an updated definition for sustainable food packaging, which is also specific to food packaging and be simple, coherent, easily understandable, and communicable to everybody. The applied holistic approach intends to include all aspects of the food-packaging unit, to consider food safety and packaging functionality, while taking into account different disciplines and challenges related to food packaging along the supply chain. Being a balancing act, a sustainable food packaging may not be a perfect solution, but contextual, suboptimal and in need of constant validation.Publication Sensorische Beurteilung von Zweinutzungshühnern in der Gemeinschaftsverpflegung Ergebnisse einer Verkostung des Gerichts „Halbes Brathähnchen“ in drei Kantinen in Baden-Württemberg(2024-08-14) Gebhardt, BeateUm Verbraucher*innen einen verinnerlichenden Zugang zum Zweinutzungshuhn anzubieten und deren sensorischen Beurteilung in einer größeren Stichprobe zu erfassen, wurde in der vorliegenden Studie eine Verkostung von Zweinutzungshahnenfleisch in der Gemeinschaftsverpflegung in Baden-Württemberg im Projekt ZweiWert konzipiert. In drei Kantinen bzw. Mensen in Baden-Württemberg wurde Hühnerfleisch im Gericht „Halbes Brathähnchen“ von den Gästen sensorisch beurteilt. In zwei Testessen wurde einmal das „Standardhuhn“ der Kantine und ein anderes Mal ein Zweinutzungshuhn der Genetiken „Coffee“ und „Cream“ der ökologischen Tierzucht gGmbH (ÖTZ) zubereitet. In der Blind-Verkostung war den Gästen die Reihenfolge der Genetiken unbekannt. Nach Datenbereinigung standen 600 Fragebögen für die Analyse zur Verfügung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen: Das Zweinutzungshuhn ist den meisten Gästen bisher unbekannt. Es besteht ein hohes Interesse über das Zweinutzungshuhn in Kantinen mehr zu erfahren und dessen Fleisch auszuprobieren. Ferner besteht eine hohe Bereitschaft an der Studie teilzunehmen. Das Fleisch des Zweinutzungshuhns hält sensorisch mit dem Standardhuhn der Kantinen mit – insbesondere im Geschmack. Saftigkeit und Zartheit sind die kritischen sensorischen Attribute. Flügel und Schlegel sind die kritischen Teile. Viele Gäste sind bereit, etwas mehr für das Zweinutzungshuhn zu zahlen. Die Wiederwahlabsicht des getesteten Fleisches ist in beiden Testessen hoch, teils ist die Wiederwahlabsicht beim Zweinutzungshuhn etwas geringer, teils gleich hoch mit dem Standardhuhn. Das EIP-Projekt mit dem Titel „Aufbau von Wertschöpfungsketten für Zweinutzungshühner in Baden-Württemberg“ (ZweiWert) wird vom Ministerium für Ernährung, ländliche Räume und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg von 01/2022 bis 12/2024 gefördert. Projektpartner sind der Naturlandverband Baden-Württemberg, mehrere Fachgebiete der Universität Hohenheim und viele Partner aus der landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugung und Vermarktung.Publication SIEGER! Business-Awards als Instrument zur Steuerung der Nachhaltigkeitstransformation : Ansätze für Qualitätssicherung und Schärfung der strategischen Weiterentwicklung(2024-08-14) Gebhardt, Beate; Hellstern, LauraDas von der Deutschen Bundestiftung Umwelt (DBU) geförderte Forschungsprojekt „SIEGER“ ist ein wichtiger Baustein für Überlegungen und Analysen zum Nutzen und zur Qualitätssicherung von hochwertigen Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitswettbewerben. Es stellt die Möglichkeiten der konzeptionellen und organisatorischen Weiterentwicklung von Nachhaltigkeitswettbewerben dar und beschäftigt sich mit Erfolg und der Zukunftsfähigkeit solcher Awards. Untersucht wurden in diesem Zusammenhang die strategische Bedeutung sowie Herausforderungen und – erstmals in diesem Kontext – der Einfluss von Krisen auf die Rolle von Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeits-awards. Eine weitere Frage ist, ob und wie Awards die konkrete Nachhaltigkeitsperformance und -bewertung von Unternehmen bzw. einen Paradigmenwechsel oder eine Unternehmenstransformation unterstützen. Die Erkenntnisse des Projekts sollen Vergabeinstitutionen von Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitswettbewerben eine Orientierung geben in den Fragen: • Was macht hochwertige Wettbewerbe aus? • Wie können kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen (KMUs) davon profitieren und Awards nutzen? • Können Awards zu einer gesamtgesellschaftlichen nachhaltigen Transformation beitragen? Für das Forschungsprojekt SIEGER wurden mittels Methoden-Mix deutschlandweit Vergabeinstitutionen von Awards und Unternehmen befragt. Gesammelt, systematisiert und abgeleitet werden Möglichkeiten resilienter, erfolgsversprechender Ansätze einer nachhaltigen Transformation der Vergabekonzepte; Möglichkeiten zur Stärkung von KMUs aus Sicht von Vergabeinstitutionen (Awardgebende), von Unternehmen (Awardnehmende) und von weiteren Experten sowie strategische Empfehlungen für zukunftsfähige Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitswettbewerbe. Die Projektbearbeitung übernahm der AK BEST (Business Excellence and Sustainability Transformation), eine Initiative angegliedert an die Universität Hohenheim, mit Schwerpunkt in der Award-Forschung. Zentrale Aussagen der Studie lauten: 1. Auf den Ausbau oder eine Weiterentwicklung der Nachhaltigkeitstransformation können hochwertige Nachhaltigkeitsawards eine positive Auswirkung haben – auch wenn die (Unternehmens-)Welt von Krisen und/oder Unsicherheiten beeinflusst ist. 2. Die Stärken und Chancen von Awards werden höher bewertet als die Schwächen und Risiken. 3. Insbesondere der Imagegewinn, Sympathiegewinn bei Kund*innen und die Motivation bei Mitarbeiter*innen werden von Unternehmen als positive Effekte genannt. 4. Für kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen (KMUs) sind vor allem Finanzier-barkeit und Zeitaufwand eine Hürde für die Teilnahme, für Großunternehmen ist es die Vielzahl an Awards und deren Glaubwürdigkeit. 5. (Nachhaltigkeits-)Awards spielen auch in der Zukunft eine Rolle für Unternehmen, wenn die Vergabeinstitutionen fünf wesentliche Merkmale sicherstellen: Qualität, Glaubwürdigkeit, Transparenz, Zugänglichkeit und Wirkung. 6. Für zukünftige oder Zukunftsawards erwarten Unternehmen Kommunikations-fähigkeit (für sich) und Kommunikation (der Vergabeinstitution), um externe sowie interne Stakeholder in das Handeln und ggfs. eine Transformation zu integrieren. 7. Zentral ist dafür, dass auch die Vergabeinstitutionen in der Lage sind, ihre Awards situativ anzupassen und ggfs. eine Selbstveränderung zu schaffen (Resilienz). In diesem Abschlussbericht des Forschungsprojekts SIEGER werden diese Ergebnisse detailliert beschrieben, Ziel und Methodik der Forschungsstudie benannt und ein Weg in die Zukunft für (Nachhaltigkeits-)Awards aufgezeigt.Publication Broiler production in Ghana and Senegal : farm economics, international competitiveness and policy considerations(2023) Chibanda, Craig Chikomborero; Wieck, ChristineChicken meat consumption has rapidly increased in many West African countries in the last three decades. The increase in consumption has been attributed to several factors, which include population growth, urbanization, rising incomes, and the nutritional importance of chicken meat. However, poultry producers in many West African countries were struggling to meet the rising demand. Consequently, the gap in supply and demand led to an increase in frozen poultry meat imports by many African countries at the end of the 1990s. Most of the imports consisted of chicken meat cuts, which were considerably cheaper than domestically produced chicken meat. Price-wise, domestic chicken meat could not compete with imports, which sparked debate over their importation. In West African nations such as Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, farm closures, income losses, and a precipitous decline in domestic poultry production are believed to have resulted from the imports' low prices. In the early 2000s, countries in the region reacted differently to the influx of low-priced chicken imports, with some countries instituting protectionist measures that halted the imports while others continued to import the low-priced frozen chicken meat as a means of providing their citizens with a source of affordable animal protein. Although there has been much debate about the various pathways that countries have taken, limited research has been conducted to compare the agronomic and economic status quo of broiler chicken production in countries with different policies. Against this backdrop, the overarching objective of this dissertation is to investigate the economics and international competitiveness of broiler production in two West African countries pursuing different poultry trade policies: Ghana (which is heavily reliant on chicken meat imports) and Senegal (which banned poultry meat imports for almost two decades). Five research gaps in the body of literature on broiler production in Ghana and Senegal are identified in this dissertation. First, existing studies classify broiler production in Ghana and Senegal into broad production systems that are ambiguous. Second, although a number of studies have been conducted on the Ghanaian broiler value chain, there are conflicting arguments regarding the reasons for its lack of development. Third, existing studies do not provide comprehensive analyses of the performance (management), cost structure, and profitability of different broiler farm types in Ghana and Senegal. Fourth, there are no existing studies that compare the international competitiveness of broiler farms in West African countries like Ghana and Senegal with those in key chicken meat exporting countries. Fifth, the current body of literature fails to adequately examine some policy-related concerns. Specifically, little consideration is given to the potential effects of implementing alternative poultry trade policies in Ghana on producers. Based on these research gaps, this dissertation attempts to answer three overarching research questions: i. What is the state of broiler farm economics and broiler value chains in Ghana and Senegal? ii. How does the competitiveness of broiler farms in Ghana and Senegal compare with those in key chicken meat exporting countries in Europe (i.e., Germany and the Netherlands)? iii. What are the potential effects of implementing alternative poultry trade policies in Ghana? As this is a cumulative dissertation, the research questions were addressed in a series of journal articles that are included in this dissertation as chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Chapter 2 characterizes and analyses the economics of broiler production systems in Ghana. The typical farm approach is used for this purpose. This approach entails constructing empirically grounded farm data sets that are called “typical farms” through the use of a multi-stakeholder workshop, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Three broiler production systems in three regions were identified. They include the large-scale integrated production system (> 20,000 birds/year) in the Ashanti (Kumasi) region, the medium-scale system (5,000–20,000 birds/year) in the Brong-Ahafo (Dormaa) region, and the small-scale commercial system (< 5,000 birds/year) in the Greater Accra region. The Technology Impact Policy Impact Calculations (TIPI-CAL) model was then used to determine the performance, costs of production, and profitability of typical farms. TIPI-CAL is a production and accounting model used for farm economic analysis as it allows a detailed examination of farm-level variables and simulations. The findings presented in Chapter 2 show that the typical small-scale farm is performing the least in comparison to the other farm types in the country in terms of feed conversion ratios (FCR) and Broiler farm economy index (BFEI). The low farm performance of the typical small-scale farm is attributed to the use of poor-quality feed, inappropriate husbandry practices, and its long feeding period. Small-scale producers in Ghana attribute the unusually long feeding period (around 63 days) to market competition from low-priced frozen chicken meat imports. The producers explained that instead of selling their chickens in 42 days they had to rear them for up to 63 days because there is no ready market for them. The findings also show that although the typical medium-scale and large-scale integrated farms are generally performing better than the small-scale farm, they are also not performing so well in terms of the expected performance levels. Furthermore, the results show that broiler production in Ghana is typically seasonal. The seasonal production was attributed to the competition from frozen chicken meat imports, which are cheaper and more readily available in cut pieces, making preparation easier than with domestic chickens that are typically sold live. The results of the farm economic analysis also show that feed and day-old chick (DOC) costs are the most significant production cost items for all three typical farms. Despite the relatively high costs of feed and DOCs, broiler production as a seasonal activity is profitable for all typical farms. Chapter 3 studies the performance of Ghana’s poultry value chain and examines the interlinked challenges that actors in the value chain are facing and their underlying causes. The Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) framework is used to assess and develop strategies to sustainably upgrade the Ghanaian broiler value chain. The SFVC concept moves away from the traditional approach of value chain analysis, where well-known constraints are listed along with proposed recommendations. Instead, the concept takes a universal perspective to identify the interlinked foundational causes of why value chain actors fail to take advantage of existing end-market opportunities. Due to the complex nature of studying value chains, both qualitative and quantitative research methods are employed. These include focus groups, semi-structured interviews, desk reviews, and the Delphi method. The results of the study highlight the poor economic, social, and environmental performance of the Ghanaian poultry sector. Although the results of the Delphi study show that poultry experts in Ghana perceive imports and high feed costs as the most significant challenges facing the value chain, a deeper analysis reveals that weak vertical and horizontal coordination among actors in the value chain, coupled with low commitment from supporting stakeholders, emerge as the root causes of the value chain's challenges. To achieve sustainable growth, the Ghanaian poultry value chain requires commitment and support from the government and other stakeholders, as well as coordination between them. The study also explains that effective vertical relationships (e.g., trust and communication) will play a vital role in the process of upgrading the value chain by promoting conditions that encourage investment. Also, effective cooperation in the horizontal linkages, for example, among producer associations (especially for the many small-scale producers), would contribute to reducing their production costs while facilitating their access to buyers and processors. In addition, competitive improvements would result in more value-added domestic chicken products that cater to the growing demands of Ghanaian consumers at lower prices. Chapter 4 studies the state of broiler production in Senegal after nearly two decades of poultry import restrictions. It provides a synopsis of the Senegalese broiler value chain and evaluates the performance and economics of different farm types. A multi-stakeholder workshop and interviews were conducted with key informants to investigate the structure and activities of the Senegalese broiler value chain. Again, the typical farm approach was used to construct and analyze typical farms that represent the most common broiler production systems in Senegal. Small-scale (<10.000 birds/year), medium scale (10,000–100,000 birds/year), and large-scale integrated (> 100,000 birds/year) production systems were identified as the most prevalent broiler production systems. The findings show that the two typical medium-scale broiler farms in Senegal are performing well in terms of FCRs, BFEI, and mortality rates. The good performance is attributed to the use of high-quality inputs (feed and chicks) and good husbandry practices. The results of the value chain analysis suggest that the country has well-developed feed and hatchery industries. Therefore, the development of these industries has ensured that producers have access to domestically produced, high-quality inputs. Nevertheless, the typical small-scale farm is not performing well, and this is attributed to inappropriate poultry husbandry practices. Additionally, the analysis revealed that feed and day-old chick (DOC) costs are the most significant in conventional broiler production in Senegal. Despite the high costs of feed and DOCs, broiler production is profitable for all typical farms. Chapter 5 examines whether differences in the competitiveness of broiler farms in Ghana, Senegal, Germany, and the Netherlands provide insight into why domestically produced chicken meat in West African countries is more expensive than imports from Europe. For this comparison, farm management (none monetary farm performance indicators) and economic performance indicators (costs of production and profitability) of typical broiler farms in the four countries are derived. The study shows that most of the typical broiler farms in Ghana and Senegal are not competitive with farms in Germany and the Netherlands in terms of farm management. More specifically, the findings show that the typical German and Dutch broiler farms are performing better than all typical farms in Ghana and the typical small-scale farm in Senegal in terms of the FCRs, BFEI, mortality rates, and number of production cycles per year. However, the performance of typical medium scale farms in Senegal is almost comparable to that of German and Dutch farms in terms of all the farm management indicators that were analyzed. The good farm management of medium scale farms in Senegal is attributed to good animal husbandry practices and the use of high-quality feed and high-quality DOCs. The findings also show that typical broiler farms in Ghana and Senegal are not competitive with German and Dutch farms in terms of economic performance. The poor economic performance of the Ghanaian and Senegalese farms is attributed to higher production costs. Apparently, the broiler farms in the two countries have higher production costs due to high feed and DOC costs. In Ghana, high feed costs are attributed to high feed prices and feed-use inefficiency (reflected by high FCRs). In the case of Senegal, high feed costs are largely due to high feed prices. Having established that typical broiler farms in Ghana and Senegal are not competitive in terms of farm management and costs of production , the impact of improving farm management (primarily the FCRs) on production costs was then simulated using the TIPI-CAL model. The results of the simulations demonstrate that improving farm management to optimum levels would lead to a reduction in the costs of production for Ghanaian and Senegalese farms. However, the reduction would not be sufficient to make the farms competitive with those in Germany and the Netherlands because high input costs (feed and DOC) are the primary contributors to high production costs. Improving the competitiveness of broiler farms will therefore require a combination of interventions designed to lower input costs and enhance farm management. For decades, Ghanaian policymakers have been pressured to implement protectionist policies to protect the poultry value chain from low-priced imports. Chapter 6 examines the potential impact of implementing these policies. The Modular Applied General Equilibrium Tool (MAGNET) and TIPI-CAL models are used to examine the: (1) potential impact of a hypothetical complete ban of poultry meat imports in Ghana; (2) potential impact of a partial ban of poultry products (banning poultry products originating from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Russia); (3) potential effects of raising the import tariffs on poultry meat in Ghana to 40 percent and 99 percent; and (4) potential effects of abolishing the current 5% import tariff rate on maize imports. The results show that a complete ban on poultry meat imports would have a positive impact on domestic poultry meat production, increasing production by 254%. This increase will be most likely driven by existing farms doubling their production cycles and new producers attracted to a protected broiler sector. The findings also show that a complete ban would increase the importation of maize. Considering the importance of maize for poultry production in Ghana, the effects of abolishing the existing 5% import tariff rate on maize were simulated. The results show that removing the tariff would not lead to a significant increase in poultry production. This is most likely due to the fact that the tariff rate is already very low. In accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, Ghana is allowed to increase the tariff rate on poultry meat up to 99% (the maximum level of bound tariff). The findings show that increasing the tariff rate from the current 35% to 99% would result in a 104% increase in domestic poultry meat production. The tariff would offer significant protection to domestic producers and result in a significant reduction in poultry meat imports (around 57% reduction in imports). The typical farm analysis indicates that broiler farms in Ghana are more prevalent in urban and peri-urban areas. Therefore, a boost in domestic poultry meat production would most likely lead to an increase in urban and peri-urban employment. The findings also show that medium- and large-scale farms employ the highest number of people; therefore, such farm types are expected to boost urban and peri-urban employment if they increase production. Also, of importance, an increase in domestic broiler production will most likely have positive knock-on effects on other value chain actors such as slaughterhouses, feed millers, and poultry traders. Although the results indicate that producers will benefit from the implementation of protectionist measures, it is important for policymakers to keep in mind that such measures will most likely also have negative implications. For example, the results show that protectionist measures would lead to a decrease in the Gross domestic product (GDP) as the measures would either reduce or eliminate the imports leading to reduced tariff revenues, which account for a large share of total tariff revenues in Ghana. The dissertation concludes that a comprehensive sector-wide policy-making approach that considers all the challenges facing the different value chain actors (e.g., hatcheries, feed millers, producers, traders, slaughterhouses and consumers) will be more effective in providing a delicate balance that ensures that the broiler value chains in Ghana and Senegal develop and consumers have access to affordable chicken meat. Such an approach would also be useful in addressing the issue of high input prices (mainly feed and day-old chicks), which is at the center of the low competitiveness of broiler farms in the two countries. Additionally, the comprehensive policy-making approach should also consider the need for proper infrastructure and technology to support the growth of broiler value chains. This includes investments in cold storage facilities and slaughterhouses to ensure efficient and cost-effective processing and distribution of chicken meat. By addressing these challenges holistically, policymakers can create an enabling environment for the development of sustainable and competitive broiler value chains in both countries.Publication Using machine learning for supply and demand predictions in the German milk market(2023) Baaken, Dominik; Hess, SebastianThe German milk market is driven by various ongoing trends on both the domestic supply and the international demand side. This results in increasingly volatile prices, as well as increasing production costs, and both risks continue to induce dairy farms going out of business. Therefore market participants have expressed a desire for reliable forecasting tools at the regional level in order to be able to make strategic and operational decisions with greater planning certainty. However, such forecasting models at the farm or regional level do not currently exist or are not publicly available. This dissertation fills this research gap by developing a forecasting model for predicting regional milk production in Lower Saxony. The first of four research chapters, Chapter 3, compares five different Machine Learning (ML) models and a traditional linear regression (OLS) model based on time trends, direct and indirect weather influences, and price events. The ML models show advantages in forecast accuracy, in particular ML methods outperform econometric modelling in predicting non-linear developments induced by investment. Furthermore, differences in the efficiency of the methods are apparent: while comparable estimation approaches achieve similar accuracies, the training speed of the models varies considerably. Chapter 4 presents the relationship between seasonal weather conditions and seasonal milk production. This chapter incorporates the influences of direct and indirect weather conditions as well as time and price trends into the model. A Fixed Effects (FE) estimator is used to model quarterly milk production for a panel dataset from Lower Saxony. The results mainly illustrate the influence of farm decisions on milk production, which is stronger than the influence of weather conditions. Contrary to expectations, the influence of weather conditions during the growing season cannot be significantly demonstrated. Instead, there is a positive effect of warmer and drier weather in almost all quarters except autumn. Chapters 5 and 6 shift the focus to the demand side of the German milk market, examining in particular the sale of raw milk from vending machines. As farmers seek alternative sales channels, on-farm vending machines offer an opportunity for additional income. Chapter 5 develops a forecasting model based on a nationwide survey and the Xtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) algorithm. The model achieves sufficiently accurate values to qualify as a practical tool, allowing indecisive farm managers to input their own values into the model and thus secure their investment decision. The influence of the variables on the prediction is investigated using SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) values, indicating that sales of raw milk from vending machines are influenced less by individual marketing measures than by various location factors such as population density, proximity to a city, and location along a road with commuter traffic. It can be concluded that there is additional sales potential if farmers would be allowed to place the vending machine in an optimal location away from the farm. Chapter 6 analyses consumer behaviour through a survey in Germany, using seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) to model willingness to pay (WTP) and frequency of purchase. The results suggest that in this form of marketing, consumers especially value a ‘fair’ price for the producer and are less price-sensitive. On average, customers’ WTP is higher than the current milk price and varies between consumer groups. Consumers with a closer connection to milk production are willing to pay more for raw milk but purchase it less frequently. It also appears that as consumers get older, they are more likely to buy raw milk but are less willing to pay for it. Tailoring marketing activities based on consumer characteristics can increase the efficiency of additional sales channels. Overall, this dissertation demonstrates the potential applications and limitations of ML methods for considering supply and demand in the German milk market. The forecasting models can serve as a potential tool for farmers to better weight strategic and operational decisions, thus contributing to more efficient agriculture.Publication Die Kraft von Awards : Umfrage unter Unternehmen und Vergabeinstitutionen in Deutschland 2023(2023) Gebhardt, Beate; Hellstern, LauraFrom an academic perspective, research on the effects of sustainability awards and their potential to contribute to sustainability transformation represents a niche. Against the backdrop of an increasing number of awards targeting companies and multiple crises "disrupting" companies in different ways and new EU regulations, such as on evidence-based corporate communication on environmental aspects, the question of the power of awards needs to be re-examined and answers are more important than ever. In a double study within the framework of the SIEGER project funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), awarding institutions and companies throughout Germany were surveyed online in spring 2023. The objective was to discover first the effects of sustainability awards from the point of view of award-giving institutions, the donators, and companies, the award-recipients, and second the contribution they can make to a sustainability transformation. Sustainability awards are mostly attributed positive to very positive effects, both on the micro level (employee motivation), but especially on the meso level (image gain; awareness), less so on the macro level (ecological aspects; social aspects). The evaluation of the power of awards, their direction of impact and strength, in this study is perceived and is shaped by the different framing of the respondents. Award donors and winners overestimate the perception of awards by third parties as well as the external learning effects (imitation effects). The thematic focus on sustainability leads awarding institutions to overstate the intended ecological effects of an award. The majority of respondents believe that awards can contribute to sustainability transformation. Compared to other awards, sustainability awards are seen as having more power and making a more positive contribution to sustainability transformation. The analysis also shows that awards are a mirror of current political and social demands and developments. Beyond the ecological claim "sustainability award", awards integrate socio-ecological aspects in their requirements for the entrepreneurial participants of the competition. The further development of sustainability awards can therefore be achieved through internal development on the part of the awarding institutions and supported by external measures.Publication Zweinutzungshuhn – wie schmeckt das? Sensorische Beurteilung von Hühnerfleisch und Eiern von vier Zweinutzungshuhn-Genetiken(2023) Gebhardt, Beate; Maute, Jutta; Kiefer, LukasResearch into the sensory properties of meat and eggs from dual-purpose chickens has so far been a niche from a scientific point of view. In cooperation with the EIP-Agri project "ZweiWert", students at the DHBW Heilbronn therefore tasted, analysed and evaluated several dual-purpose chicken genetics in the integration seminar "Dual-purpose chickens: How to communicate the added value" in summer 2023. The genetics “Coffee" from the Ökologische Tierzucht (ÖTZ), "Sundheimer" from the Öko2Huhn project, "RegioHuhn" and "Lohmann Dual" as well as a control group from a classic laying or fattening line were assessed. The aim was to find out how different dual-purpose chickens taste and whether there are sensory differences or special features in meat and eggs Sensory attributes, including appearance, taste and smell, were recorded using a multi-methods assessment sheet. In short, the results of this explorative study show that dual-purpose chickens taste better. However, according to the testers judgement, there are differences not only between the different genetics, but also between the individual parts - breast, drumstick, wings or broth. The sensory profiles of the four dual-purpose chickens tested are varied and do not allow a clear sensory "ranking". The meat from Lohmann Dual apparently corresponds best to consumer preferences, while their eggs (cooked) are the least appealing. Overall, however, there is a consistent sensory superiority of the dual-purpose chickens over the specialised fattening or laying breed. These results - should they be confirmed in further studies - could contribute to increasing consumer acceptance of dual-purpose chickens and addressed in market communication to their further spread. The EIP project titled "Building Value Chains for Dual-Purpose Chickens in Baden-Württemberg" (ZweiWert) is funded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg from 01/2022 to 12/2024. Project partners include the Naturland Association of Baden-Württemberg, several departments of the University of Hohenheim, and many partners from agricultural production and marketing.Publication Status-Quo und Perspektiven von Zweinutzungshühnern in Baden-Württemberg : Ergebnisse eines World-Cafés im Rahmen des 1. Dialogforums des Projektes „ZweiWert“ am 2.3.2023.(2023) Bermejo, Gabriela; Imort-Just, Annik; Gebhardt, Beate; Hess, Sebastian; Kiefer, Lukas; Zikeli, SabineThe motivation behind the growing interest in dual-purpose chicken is diverse. Among other things, it is driven by the prohibition of killing male chicks from laying lines, by the desire to improve animal welfare in general, and by the preservation of genetic biodiversity and a more sustainable poultry production system. The project "ZweiWert" aims to create a regional network of actors in order to build up a value chain for dual-purpose chickens in Baden-Württemberg. Following a status quo and potential analysis of the agricultural production of dual-purpose chicken, a network will be established along the entire value chain, so that a sustainable production as well as a regular supply of the resulting products can be ensured. In order to promote the exchange between actors and to be able to develop policy options and recommendations, dialogue forums will be organized during the course of the project. The first forum took place in March 2023 and brought together representatives from different sectors. After various expert contributions, participants were able to exchange views on different areas of the value chain in the format of a World Café. In particular, the topics of networking and economic efficiency, cooperation, aspects of the legal/political framework and the need for more transparency and communication were mentioned during these discussions.Publication Zweinutzungshuhn – was ist das? Umfrage unter Landwirt*innen und Geflügelhalter*innen in Deutschland 2022(2023) Gebhardt, Beate; Bermejo, Gabriela; Imort-Just, Annik; Kiefer, Lukas; Zikeli, Sabine; Hess, SebastianTo comply with the ban on chick culling that has been in effect since January 2022, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture proposes three alternatives, including the hatching of dual-purpose chickens. In addition to the breeding and economic challenges of establishing dual-purpose animals in the value chain, the inconsistent understanding of what a dual-purpose chicken actually is and how its characteristics can be successfully communicated to consumers are seen as challenges. The goal of this working report is to present what a dual-purpose chicken is and what understanding farmers have of it. The German nationwide online survey among farmers and poultry farmers regarding the understanding and future of dual-purpose chickens was conducted in autumn 2022 as part of the EIP-Agri project "ZweiWert." The EIP project titled "Building Value Chains for Dual-Purpose Chickens in Baden-Württemberg" (ZweiWert) is funded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg from 01/2022 to 12/2024. Project partners include the Naturland Association of Baden-Württemberg, several departments of the University of Hohenheim, and many partners from agricultural production and marketing.Publication Status Quo und Potentiale des ökologischen Heil-, Kosmetik- und Gewürzpflanzenanbaus in Baden-Württemberg : Studienbericht & Supplement(2022) Gebhardt, BeateAt first glance, changing social demands, such as the desire for more biodiversity and a more sustainable use of agricultural land, offer new opportunities for the organic cultivation of medicinal, cosmetic and spice plants. The increased health awareness and interest of consumers in organic food, natural cosmetics and alternative healing methods such as phytotherapy, lead to expectations of new product developments and market growth, both in the production of raw materials and in their processing and access to new markets and value chains. However, it is difficult to assess to what extent such potentials can actually be used by farmers and firms in Baden-Württemberg. On the one hand, only few data and studies on the status quo of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation in Baden-Württemberg have been published. On the other hand, it is unclear which constraints exist for the further development of the organic medicinal and aromatic plant sector. This is the background for a recent status review in this report, which was carried out by the Department of Agricultural Markets at the University of Hohenheim from June 2021 to February 2022 funded by the Ministry of Rural Areas and Consumer Protection (MLR) Baden-Württemberg. The cooperation partners are the Centre for Organic Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, and the Netzwerk Kräuter Baden-Württemberg e.V. (Herb Network Baden-Württemberg).Publication Cartographie du commerce agricole au sein de la CEDEAO : structure et flux des produits agricoles, obstacles au commerce, lacunes en matière de financement et options politiques. Un projet de recherche en coopération avec la GIZ pour le compte du BMZ(2021) Wieck, Christine; Kareem, Olayinka Idowu; Ejima, Joseph; Mahe, Rukayya; Alaba, Dare; Traoré, Sékou Amadou; Fynn, Mark KofiThis study reviews the structure and flow of formal and informal agri-food trade within ECOWAS and evaluate the trade barriers, financial and quality infrastructure gaps. A mixed-method approach – qualitative and quantitative methods – is adopted which comprises an extensive literature review, analysis of available statistical data on formal and informal trade and trade barriers, a field survey, expert interviews and workshops. The intra-ECOWAS agri-food trade is still at the low level with most of the traded agri-food commodities largely without value addition and characterised by inadequate diversification of the export base. A preponderance of informal agri-food trade along both the formal and informal trade corridors are detected. Livestock, oilseeds, cottonseed, nuts, cocoa beans, cereal, cassava, fisheries, fruits and vegetables were the most traded agri-food commodities, which were not given any concession of passage or facilitated across the borders despite the perishability of the commodities. Agri-food trade flows in the ECOWAS are largely hampered by the heterogeneous trade policy measures across the Member states. This is often a barrier to trade and tend to increase trade costs and commodities prices, thereby constraining the regional trade benefits to the people while also making the trading countries uncompetitive. Women agri-food traders were often exploited and harassed by the different borders’ officials. More so, the low intra-ECOWAS trade in agricultural and food products is due to the low production capacities, which among others are due to the inadequate finance, poor quality infrastructure – soft (trained inspectors, customs procedures digitalisation, certification, etc) and hard (metrology facilities, roads, ports’ facilities, testing and inspection laboratories, etc.). Agricultural trade finance has been identified as one of the key challenges inhibiting trade in agricultural commodities in this subregion. Strategic policy options to promote agri-food trade within ECOWAS are providedPublication Mapping agricultural trade within the ECOWAS : structure and flow of agricultural products, barriers to trade, financing gaps and policy options. A research project in cooperation with GIZ on behalf of BMZ(2021) Kareem, Olayinka Idowu; Wieck, Christine; Ejima, Joseph; Mahe, Rukayya; Alaba, Dare; Traoré, Sékou Amadou; Fynn, Mark KofiThis study reviews the structure and flow of formal and informal agri-food trade within ECOWAS and evaluate the trade barriers, financial and quality infrastructure gaps. A mixed-method approach – qualitative and quantitative methods – is adopted which comprises an extensive literature review, analysis of available statistical data on formal and informal trade and trade barriers, a field survey, expert interviews and workshops. The intra-ECOWAS agri-food trade is still at the low level with most of the traded agri-food commodities largely without value addition and characterised by inadequate diversification of the export base. A preponderance of informal agri-food trade along both the formal and informal trade corridors are detected. Livestock, oilseeds, cottonseed, nuts, cocoa beans, cereal, cassava, fisheries, fruits and vegetables were the most traded agri-food commodities, which were not given any concession of passage or facilitated across the borders despite the perishability of the commodities. Agri-food trade flows in the ECOWAS are largely hampered by the heterogeneous trade policy measures across the Member states. This is often a barrier to trade and tend to increase trade costs and commodities prices, thereby constraining the regional trade benefits to the people while also making the trading countries uncompetitive. Women agri-food traders were often exploited and harassed by the different borders’ officials. More so, the low intra-ECOWAS trade in agricultural and food products is due to the low production capacities, which among others are due to the inadequate finance, poor quality infrastructure – soft (trained inspectors, customs procedures digitalisation, certification, etc) and hard (metrology facilities, roads, ports’ facilities, testing and inspection laboratories, etc.). Agricultural trade finance has been identified as one of the key challenges inhibiting trade in agricultural commodities in this subregion. Strategic policy options to promote agri-food trade within ECOWAS are provided.Publication Quo vadis? Ansätze der Qualitätssicherung von Nachhaltigkeitswettbewerben für Unternehmen(2021) Gebhardt, BeateThis report summarises the findings of an expert workshop on "Approaches and possibilities for quality assurance of sustainability competitions", which was successfully held on 4 November 2021. The workshop was hosted by the BEST initiative at the University of Hohenheim, under the leadership of Dr Beate Gebhardt. In the workshop, together with stakeholders from practice and science, approaches for quality improvements and visualisation of high-quality standards in sustainability contests were identified and evaluated by the experts. Essential steps and research projects for the future were defined. The key results of the event are: 1.) the impact and power of sustainability competitions as potential drivers of sustainability transition is endangered (loss of significance); 2.) in order to sharpen their profile, high-quality sustainability competitions should become more visible (visualisation); 3.) the BEST initiative at the University of Hohenheim is starting a dialogue to develop criteria for high-quality sustainability competitions (orientation).