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Existing research suggests that regions can develop their long-term competitive advantage through well-functioning interregional innovation cooperation. In this article, we use the example of innovation in small and medium-sized agri-food enterprises (SMEs) to scrutinise and compare regional innovation approaches on each side of the Dutch-German border and explore how they can converge into a cross-border innovation space. Particular attention is paid to the role of academic institutions and innovation brokers in creating a common innovation space. We explore how differences between two cross-border regions can be harnessed to enhance the impact of innovation, and how this may lead to what we describe as hybridisation effects. In the empirical analysis, we apply the concept of hybridisation to a cross-border innovation space, something that, as far as we are aware, has not been done before. We empirically ground the concepts of a cross-border innovation space and hybridisation and illustrate how relative regional strengths can lead to hybridisation effects. We conclude that differences in economic structures, institutional set-ups, visions and identities inherent in cross-border spaces are not only hindrances, but also opportunities, and we highlight the importance of these complementary strengths and the potential for their strategic use by regional innovation actors. Our findings are highly relevant for the further development of the Interreg Europe programme and the implementation of the EU’s Territorial Agenda 2030.

Decision-makers, planners and administrators involved in different policy domains at different governance levels face the important challenge of fostering more balanced, sustainable and territorially integrated development. Well-designed, multi-level, multi-sector and multi-actor governance arrangements can play a key role in this process through orchestrating the interplay between different spheres, activities, actors and interests. In this paper, we examine the role of spatial planning in improving the relations between rural, peri-urban and urban areas. We analyse the strengths and limitations of spatial planning and explore the connections with territorial development. The methodology used for this analysis combines regional case studies in seven European locations—Ede, Frankfurt/Rhein-Main, Styria/Graz, Helsinki, Lisbon, Lucca and Mid Wales, with rapid appraisals, the analysis of published data, expert judgement and triangulation. We ask under which conditions spatial planning can induce more balanced, sustainable territorial relations, and look at the contribution planning can make to achieving sustainable development goals. The problem of ineffective (or toothless) plan implementation provides the entry point into the analysis and discussion. We illustrate why mutually beneficial relations between urban, peri-urban and rural communities (and territories) cannot simply be planned. Instead, these relationships need to be supported by strategies, policy instruments and governance arrangements that foster synergies between different actors and activities. The planning process itself needs to become more transparent and participatory. We conclude that the questions addressed in this article in an exploratory fashion merit further research especially as a more sustainable and territorially integrated development is becoming increasingly important in European policy making.

This article focuses on the question of how a shift from a narrow economic perspective to a wider sustainable wellbeing focus in regional development strategies and actions might change rural– urban relations. A brief review of relevant research and discourses about economic development models provides the foundation for the analysis. The review leads to the development of an analytical framework that puts the notion of sustainable wellbeing at its center. The criteria included in the analytical framework are then used to assess the current situation, challenges and perceived ways forward based on data and analyses from 11 European regions. The focus of the analysis is on different expressions of a sustainable wellbeing economy, and aspects of territorial development that are consistent with the basic features of a wellbeing economy are identified. Development dynamics and tensions between different development goals and resource uses, strategies and actions that are in favor of sustainable wellbeing goals, and conditions for more mutually beneficial rural– urban relationships are discussed. The article concludes with the implications for local government, and governance and policy frameworks. Reference is made to current high-level strategic policy frameworks and the European Green Deal.

Scholars in sustainability science as well as research funders increasingly recognize that a shift from disciplinary and interdisciplinary science to transdisciplinary (TD) research is required to address ever more complex sustainability challenges. Evidence shows that addressing real-world societal problems can be best achieved through collaborative research where diverse actors contribute different kinds of knowledge. While the potential benefits of TD research are widely recognized, its implementation remains a challenge. In this article, we develop a framework that supports reflection and co-learning. Our approach fosters monitoring of the collaboration processes, helps to assess the progress made and encourages continuous reflection and improvement of the research processes. The TD co-learning framework has four dimensions and 44 criteria. It is based on a substantial literature review and was tested in a Horizon 2020-funded research project ROBUST, which is applying experimental governance techniques to improve rural-urban relations in eleven European regions. The results demonstrate that the framework covers the key facets of TD collaboration and that all four broad dimensions matter. Each research-practice team reflected on how their collaboration is going and what needs to be improved. Indeed, the coordination team was able to see how well TD collaboration is functioning at a project level. We believe the framework will be valuable for actors involved in the planning and implementation of any type of multi-actor, interactive, innovation, transformation and action-oriented research project.

iiTSE, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Growing small and medium enterprises face specific challenges, especially when they aim to maintain high quality products and processes. While growing, they tend to converge either towards niche markets or mainstream commodity markets, and as a result sacrifice higher quality and value. With this paper, we aim to show more about the growth processes of small and medium size enterprises and their related food supply chains. The focus is on the management of individual businesses, the coordination and cooperation along chains and the required realignment during growth. Particular attention is paid to discontinuities and an identification of the factors that limit or enable the sustainable development of food enterprises and chains. The methodological foundation for this paper is a case study based approach. The business logic concept, which has been developed in the context of a European research project, provides the analytical framework for the analysis of the cases. Central to the business logic concept is the idea that business goals, strategies, management and management instruments ought to be coherent. The business logic approach facilitates the examination of coherence in business and in chain management. It helps to identify the adjustments and realignment needed in times of change. Results show that development paths vary significantly between businesses and chains. Business growth is associated with a variety of challenges that can result in stagnation or even downsizing. Such discontinuities are often linked with phases of internal consolidation when management capacities, structures and processes are adapted to new requirements. Adaptations in business strategies and operational management are often crucial for sustainable development. Adaptations are particularly important when food production, processing and sales aim to maintain higher product and process qualities. Reflexive management practices and continuous learning among the responsible leaders, a

In the analysis, we will - identify the most significant changes over time in relevant market, regulatory, institutional and territorial conditions, - assess the social, economic and other resources available among different groups of primary producers, - relate conditions and resources to the (adaptation) strategies pursued (e.g. regarding the management of the chain and risks), and - explore the (potential) impacts of the resulting (or expected) changes on social, economic and environmental performances. The analysis aims at capturing the interrelationships between external and internal conditions, (adaptation) strategies and (sustainability) performance. A first important step in the analysis is to express conditions, strategies and performances in absolute and/or relative terms, and to relate them to different points in time. This will then allow us to relate the producer groups’ strategies to change in conditions on the one hand and to performances on the other. The three illustrative cases are a grain farmers’ association in Lower Saxony, Germany, a group of carp producers using traditional ponds in Franconia, Germany, and a beef farmers’ association in Uppland, Sweden. In all three cases, attention will also be paid to relate adaptation strategies to decision-making and to identify limitations in available data and check possibilities to overcome them. With our discussion, we aim to highlight the particular challenges. We want to highlight the particular importance of business-level actions and their dynamics as an additional level in the analysis.

The report presents the results of the case study analyses which are based on the application of the business logic concept. This analytical approach represents the second (Task 2)of the six perspectives applied under the umbrella of the multi-perspective analysis of the HealthyGrowth project (WP5). The analysis focuses on business goals, strategies and management instruments identified in the case studies of the European research project HealthyGrowth - from niche to volume with integrity and trust.

The HealthyGrowth Project’s goal was the analysis of growth processes in the organic food sector. It examined how to safeguard the integrity and transparency of the value chain despite the increasing ‘distance’ between the producer and the consumer. It examined businesses and food initiatives that succeed in balancing growth, maintaining value added products and convincing the consumer that a higher price is justified. The recommendations for entrepreneurs and policy makers aim to emphasise the potential to promote values-based growth processes in the organic sector in a more comprehensive way.

Higher value food chains tend to converge either towards rather narrow market segments and niches or towards conventionalisation and loss in added value when volumes and turnover start growing more significantly. In this paper we will present the findings from a set of case studies of growth in agri-food chains implemented during 2014 in ten European countries, including in Eastern Europe and Turkey. The comparative analysis will help to better understand different development pathways with their particular challenges, management strategies and instruments.

Content Røros in the Healthygrowth project Business development and importance of networks Successful growth Limitations in the Norwegian context Opportunities and challenges with growth

Im Rahmen des europäischen CoreOrganicII Projektes HealthyGrowth erarbeitete das HNEE-Team die Empfehlungen für Politik und Praxis. Diese beruhen auf den Fallstudien und vergleichenden Auswertungen aller Projektpartner.

Unternehmen, die ökologische Lebensmittel produzieren, verarbeiten oder vermarkten haben sich häufig aus Nischen heraus entwickelt. In den ersten Jahren ihrer Entwicklung hatte für viele dieser Unternehmen die Realisierung der klassischen Werte der biologischen Lebensmittelerzeugung oberste Priorität. Insbesondere in Folge raschen Umsatzwachstums, besteht die Tendenz, Kompromisse einzugehen und zumindest einen Teil der ursprünglich für die Unternehmen sehr charakteristischen Werte abzuschwächen. Der Begriff der Höherwertigkeit im Kontext ökologischer Lebensmittel bezieht sich einerseits auf die Produktqualitäten, die sich u.a. auf die Auswahl bestmöglicher Rohwaren zurückführen lassen. Andererseits beruht die Höherwertigkeit auf Prozessqualitäten, die durch Art der Erzeugung und Verarbeitung sowie Maßnahmen zum Umwelt-, Natur- oder Tierschutz bestimmt werden. Die besondere Herausforderung stellt dabei die Gewährleistung der höheren Qualität, und der Transparenz und Vertrauenswürdigkeit entlang der Wertschöpfungskette dar. Die wertebasierten Unternehmen verbindet die Bereitschaft, sich den kritischen Fragen der Verbraucher und der gesellschaftlichen Öffentlichkeit zu stellen. Ziel des Projektes ‚HealthyGrowth‘ war die Analyse von Wachstumsprozessen in der ökologischen Lebensmittelwirtschaft. Hierbei stand die Wahrung der Rechtschaffenheit und Transparenz der Wertschöpfungskette trotz zunehmender ‚Distanz‘ zwischen Erzeuger und Verbraucher im Mittelpunkt. Das europäische Konsortium bestand aus zehn nationalen Forschungsteams, die insgesamt 19 Fallstudien untersucht haben. Diese bilden die Grundlage zur Ableitung von Handlungsansätzen und Empfehlungen für Praxis und Politik.

This paper aims to explore farmers' conditions, strategies and performances in a context of multi-dimensional policy requirements, market imperfections and globalisation. The basic assumption sees conditions as drivers for farmers’ strategies that then result in performances of the sector. The methodological approach is based on the Conditions-Strategies-Performances (CSP) model which is used for the analysis of three case studies. The model helps to identify changes in framework conditions over time, resources among relevant groups of primary producers, adaptation strategies and finally, to explore the related social, economic and environmental effects. The analysis is based on three case studies, three farmers’ groups in Germany and Sweden. Results show that the approach provides a suitable conceptual framework. Its particular strength is the holistic nature of the assessment and that it focusses on changes, dynamics, strategic decisions and impacts that matter in societal terms. It helps to identify factors that affect the sustainability of specific farming industries.

Konventionelle Fleisch- und Wurstwaren halten den Anforderungen vieler Verbrauchergruppen bzw. gesellschaftlicher Initiativen oft nicht mehr stand. Manche Unternehmer stellen deshalb Merkmale einer höheren Produkt- und/oder Prozessqualität heraus. Sie realisieren damit im Optimalfall einen ‚Mehrwert‘ – für sich selbst, für alle an der Kette Beteiligten und für die Konsumenten. In diesem Beitrag beschreiben wir die so entstehenden Wertschöpfungsketten als wertebasiert. Der Beitrag zeigt anhand von acht Fallstudienanalysen aus sechs europäischen Ländern, wie sich wertebasierte Wertschöpfungsketten für Fleisch in mittelständischen Strukturen erfolgreich etablieren konnten. Uns interessiert besonders, wie sich Unternehmen – und ganze Ketten – in Zeiten starken Umsatzwachstums verändern. Ein besonderes Augenmerk fällt hierbei auf die Anpassung von Unternehmensstrategien und Organisationsprinzipien sowie die Rolle des Managements innerhalb der Unternehmen und über die Kette hinweg.

Fact Sheet, short presentation of HealthyGrowth case study business: Bohlsener Mühle GmbH & Co.

Fact Sheet, short presentation of HealthyGrowth case study business: Landwege e.G.

The organic food market in Germany has been growing significantly. While expanding, businesses and food initiatives face many challenges. The paper focuses on the challenge of maintaining the added values of organic farming and consumer trust. Both are key assets in organic food chains, and both are difficult to secure when volumes grow, distribution channels change and when producers, processors, sales businesses and con-sumers are less closely connected which tends to limit direct communication and trans-parency. In the central part of the paper, we present an analytical framework that can be used to better understand these connections. Focus is on changes in business logic, chain organisation and coordination. Three case studies of organic value chains in Germany are used to illustrate the application of the framework. The analyses show that business logics and strategies are implemented through a particular set of management and/or marketing instruments and that these impact on the organisation of the businesses, the linkages between chain partners and the marketing of products.

Planetary boundaries are exceeded in many ways and major transformations are needed in economic systems and lifestyles - in particular in the industrialized world. The declining resources of critical input factors and exceeding of the buffer capacity of natural systems will in particular affect contemporary industrialized, high-input-high-output agriculture. Can organic farming principles be applied more widely and help to make agricultural systems more resilient? How relevant are they to the challenges the agricultural sector faces today? If relevant and effective, why are they not more widely applied? In this paper contemporary challenges of conventional agriculture are related to organic farming principles and practices. In the concluding section reference is made to those factors that seem to limit a wide application of the particular principles and practices. Reference is made to policy and market failure, information deficits and the widespread misconceptions around 'modernization', innovation, valuation and efficiency that have caused many contemporary problems.

National Reports of WP2, HealthyGrowth project, present an overview of the organic sector in Germany. The report is based on a literature review with a focus on the development of organic food businesses and value-based food chains.

Innovationen sind für die Anpassung der ländlichen Wirtschaft an veränderte Rahmenbedingungen von besonderer Bedeutung. Die eigentlichen Innovationsprozesse entstehen dabei durch Kooperationen innerhalb von regionalen Netzwerken. Doch wie können solche Netzwerke zukünftig besser unterstützt werden?

Im Rahmen der Neuausrichtung der Agrarpolitik im Vorfeld der Förderperiode 2007-2013 kam der Integration von Natur und Umweltaspekten eine zentrale Bedeutung zu. Landwirte erhielten, und erhalten nach wie vor, von der Produktion entkoppelte Direktzahlungen, die gleichzeitig an die Einhaltung von anderweitigen Verpflichtungen, Cross Compliance, gebunden sind. Diese bieten auf Agrarflächen grundsätzlich eine gute und damals neue Möglichkeit, den Umwelt- und Naturschutz flächendeckend zu verbessern. Durch diese umweltrelevanten Cross-Compliance-Bestimmungen nimmt die Direktzahlungs-Verordnung (VO (EG)1782/2003) seit 2005 Einfluss auf die Ausgestaltung der Agrarumweltförderung der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik. Die Agrarumweltförderung hat sich als fester Bestandteil der Förderprogramme zur Entwicklung der ländlichen Räume vor allem mit den Instrumenten Agrarumweltmaßnahmen und Vertragsnaturschutz seit Beginn der 1990iger Jahre zu einem unverzichtbaren Konzept zur Erreichung von Naturschutzzielen auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen im Rahmen des integrativen Naturschutzes entwickelt. Ziel der Untersuchung war es, die Folgen der Umsetzung der Cross-Compliance-Bestimmungen beim Übergang in die Förderperiode 2007-2013 auf die neu zu programmierende Agrarumweltförderung zu analysieren und die Wirkungen auf den Naturhaushalt abzuschätzen.

Organic farming can play a major role in the sustainable development of rural areas. Our assumption is that it supports the finding of a new balance between societal demands for high environmental quality, the pressures resulting from competition in a world market economy and a wide array of rural development goals and initiatives. The German 'Regional Action - Rural Areas Shaping the Future' pilot programme has been implemented in order to gain best-practice models for securing the economic, ecological and social viability of rural areas and for trial-testing a new integrated, bottom-up approach. In this contribution we present the results of an analysis of the project databank of the Regional Action pilot programme. It is concluded that the projects that are being implemented aim at a reconstitution of nature-society relations, indicating that agriculture and the potential of rural areas are no longer being evaluated in mono-functional terms.

In der Studie wird der Frage nach den Stärken und Schwächen des ökologischen Landbaus im Hinblick auf die ländliche Regionalentwicklung, gemessen an Wertschöpfung und Beschäftigung, nachgegangen. Die Berechnungen beruhen auf einem vereinfachten Ansatz in Anlehnung an die Input-Output-Analyse. Datengrundlage bilden Erhebungen in ökologisch und konventionell wirtschaftenden Betrieben und Unternehmen des vor- und nachgelagerten Bereichs. In den drei untersuchten Landkreisen (Nordvorpommern, Vogelsberg, Schwäbisch Hall) kann in der Ist-Analyse kein zusätzlicher Einkommens- und Beschäftigungsbeitrag des ökologischen Landbaus im Vergleich zu konventionellen Systemen nachgewiesen werden. Der relative Einkommens- und Beschäftigungsbeitrag und auch die Multiplikatorwirkungen sind tendenziell vergleichsweise niedrig. Zu begründen ist dieses zunächst unerwartete Ergebnis einerseits mit der agrarstrukturellen Situation des Ökolandbaus im Vergleich zu konventionellen Systemen (z.B. geringere Dichte ökologisch wirtschaftender Betriebe, höhere Flächenausstattung und Arbeitseffizienz, bereits erfolgte Reorganisation betrieblicher Abläufe im Rahmen der Umstellung). Andererseits ist das Ergebnis auf die regionale Abgrenzung nach Landkreisen zurückzuführen. Insbesondere die Vertiefungsstudie zur wirtschaftlichen Vernetzung „Vogelsbergkreis – Rhein-Main-Gebiet“ zeigt für die konventionellen Betriebe eine eher kleinräumige Vernetzung mit dem Landhandel und mit lokalen Verarbeitern (Bäckern, Metzgern). Die Handels- und Verarbeitungsstrukturen für ökologische Erzeugnisse sind dagegen bisher eher großräumig angelegt („Groß-Region“: 50-150 km Umkreis), so dass sie innerhalb von Landkreisgrenzen nicht erfassbar sind. Aus methodischer Sicht wird weitgehend Neuland betreten. Daher sind die quantitativen Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Pilotstudie vor dem Hintergrund einer begrenzten Messgenauigkeit zu beurteilen. Diese ist auch verbunden mit der unbefriedigenden Datenlage. Fundierte quantitative A

Die Bewertung von Politikmaßnahmen unter Gesichtspunkten der Nachhaltigkeit hat vor dem Hintergrund der EU-Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie stark an Bedeutung gewonnen. Doch welche Rolle spielen Bewertungsinstrumente und welche Potenziale bergen sie?

This document is analysing the development and the state-of-the-art of food-supply chains in Germany.

Im Rahmen einer Zusammenschau werden im hier vorliegenden Bericht landwirtschaftliche und den ländlichen Raum betreffende Entwicklungen eingeschätzt und, in Verbindung hiermit, künftige Umweltentlastungen sowie mögliche neue Umweltgefährdungen dargestellt. Im Mittelpunkt der Betrachtungen steht die Nahrungsmittelproduktion in Deutschland, wobei die Integration der deutschen Landwirtschaft in die europäische Landwirtschaft und die Weltwirtschaft und die hiermit einhergehenden äußeren Einflüsse einbezogen werden. Der Zeithorizont der Betrachtungen ist der Zeitraum bis 2030. ...

Eine Wende hin zu einer naturgerechten Landwirtschaft setzt voraus, dass auch in der Agrarforschung neue Akzente gesetzt werden. Eine Denkschrift* bringt auf den Punkt, was sich in Forschung, Lehre und Ausbildung ändern muss. Die Langfassung dieser Denkschrift, die in diesem Beitrag zusammengefasst wird, kann beim Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Konstantinstr. 110, D-53179 Bonn, Tel. 0228 - 8491 0, Fax - 8491 200, E-Mail pbox-bfn@bfn.de, bezogen oder im Internet unter www.bfn.de/10/ eingesehen und unterzeichnet werden.