Organic farming largely follows a cradle-to-cradle approach. As a result, the purchase of fertilizers and pesticides is largely restricted. In addition, this ideal requires locally adapted animal stocking, conservation and enhancement of soil fertility, a diverse crop rotation and the preservation and use of biological substances for the regulation of pests. Thus, the "organic farming" system offers the prerequisites for sustainability, i. e. durability.
However, organic farming is also not entirely sustainable at present, since it relies on non-renewable resources, for example, and because of the generally lower yields, increased land consumption is the result. Global problems such as climate change, the decline in biodiversity and the poor nutritional situation in many parts of the world call for innovative concepts and solutions.
The aim of the sustainability assessment is a scientific and integrative analysis of the ecological, social and economic impacts of farms, agricultural systems, products, value-added chains and entire food systems. Various instruments such as life cycle assessment, SMART (Sustainability Monitoring and Assessment RouTine) and mass flow models (SOL model) are used. Our research results in practical solutions for agriculture, the food sector, politics and consumption.
Further information
Contact
Projects
Team
| Group Sustainability | ||
| Baumgart Lukas | Sustainability assessment at farm level | +41 (0)62 865-7240 |
| Curran Michael | Deputy Leader of the Group Sustainabilitysustainability assessment, landscape modelling, mixed method research | +41 (0)62 865-0430 |
| Egger Moritz | Sustainability assessment, resilience research, sustainable cocoa & coffee farming systems | +41 (0)62 865-0401 |
| Geiser Anna | Sustainability assessment of agriculture, qualitative and participatory research, social sustainability | +41 (0)62 865-1716 |
| Harrer Felix | Biodiversity and climate in business and politics | +41 (0)62 865-1729 |
| Landert Jan | Sustainability assessment at farm and food systems level, life cycle assessment | +41 (0)62 865-0442 |
| Richter Sebastian | Food system modelling, sustainability assessment, animal welfare | +41 (0)62 865-0457 |
| Rojas Conzuelo Zaray | Food system modelling, sustainability assessment, nutritional science | +41 (0)62 865-7220 |
| Sander Marlene | Sustainability assessment, qualitative research methods | +41 (0)62 510-5322 |
| Schader Christian | Leader of the Group Sustainabilitysustainability assessment at farm and food systems level, life cycle assessment, policy evaluation | +41 (0)62 865-0416 |