Pilot Project "Systems Analysis Agriculture" in the Rothenklempenow Real Laboratory

Why is the project needed?

One of the first pilot projects within the framework of the Reallabor has the ambitious goal of identifying central levers of a socio-ecological transformation. So far, we still have too little understanding of what specifically constitutes and drives a successful transformation of the agricultural and food system. All we know is that we must take urgent action to halt the climate crisis, species extinction and environmental degradation.

By developing a model that captures the agricultural system and verifies its mechanisms of action on the ground, the pilot project contributes to closing a knowledge gap. In the future, the results should also support other regions and actors in planning, financing and implementing effective measures. 

The approach of system analysis

A model consisting of variables represents the general mode of operation of the agricultural system and is intended to illustrate how different elements of the system are interrelated and influence each other positively or negatively. To this end, a generalized model is adapted to the conditions in Rothenklempenow and the relevant dynamics are captured and modeled.

This creates a clear picture of how the agricultural system functions on site. The special feature here is the already advanced transformation process in Rothenklempenow. This is because it provides the prerequisites for identifying drivers and levers of transformation that have operated in Rothenklempenow. In addition, existing hurdles that inhibit the development process are still visible.

The theoretical mapping now needs to be tested in practice to find out whether the corresponding system elements actually interact as assumed and how they have developed in the process of transformation.

This will be done through a series of qualitative interviews with stakeholders from the farm community and the surrounding area. All stakeholders from business, science, civil society and politics relevant to the project are included in the process and have the opportunity to contribute their experiences in a participatory manner and share their expert knowledge. In this way, an in-depth systemic understanding of an agricultural system as well as about the drivers of transformation will be created using the example of the village of Rothenklempenow. In addition, shared learning will be facilitated through formats such as focus groups, dialogues such as landscape walks, and thus a contribution to education for sustainable development. 

Project partners & results

The project is carried out by the non-profit supporting association of the RCE Stettiner Haff's, Verein Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BINES) e.V. in cooperation with GLS Bank, context collective, FoodTogether, Geofoods as well as the Agency for Sustainable Development - Project N. After completion of the project in autumn 2022, all results will be made publicly available in order to force a further exchange as well as a further development of the models and results. 

Procedure Reallabor Rothenklempenow: 

After systemic analyses and the derivation of promising options for action, prototypes are to be developed and implemented. Two prototypes are planned with ClimateFarmers and Regionalwert Leistung.

Contact: dialog@rce-stettinerhaff.eu

Felix Grünziger Tobias Till Keye

Pilot Pathway Rewilding Process

In a synthesis process of all work packages of the project REWILD_DE (see below), within a
pilot project, the so-called Rewilding Pathways Pilot (hereafter "Pilot"),
at local level, esp. in the community Rothenklempenow in County
Vorpommern-Greifswald, the possibilities of the practical implementation of
rewilding measures elicited and their actual realization supported
be supported. Knowledge requirements that arise in the process and that prove necessary for this process
process, but which cannot be provided within the scope of the project's work packages.
are supplemented in a process-oriented manner by feasibility study(s).
For the implementation of the pilot, a process will be developed and
carried out, in in which first a broad understanding and a common
approach develops and then in detailed considerations concrete
implementation perspectives are developed. This is done with the aim of testing "Rewilding
in the cultivated landscape, i.e. to support natural processes that create
diverse landscapes, as well as to regenerate and restore disturbed ecosystems and
strongly damaged landscapes restored, without doing so a
abandon agricultural use.

The Pathway Pilot Project is a subproject REWILD_DE Project

Since November 2021, the research project "REWILD_DE - Conservation of Biodiversity and
(BMBF) "REWILD_DE - Conservation of biodiversity and valorization of ecosystem services through
and valorization of ecosystem services through rewilding - learning from the Oder delta".
was carried out by Within the framework of the three-year project, scientists and practitioners are
the potential of "Rewilding" as a novel concept for nature conservation for the restoration of biological
concept for the restoration of biodiversity and the promotion of ecosystem services.
promotion of a nature based economic development of the model area
Oder delta in Western Pomerania. Furthermore furthermore investigate they, to what extent the
experience and results can be transferred to supra-regional biodiversity protection.
transferable are. Coordinated is the project at the Helmholtz Center for
Environmental Research (UFZ), project partners are the German Center for Integrative
Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
(MLU), the University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (HNEE) and the
Association Rewilding Oder Delta e. V. (ROD) as practice partners in the study area.