The Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut is a federal research institute dedicated to the sustainable development of rural areas, forestry, and fisheries. It offers interdisciplinary research and policy advice for the sustainable use of natural resources and the promotion of an ecological agriculture and food economy.
The Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, as a federal research institute for Rural Areas, Forests and Fishery, plays a central role in scientific research and policy advice in the field of sustainable use of natural resources and the development of rural areas.
The institute strives to find scientifically based answers to complex societal questions, particularly in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture. It works at the interface of science, politics, and society to achieve the goals of sustainable and ecological land use as well as a competitive agricultural and food economy[1][5].
The Thünen-Institut comprises 15 specialized institutes that bundle interdisciplinary competencies in the fields of natural sciences, technology, and socioeconomics. These institutes collaborate in 19 thematic fields to develop comprehensive solutions for current challenges. The focus areas include:
The Thünen-Institut is heavily involved in various sustainability initiatives:
The institute cooperates with over 500 university and non-university research institutions worldwide and is a member of numerous national and international scientific networks. It publishes its research results in scientific journals and makes them available to policymakers, businesses, civil society, and the public in a targeted manner[1].
The Thünen-Institut is named after the German agricultural and economic scientist Johann Heinrich von Thünen, who is considered the founder of agricultural business administration and spatial economic theory. The institute itself was established in 2008 from the merger of three federal research institutions founded after World War II[1][4].
Thus, the Thünen-Institut is a central actor in research and consulting for a sustainable and future-oriented agricultural and food economy as well as for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources.
