Research

Harnessing insights from the economic and social sciences, we carry out empirically grounded research on the determinants, impacts and evaluation of political action in the area of agriculture, food, and the natural environment. We investigate policymaking with a local, national, European and international dimension. Our research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods that enable linkages to multidisciplinary approaches.

We focus on two main research areas:

1. The regulation of modern agricultural value chains with regard to environmental and social concerns, and
2. The sustainable agricultural development and natural resource use in emerging and transition economies.

In several projects, the group cooperates with Justus Liebig University’s Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU) as well as the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Halle (Saale), where Prof. Petrick holds a visiting research fellowship.