HFFA Research GmbH contributes to EUROSION by analysing the costs and benefits of soil erosion management practices across Europe.
EUROSION is funded under Horizon Europe and directly supports the objectives of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, which aims to protect soil health, halt degradation, and support sustainable land use by 2030.
While policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) increasingly address soil protection, decision‑makers still face major knowledge gaps. Erosion rates are difficult to measure consistently across regions, the effectiveness of management practices varies widely depending on local conditions, and the economic implications for farmers are often insufficiently understood. As a result, practice uptake remains uneven, even where environmental benefits are clear.
With more than 25 partners from many different countries including universities, research institutions, and companies EUROSION responds to this challenge by building a pan‑European soil erosion monitoring and modelling framework that links biophysical information with land management practices and policies.
Within Work Package 5, HFFA Research GmbH is responsible for the socio‑economic assessment of soil erosion management practices, with a strong focus on cost‑benefit analysis.
Our work complements EUROSION’s monitoring and modelling activities by answering a central Horizon Europe question: Which practices work, and under which economic conditions are they adopted? We assess up to 25 erosion‑reducing practices by comparing their costs such as investments, labour, and maintenance with their economic benefits over time. Using indicators like net present value (NPV), benefit‑cost ratios, and internal rates of return, combined with farm‑level accounting, we evaluate both short‑term affordability and long‑term payoffs.
This analysis helps translate scientific evidence into information that is directly relevant for farmers, advisors, and policymakers designing incentives under instruments such as the CAP and future soil protection frameworks.
The project has just recently been kicked off, which is why no results were generated yet. However, by integrating cost‑benefit analysis into erosion research, our team helps ensure that soil protection measures promoted under EU policies are not only environmentally effective, but also economically realistic.
We will keep you updated.
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HFFA Research GmbH examines how EMPHASIS creates value beyond science by strengthening skills, innovation, economic efficiency, and societal impact across Europe.
Plant phenotyping has become an essential part of modern agricultural research. It helps researchers and breeders better understand how plants respond to their environment and supports the development of crops that are more resilient, efficient, and better suited to a changing climate. Over the last two decades, Europe has invested heavily in phenotyping technologies and facilities.
One major step was the establishment of the pan-European Research Infrastructure EMPHASIS designed to make plant phenotyping more accessible and coordinated across Europe.
As EMPHASIS moves closer to becoming a fully operational European Research Infrastructure (ERIC), the question of its specific economic and societal values has become increasingly important.
To identify EMPHASIS’s contributions and future potential, our team carried out a socio‑economic impact assessment of EMPHASIS within the Horizon Europe project EMPHASIS‑GO.
We combined data‑driven analyses of publications, patents, start‑ups, and research funding with in‑depth interviews with stakeholders from research, industry, infrastructure management, and policy. This allowed us to move beyond abstract indicators and reflect the everyday experiences of people working with and around plant phenotyping infrastructures.
Our analysis looks at impacts across four main areas: human resources, economy and innovation, societal and environmental outcomes, and policy. Rather than focusing only on direct and measurable effects, we also consider longer‑term and less visible contributions, such as improved collaboration, better coordination at European level, and increased confidence among national communities when engaging with funders and ministries.
The assessment shows that EMPHASIS has already played an important role in bringing together a previously fragmented European phenotyping landscape. Through its predecessor projects and preparatory activities, it has helped build skills, connect infrastructures, improve data standards, and support cooperation across borders.
Plant phenotyping enabled through EMPHASIS contributes to more efficient research workflows, faster and more targeted breeding, and better understanding of how crops perform under stress conditions. These benefits matter not only for science, but also for long‑term goals such as climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and food security. Although many economic and societal impacts are still developing and difficult to quantify, stakeholders clearly see phenotyping as a strategic investment.
At the same time, the study points to challenges. EMPHASIS is not yet equally visible across Europe, collaboration with industry remains underexplored, and its added value is not always easy to explain outside the scientific community. Addressing these issues will be crucial as EMPHASIS transitions to full ERIC status.
HFFA Research GmbH contributes to DETECTIVE, a Horizon Europe-funded project, by assessing the socio-economic implications of traceability and authenticity strategies for new genomic techniques (NGTs) in plant and animal products.
New genomic techniques (NGTs) offer promising solutions for more sustainable agriculture, aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal and the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy. However, unlike traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs), NGT-derived products often lack distinct genetic markers, making them difficult to detect using current methodologies. This poses significant challenges for regulatory compliance, consumer transparency, and market oversight.
To address these gaps, the European Union launched the DETECTIVE project, a four-year initiative focused on developing and validating robust detection, traceability, and authenticity methods for NGT products. The complexity of the task extends beyond technical detection, requiring a holistic view that includes legal, economic, and social dimensions. Understanding the broader socio-economic impacts of these emerging technologies is essential for informed governance and responsible innovation.
As part of Work Package 1, HFFA Research GmbH is providing the analysis of the socio-economic effects of different detection and authenticity strategies. The work of Work Package 1 includes evaluating the implications for various stakeholder groups ranging from breeders and farmers to agri-food operators, traders, and consumers both within the EU and globally.
We assess the economic feasibility and market impact of different technical and non-technical approaches, considering factors such as cost, trade implications, and scalability. Our insights will feed into the development of governance options that balance innovation, transparency, and societal benefit.
DETECTIVE is pioneering a multi-dimensional approach to NGT product detection, combining cutting-edge analytical techniques with socio-economic analysis and stakeholder engagement.
By addressing the socio-economic dimension of NGT detection strategies, HFFA Research GmbH plays a vital role in ensuring that regulatory solutions are not only scientifically sound, but also socially and economically viable.
More information can be found here.
HFFA Research GmbH supported GIZ’s Global Programme Soil Protection and Rehabilitation (ProSoil) in communicating key innovations in climate-smart soil management to international stakeholders and climate donors.
Soil degradation, intensified by climate change, threatens agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and global food security. With millions of hectares of soil lost annually, the need for sustainable, climate-adaptive practices has become urgent. GIZ’s ProSoil programme, operating since 2014 in multiple partner countries, promotes agroecological strategies for soil protection and the rehabilitation of degraded land. However, translating the programme’s extensive experience into globally accessible knowledge for climate and development audiences required targeted communication support.
HFFA Research GmbH was commissioned to synthesize ProSoil’s learnings into a strategic publication with the working title “Innovations for Climate-Smart Soil Protection and Rehabilitation.” This involved identifying key field-tested innovations, reviewing scientific and practical evidence, and distilling common lessons across geographies. The publication was tailored to inform international donors and development practitioners, aligning with ProSoil’s broader knowledge-sharing and policy advocacy goals.
The publication will highlight scalable, climate-effective practices for soil restoration, reinforce the relevance of agroecological approaches, and emphasize the importance of integrating SPR measures into global climate and development agendas. It serves as a communication tool to foster broader adoption and support for SPR interventions across contexts.
HFFA Research supported GIZ staff and their partners in designing and conducting socio-economic analyses and valuation of ecosystem services in partner countries of the global ProSoil conservation and rehabilitation programme
Climate change presents a major threat to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable regions. To respond, the Global Programme Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security (ProSoil), funded by BMZ and implemented by GIZ, promotes agroecological practices that enhance soil health and resilience. In 2021, this work was expanded through the EU co-funded ProSilience initiative—part of the DeSIRA programme—targeting selected partner countries across Africa and Asia. Yet, for effective implementation, a shared and practical framework is needed to evaluate the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these practices in the context of development cooperation.
In June 2022, GIZ engaged HFFA Research GmbH to develop a methodological guidance for conducting socio-economic and ecosystem service analyses relevant to ProSoil activities. The guidance aims to support GIZ staff and local partners in preparing, implementing, and harmonizing evaluations across multiple countries—including Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, India, and Tunisia.
Our work included:
The guidance provides a structured approach for assessing the value of agroecological interventions and encourages standardized analysis across country programmes. The accompanying evidence review highlights promising results in terms of farm income, environmental resilience, and climate mitigation potential, though it also reveals significant gaps requiring further research.
The Methodological Guidance is available in English and French. The Review on Economic Benefits through Agroecological Soil Practices is available in English.
Protecting plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) is one of the most important requirements for securing a diverse and healthy food supply, as well as for the development of sustainable agriculture that is resilient to shocks and is well adapted to climate change. Therefore, conservation of crop diversity in situ, i.e., on farmers’ fields, and ex situ, i.e., in genebanks, is essential. Smallholder farmers, who produce about a third of the world’s food, play a crucial role in conserving plant genetic resources, yet their needs and priorities are not always reflected in the ex situ conservation strategies pursued by genebanks.
A key global actor in the field of crop diversity conservation, supporting genebanks workldwide, is the Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust). HFFA Research was commissioned by the Crop Trust together with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to assess the needs and develop strategies to strengthen smallholder farmers in the ex situ PGRFA conservation process within their joint project ‘Strategic Development of the Crop Trust’. Specifically, the project seeks to identify how genebanks can address the needs of marginalized groups (women, youth, Indigenous people) within the smallholder farming sector and let them share the benefits of conservation, while also prioritizing a stronger focus on adaptation to climate change.
Through a rigorous investigative process, involving in-depth interviews with pivotal stakeholders, our research investigated how the role of marginalized groups can be strengthened with respect to ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. The study not only presents a synthesis of findings but also delineates best practices and strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing the alignment of conservation efforts with the specific needs of these marginalized groups.
The main findings of the study are:
Commissioned by GIZ, HFFA Research GmbH supported the Agricultural University of Tirana in shaping a strategic vision and institutional roadmap to strengthen its role as Albania’s leading agricultural education and research institution.
The Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT), along with its Experimental Didactic Farm (EDF), is central to Albania’s agricultural transformation—equipping future professionals with the knowledge and skills to advance sustainable and climate-resilient farming. However, AUT faces mounting pressures: aligning with EU policies and standards, responding to technological change, reversing declining student enrollment, and competing in an increasingly international academic landscape.
To ensure AUT and EDF remain effective, innovative, and future-ready, HFFA Research GmbH was engaged to develop a “Development Strategy 2030.” Working closely with university stakeholders, the team is crafting a strategic management plan and roadmap, alongside a conceptual business plan for the EDF. The strategy addresses three key pillars: enhancing research excellence and international collaboration; improving teaching quality and infrastructure; and creating attractive career pathways and working conditions to retain top talent. The process also explores AUT’s integration into the EU’s Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) to leverage regional synergies and innovation flows.
The strategy will serve as a practical guide for institutional renewal, supporting AUT in maintaining academic relevance, boosting research capacity, and expanding its influence in agricultural education—both nationally and across the Western Balkans.
Commissioned by GIZ under the ProSoil project, this initiative strengthens climate change adaptation monitoring for soil rehabilitation efforts across seven countries, in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
Soil degradation, driven by overexploitation and climate change, threatens food security, climate stability, and the livelihoods of millions—particularly smallholder farmers in the Global South. As one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks, soils are critical for both agricultural productivity and climate mitigation. However, once degraded, soils recover only slowly, making timely and effective soil protection strategies essential.
Since 2014, GIZ’s ProSoil project has promoted sustainable land use and institutionalized soil protection measures in seven countries. To enhance the project’s effectiveness, robust monitoring and evaluation of climate adaptation outcomes is crucial.
From 2020 to 2022, HFFA Research supported GIZ in refining the ProSoil climate monitoring system, focusing specifically on tracking adaptation outcomes. Our contributions included:
Identifying country-specific climate impact drivers
Supporting implementation and data analysis of the adaptation monitoring system
Collaborating with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research to integrate climate modelling
Engaging local stakeholders through participatory workshops and focus groups
Training partners in multi-stakeholder consultation methods
Developing practical guidance materials on participatory survey techniques
This participatory approach ensured local relevance and strengthened the capacity of country teams to assess and report adaptation results independently.
The refined monitoring system now enables GIZ and its partners to better quantify how soil rehabilitation contributes to climate resilience at the local level. It also supports evidence-based policy dialogue and resource planning for sustainable soil management.
As part of the German-Chinese Cooperation on Agriculture and Climate Change (DCZ), HFFA Research contributed to a bilateral expert exchange coordinated by IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through GFA Consulting Group GmbH.
Agriculture in both Germany and China is increasingly affected by climate change, requiring countries to simultaneously adapt their farming systems and mitigate emissions. However, distinct climatic conditions, resource constraints, and policy frameworks shape how each country approaches these challenges. This bilateral initiative seeks to deepen mutual understanding and foster knowledge exchange on effective strategies for climate-smart agriculture in both contexts.
As a member of the expert delegation, HFFA Research Analyst Sophia Lüttringhaus participated in field visits, technical discussions, and bilateral workshops held in both Germany and China. The study tours facilitated learning about on-the-ground innovations, best practices, and ongoing research in mitigation and adaptation. In Germany, the delegation explored topics such as emission reduction in livestock systems, climate-resilient plant breeding, and peatland restoration. In China, the focus was on circular agriculture, sustainable fertilizer use, and biogas-based nutrient recycling. The exchange culminated in a joint session at the 5th Sino-German Agricultural Week in Beijing, where the expert group shared key findings and policy recommendations.
German agriculture benefits from relatively high adaptive capacity but continues to refine mitigation strategies, particularly in manure management and soil conservation.
China is advancing circular agricultural practices, including integrated nutrient cycling and renewable energy from agricultural waste.
Both countries are investing in precision technologies and plant breeding to reduce climate vulnerability.
Bilateral exchanges reveal shared challenges and offer valuable opportunities for cross-country learning and collaboration in climate-smart agricultural innovation.
Commissioned by GIZ through its sector program “Zukunftsfähige Ländliche Räume” (SV ZLR), this project explores the implementation, impact, and future potential of territorial development approaches across five countries.
Rural areas worldwide are under pressure from global trends such as climate change, migration, and economic restructuring. With three-quarters of the world’s poor living in rural regions, international cooperation increasingly focuses on fostering inclusive, sustainable development beyond agriculture alone. GIZ promotes territorial development as a systemic strategy that integrates social, economic, and ecological dimensions based on a region’s unique capacities and needs.
However, despite its growing adoption, there is limited comparative analysis on how this approach functions in practice and how its strengths and weaknesses manifest across diverse contexts.
HFFA Research was tasked with assessing five territorial development projects in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cameroon, India, and Colombia. The study addressed key questions:
How is the territorial development approach implemented on the ground?
What are its tangible outcomes, and what lessons can be drawn?
Where does the approach show greatest potential or encounter limitations?
By synthesizing field-level experiences and implementation strategies, the study aimed to inform GIZ’s strategic planning and refine future rural development interventions.
The territorial development approach promotes long-term, inclusive rural transformation by emphasizing local capacities and multisectoral collaboration.
Successful implementation depends on durable partnerships, participatory planning, and adaptation to local conditions.
Evidence from five countries shows the approach can enhance economic diversification, environmental stewardship, and social cohesion.
Key challenges include coordination complexity, institutional fragmentation, and the need for sustained commitment over time.