The research focus of IBF is the integrated modeling of natural resources and ecosystems management using IIASA models such as the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) for the development of transformations in food and bio-based sectors that enable satisfying human needs while ensuring the sustainable use of terrestrial and marine environments.
The IBF Group strives to bring about transformations in the use and management of terrestrial, fresh water, and marine ecosystems for “happy people on a healthy planet” by informing national and international policies, and by engaging with businesses and civil society. For this, the group relies on a suite of well-established models, including the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) and the Global Forest Model (G4M), as well as its reputation as a credible partner in concrete policy/regulatory processes.
The group’s key research areas include:
- Land, water, and oceans management focusing on primary producers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries and their impact on the environment, including land-based climate change mitigation.
- Bio-based sectors integrating consumers and producers across food, fibre, and fuel supply chains.
- Shocks, adaptation, and resilience within bio-based sectors including weather extremes.
- Food, nutrition, and poverty, as the main social outcomes of land, water, and oceans use.
- Integrated biosphere foresight and solutions developing forward-looking scenarios for the assessment of potential synergies and trade-offs between relevant Sustainable Development Goals at regional and global scales, and exploring national and international options for their achievement to inform policymaking.
Projects
Navigating European forests and forest bioeconomy sustainably to EU climate neutrality (ForestNavigator)
Modelling INdividual Decisions to Support The European Policies related to agriculture (MIND STEP)
Land Management for Sustainability (LAMASUS)
Brazil-EU Cooperation for Development of Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel (BECOOL)
Staff
Anastassios Haniotis
Guest Senior Research Scholar (IBF)
Andre Nakhavali
Research Scholar (IBF)
Ellen Tan
Project Officer (IBF)
Scott Spillias
Guest Research Scholar (IBF)
News
27 November 2023
A credible path for Brazil to reach net zero by 2050 depends on nature-based solutions
Without the implementation of nature-based solutions through actions such as halting deforestation and promoting large-scale native vegetation restoration, Brazil would jeopardize its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pledges including achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050, according to a new study. The researchers also emphasize that stopping deforestation is the most important mitigation measure Brazil can take towards net zero while preventing biodiversity loss.
22 November 2023
Mind the gap: caution needed when assessing land emissions in the COP28 Global Stocktake
The land use, land use change, and forestry sector plays a strong role in achieving global climate targets, but a gap exists between how scientists and countries account for its emissions. A new study highlights how mitigation benchmarks change when assessing IPCC scenarios from a national inventory perspective, with net-zero timings arriving up to five years earlier and cumulative emissions to net-zero being 15-18% smaller.
06 November 2023
IIASA analysis underpins the IEA World Energy Outlook, revealing rapid energy transition benefits
IIASA researchers contributed to the latest edition of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s World Energy Outlook, which shows that there are set to be almost 10 times as many electric cars on the road, renewables are nearing half of the global power mix, and much stronger policies are needed to achieve the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement.
Events
07 November 2023 Online
IIASA Connect Feature: Q&A with Elsevier Journal Editor
29 August 2023 Rennes, France
Agri-food systems in a changing world: IIASA at the EAAE congress
Focus
11 November 2023
Communicating research into climate mitigation policies
Options Magazine, Winter 2023: Zuelclady Araujo Gutierrez’s research supports governments to have better data and tools for their longterm climate change mitigation planning, tailored to the realities of their countries.
09 October 2023
Chocolate, systems thinking, and tomorrow's global citizens
Using the journey of chocolate, from the sun-drenched cocoa plantations to the sweet bars that we all know and love, IIASA researchers Ali Kharrazi and Zuelclady Araujo Gutierrez recently guided a group of young learners through the practical applications of systems thinking and life-cycle analysis in our everyday lives.
Publications
Toraño Caicoya, A., Vergarechea, M., Blattert, C., Klein, J., Eyvindson, K., Burgas, D., Snäll, T., Mönkkönen, M., Astrup, R., Di Fulvio, F. , Forsell, N., Hartikainen, M., Uhl, E., Poschenrieder, W., & Antón-Fernández, C. (2023). What drives forest multifunctionality in central and northern Europe? Exploring the interplay of management, climate, and policies. Ecosystem Services 64 e101575. 10.1016/j.ecoser.2023.101575. (In Press) Gidden, M. , Gasser, T. , Grassi, G., Forsell, N., Janssens, I., Lamb, W., Minx, J., Nicholls, Z. , Steinhauser, J. , & Riahi, K. (2023). Aligning climate scenarios to emissions inventories shifts global benchmarks. Nature 10.1038/s41586-023-06724-y. (In Press) Soterroni, A., Império, M., Scarabello, M., Seddon, N., Obersteiner, M. , Rochedo, P., Schaeffer, R., Andrade, P., Ramos, F., Azevedo, T., Ometto, J., Havlik, P. , & Alencar, A. (2023). Nature‐based solutions are critical for putting Brazil on track towards net‐zero emissions by 2050. Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.16984. (In Press) Zagorodny, A.G., Bogdanov, V.L., Ermolieva, T., & Komendantova, N. (2023). Modeling for managing Food-Energy-Water-Social-Environmental- NEXUS security: Novel systems’ analysis approaches. In: Ювілейна Міжнародна науково-практична конференція “Глушковські читання”. До 100-річчя з дня народження В.М. Глушкова [GLUSHKOV READINGS"- 2023” To the 100th anniversary of the birth of V.M. Glushkov.]. Wang, Y., Hollingsworth, P.M., Zhai, D., West, C., Green, J., Chen, H., Hurni, K., Su, Y., Warren-Thomas, E., Xu, J., & Ahrends, A. (2023). High-resolution maps show that rubber causes substantial deforestation. Nature 10.1038/s41586-023-06642-z. Ippolito, T., Balkovič, J. , Skalský, R. , Folberth, C. , Krisztin, T. , & Neff, J. (2023). Predicting spatiotemporal soil organic carbon responses to management using EPIC-IIASA meta-models. Journal of Environmental Management 344 e118532. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118532.