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.

Models, tools, datasets

Beautiful view into a nothern europe forest with pine trees on a sunny day

Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM)

Projects

ForestNavigator

Navigating European forests and forest bioeconomy sustainably to EU climate neutrality (ForestNavigator)

MIND STEP

Modelling INdividual Decisions to Support The European Policies related to agriculture (MIND STEP)

Lamasus

Land Management for Sustainability (LAMASUS)

Aerial view of large biofuel plant

Brazil-EU Cooperation for Development of Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel (BECOOL)

Staff

Xu Deng profile picture

Xu Deng

Guest Research Assistant (IBF)

Andre Nakhavali profile picture

Andre Nakhavali

Research Scholar (IBF)

Florian Huber profile picture

Florian Huber

Senior Research Scholar (IBF)

Petr Havlík profile picture

Petr Havlík

Program Director and Principal Research Scholar (BNR); Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar (IBF)

News

Cows eating breakfast on a dairy farm

28 March 2023

Climate-related costs could significantly affect largest listed livestock companies

IIASA researchers collaborated with the FAIRR Initiative – a collaborative investor network – on the development of a new IPCC-aligned climate risk analysis tool for investors. Analyses done using the new tool, show that climate-related cost increases could significantly affect the bottom lines of the largest listed livestock companies unless new strategies are urgently adopted.

Focus

Sunset long the banks of the Amazon river.

20 January 2023

Understanding the link between biodiversity and land-use management

Meet Cindy Azuero-Pedraza, a participant in the 2022 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program. Learn about her forestry research in the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program, where she worked with the Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group to incorporate biodiversity data into forest management decisions.

20 January 2023

Securing sustainable and resilient food systems for The Gambia

Policy Brief #36, January 2023. Co-developing resilient food and land-use systems can help bridge the gap between demand for sustainable, healthy food and attainable food supply in The Gambia.
Securing sustainable and resilient food systems for The Gambia

29 November 2022

The value of inclusivity

Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Juliana Arbelaez Gaviria joined IIASA in 2020 to work on the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) for the Czech Republic. She is currently a researcher in the Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group of the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program.
IIASA corner

Publications