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.
News
10 May 2022
IIASA recognizes outstanding research contributions
IIASA recently instituted a new system of awards to recognize outstanding contributions towards meeting the strategic priorities and values of the institute. We are proud to announce that five IIASA research activities have been recognized in the inaugural 2022 award cycle.
06 April 2022
New IPCC Report: we can halve emissions by 2030
Between 2010 and 2019, average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is beyond reach. However, there is increasing evidence of the success of climate action, said scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
Projects
European Union Biodiversity and Climate strategies Assessment (EU BIOCLIMA)
Integrated modeling for robust management of food-energy-water-land use nexus security and sustainable development
Modelling INdividual Decisions to Support The European Policies related to agriculture (MIND STEP)
Assessment of alternative aviation fuels development (ALTERNATE )
Models
A model estimating forest growth, stock, harvest amount and comparing incomes from forestry and alternative land uses on a global scale.
A global model to assess competition for land use between agriculture, bioenergy, and forestry
Focus
26 January 2022
Integrated solutions for biodiversity
Policy Brief #33, January 2022. Action on biodiversity loss can be much more effective if it embraces other global challenges.
29 November 2021
The pursuit of wind power expansion in Brazil
Options Winter 2021: Renewable energies such as wind power will be increasingly important for a net-zero future. IIASA participated in a study that looked at the impacts of wind power expansion in Brazil and explored possibilities to reduce the environmental risks.
Events
30 November 2021 Online via Zoom
IIASA-China Expert Dialogue on Long-term and Integrated Modeling Analysis
08 February 2021 Virtual meeting
IIASA discusses resilient food systems post COVID at the AAAS Annual Meeting
16 November 2020 Virtual meeting
IIASA brings scenario and foresight expertise to the Canadian Science Policy Conference 2020
13 October 2020 Virtual meeting
Transformations within reach: Resilient food systems
Highlighted staff
Petr Havlik
Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar
Amanda Palazzo
Research Scholar
Fulvio Di Fulvio
Research Scholar
Felicity Addo
Researcher
Publications
Sperling, F., Havlik, P. , Denis, M., Valin, H. , Palazzo, A. , Gaupp, F., & Visconti, P. (2022). Toward resilient food systems after COVID-19. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability 4 e100110. 10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100110.
Escobar Lanzuela, N. , Bautista, I., Peña, N., Fenollosa, M.L., Osca, J.M., & Sanjuán, N. (2022). Life Cycle Thinking for the environmental and financial assessment of rice management systems in the Senegal River Valley. Journal of Environmental Management 310 e114722. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114722.
FABLE, (2022). Pathways for food and land use systems to contribute to global biodiversity targets. FABLE Policy Brief. Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture & Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) , Montpellier/Paris, France.
Warren-Thomas, E., Agus, F., Akbar, P.G., Crowson, M., Hamer, K.C., Hariyadi, B., Hodgson, J.A., Kartika, W.D., Lopes, M., Lucey, J.M., Mustaqim, D., Pettorelli, N., Saad, A., Sari, W., Sukma, G., Stringer, L.C., Ward, C., & Hill, J.K. (2022). No evidence for trade‐offs between bird diversity, yield and water table depth on oil palm smallholdings: Implications for tropical peatland landscape restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology 10.1111/1365-2664.14135. (In Press)
Paris, J.M.G., Falkenberg, T., Nöthlings, U., Heinzel, C., Borgemeister, C., & Escobar Lanzuela, N. (2022). Changing dietary patterns is necessary to improve the sustainability of Western diets from a One Health perspective. Science of the Total Environment 811 e151437. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151437.
Addo, F. & Salhofer, K. (2022). Transient and persistent technical efficiency and its determinants: the case of crop farms in Austria. Applied Economics 1-17. 10.1080/00036846.2021.2000580. (In Press)