Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research - BAB
BAB is a socio-economic research institute for agricultural policy, the food industry, farming and rural areas, particularly including mountain regions affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Institute analyses interactions between agriculture and society from different perspectives and draws up basic principles and approaches for the sustainable development of rural areas in a national and European context. A differentiated view of agricultural enterprises, structures and systems as well as a spatially differentiated analysis, with a special focus on the development of mountain areas, are in the focus. Further, the collection, structuring and analysis of (geo)data on agriculture and rural areas as well as the development and implementation of IT systems form an important basis for data science projects. Main areas of research are:
- Agricultural Economics and Markets
- Mountain Areas Research and Regional Development
- Rural Sociology
- Agricultural, Environmental and Food Systems
The research topics relate to a number of societal challenges that are becoming increasingly important due to the growing demands on the use and design of space, as well as the organisation and use of resources. The scientific studies focus on climate change, environmental development, resource conservation, social change and technological change, as well as digitalisation. Their critical nature requires that these aspects be addressed in all scientific research and that these issues be taken into account in the design of research projects and impact assessment.
Our research is focused on:
- an orientation of the research concept towards policy-relevant implementation in terms of agricultural policy as well as sector and spatially relevant policy areas of rural and mountain development,
- the assessment of policy impacts on different social groups,
- the differentiated consideration of policy effects in social and spatial terms,
- the consideration of the acceptance of measures,
- the goal of sustainable development as well as questions of resilience and necessary transformation processes.
Role within RURACTIVE
In RURACTIVE, the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research acts as scientific interface and support organisation between the regional partner Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH (WAB) and the scientific partners. It will contribute to the general scientific elaborations in the proposed areas of work. The institute works closely together with the WAB as regional partner in the most eastern province of Austria and provides general business model experiences, data provision and analyses.
