Research and innovation for systemic sustainability

The Leibniz Lab ‘Systemic Sustainability’ serves as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge hub for research synthesis and advances as well as societal innovations to promote systemic understanding and societal action with regard to enhance sustainability in the area of action and conflict ‘biodiversity, climate, agriculture and food’.

Research & Innovation - image composition

A novel approach

The Leibniz Lab ‘Systemic Sustainability’ combines knowledge integration with model-based assessments and systemic innovations. Its scientific activities are geared towards dialogue with societal actors. Science communication and specific products enhance the impact of the results.

Cross-level transdisciplinary dialogues

Facets of the common area of action and conflict in society and the knowledge needs from society are identified in dialogues between the Lab and actors from politics and administration, business and civil society. Mapping of relevant discourses in selected forums enables the subsequent co-creation of goals and the co-evaluation of their achievement. Interdependencies between local-regional sites and the international level are taken into account.

Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge integration

Biodiversity, climate, agriculture and food are each independent fields of research. Key interfaces between these fields and gaps in knowledge are systematically identified. On this basis, a framework concept and infrastructure for knowledge integration emerge. The new approaches are tested in pilot sites.

Assessment of systemic sustainability

Observational data and analytical findings on the interfaces between biodiversity, climate, agriculture and food are interpreted. This draws upon selected bodies of knowledge from Leibniz institutions and other sources as well as new model simulations on the status of planetary boundaries. A quantitative and qualitative knowledge base for assessing systemic sustainability evolves for the common area of action and conflict.

 

Systemic innovations

A wide range of solutions exist for aligning agriculture and food with biodiversity conservation and climate protection. The Lab therefore carries out holistic innovation mapping. Selected technological, economic, social and political innovations are co-designed for sustainability transformations and assessed for their potential impacts.

Science communication

The context conditions for sharing information on the common area of action and conflict ‘biodiversity, climate, agriculture and food’ are in particular characterised by misinformation and disinformation. Hence, the Lab investigates means of science communication with regard to the comprehensive practical knowledge required be the actors addressed.

Target group-specific transfer products

The Leibniz Lab’s integrative and action-oriented research results in a range of actor-specific products. These extend from assessments of regulatory options for policymakers to a dashboard with data on systemic sustainability and information on new technologies for companies in the agricultural and food sector. Innovative information and educational offerings are aimed at practitioners and the general public.

Research & Innovation Areas (RIA)

We advance the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary integration of knowledge in order to advance the understanding and assessment of sustainability from a systemic perspective for the action and conflict area of ‘biodiversity, climate, agriculture and food’. This forms the basis for exploring consistent technological, economic, social and political innovations together with societal actors.

Pilot and associated sites

Selected sites around the globe serve as real-world contexts for exploring the added value of systemic sustainability. Collaboration with local and regional actors enables us to take up their views and link them in the dialogues at the national, surpanational and international levels. Each of the pilot sites is addressed with a specific thematic focus. Associated sites are included in order to reflect the transferability of findings and to gradually expand the network of sites.

Pilot and associated sites of Leibniz Lab

Berlin / Brandenburg, Germany

The pilot site ‘Berlin-Brandenburg’ tackles the advanced sustainability of agri-food systems by bringing together scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to assess current challenges and explore innovations.

Belém / Amazonia, Brazil

The pilot site ‘Belém’ addresses biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity in the Amazon rainforest and on its coast, focusing on conflicts of use and possible solutions.