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17.09.2026 14:24

Why Regional Organic Networks Work

Hendrik Schneider Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.

    What characterizes regional organic value chain networks in Berlin and Brandenburg? How can they be strengthened and developed to be fit for the future? These questions were at the heart of the research carried out as part of the RegBio2B collaborative project.

    To answer them, the project partners accompanied four regional organic networks over a period of three years, conducting in-depth interviews, farm visits and workshops. The aim was to shed light on how social relationships and material cycles interact within the region. The project results show that regional organic networks benefit from strong social relationships. Which goods are sourced, processed or passed on within the region also depends on the quality of the cooperation and on how close the relationships between the actors involved are. Trust, regular communication, shared values and a willingness to take the interests of network partners into account therefore form the basis for resilient, well-functioning regional value creation.

    The detailed results are available in the project's final report.

    So that other networks can also benefit from these findings, a “Checklist for Network Development in Regional (Organic) Networks” was compiled together with practice partners at the close of the project. It is aimed at stakeholders across Germany who want to reflect on and further develop their network activities. Rather than prescribing rigid solutions, which given the wide variety of conditions in practice often cannot simply be transferred from one setting to another, the tool serves as a source of inspiration. Using guiding questions, food for thought and illustrative examples, the checklist covers a range of topics: from the fundamentals of network development to internal organizational culture, questions of resources and profitability, and issues of markets and product ranges. It invites businesses to analyze their own situation, adopt new perspectives and identify suitable starting points for building long-term interpersonal and organizational partnerships. Interested practitioners can download the document from the project website and from the FÖL website.

    Project partners:

    - Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (coordination) (ZALF)
    - Organic Farming Association Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL)
    - Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (IASP)
    - Institute of Animal Nutrition at Freie Universität Berlin (ITE)​

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) funded the project under the “Federal Program for Organic Farming” funding scheme from September 2023 to August 2026. ​​​


    Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

    Benedikt Hoppe
    Research Area 3 “Agricultural Landscape Systems”

    + 49 (0) 33432 82-267
    benedikt.hoppe@zalf.de


    Weitere Informationen:

    https://Project website: https://regbio2b.de/material-ressourcen/#Checkliste


    Bilder

    Network mapping with one of the participating farms.
    Network mapping with one of the participating farms.
    Quelle: Stefan Köhler / IASP
    Copyright: Stefan Köhler / IASP


    Anhang
    attachment icon Press Release English

    Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
    Journalisten, Wissenschaftler
    Geowissenschaften, Meer / Klima, Tier / Land / Forst, Umwelt / Ökologie
    überregional
    Forschungsergebnisse, Kooperationen
    Englisch


     

    Network mapping with one of the participating farms.


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