Themes

The landscape solutions lab supports fundamental research and solution driven applied research on landscape systems, land use transitions, land- and habitat management, agricultural value chains and sustainable agri-food systems.

Research themes investigated at the lab are pursued in a diverse range of consortia, projects and research partnerships. They typically integrate perspectives and methods from across the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. Research in the lab currently include the themes listed below.

Social-ecological modeling of landscape systems

Patterns of land use reflect relationships between human societies and the ecological basis they depend on, offering insights into long term social-ecological system dynamics.

Crop diversification through intercropping

Intercropping strategies require less agronomic inputs while delivering other ecosystem services and public goods.

Sustainable land use transitions

Reform of land use institutions may help secure continuous production of food, fibre and other ecosystem services in healthy, biodiverse landscapes.

Grain legumes as smart environmentally adaptive crops

Driven by agrochemicals, government policies, and market forces, grain legumes are overlooked in cereal dominated landscapes

Decision making, power and cooperation in political landscapes

Politics and power relationships are integral to the way humans organise themselves, including how access to land is experienced, shared and contested.

Climate adaptation and resilience in rural land-scapes and communities

Agriculture, forestry and other land uses (afolu) is an important component of successful transition processes delivering on national and international agendas on climate change and biodiversity.

Agroecology principles as transition agent

Agroecological principles and practices can serve as catalysts for transforming dominating, often industrialized, farming systems and value chain logics.

Fork-to-farm food and land use diversification

Policy frameworks support dietary choices enhancing health and environmental outcomes creating market pulls for land use change

Image credits: The authors (see subpages).