TRANSECT news

Workshop on participatory methods in Kazakhstan

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:12:55 GMT

On October 28 and 29, 2024, TRANSECT in cooperation

with the German-Kazakh University organized a

workshop on participatory methods in Almaty,

Kazakhstan.

The transdisciplinary workshop entitled "Participatory approaches to natural resource management and rural development in Central Asia" brought together representatives from research, practice (especially development organizations and NGOs) and state institutions from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The workshop served to exchange experiences and critically discuss participatory approaches in planning, research and project management in the fields of agriculture, bioeconomy and rural development in Central Asia.

In addition to networking and creating a "community of practice", the aim was also to transfer research findings and experience from the TRANSECT junior research group, which has carried out extensive stakeholder workshops as part of its research activities in the field of agriculture, particularly with small farmers in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Using various formats (lectures and panel discussions, world café and expert groups), the workshop provided the participants with a wide range of new insights as well as new contacts and partnerships for future research and practical projects.

TRANSECT at CESS Regional Conference in Almaty

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:17:57 GMT

From 6 to 9 June 2024, Henryk presented selected research findings at the regional conference of the Central Eurasian Studies Society. This event, one of the largest Social Science and Humanities conference in and on wider Central Asia, took place at Turan University Almaty.

Drawing on his previous research in the Zhetysu region of Southeast Kazakhstan, he presented research findings on the changes and challenges of soybean monoculture. Henryk’s presentation was part of a panel focusing on monoculture and modernization in Soviet and post-Soviet settings that was jointly organized by Natalia Ryzhova from Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic, and him. One of the outcomes of the panel will be a joint journal article by Natalia, Peter Finke (of Zurich University) and Henryk, which is currently in preparation.

TRANSECT at POLLEN 2024

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:27:18 GMT

Aksana, Michael, and Mehwish presented project findings at the fifth biennial Political Ecology Network conference which took place in June.

It was held in Lunds University (Sweden), Dodoma University (Tanzania), and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima (Peru) as a multi-sited and hybrid event. The theme of this year’s POLLEN was “Towards Just and Plural Futures”. The full program can be found here .

Together with Irna Hofman, advisor of the TRANSECT research group, Michael co-organised a double panel on "Contested imaginaries? Eclectic pathways of agrarian change". In the hybrid panel with participants from two conference locations -- Lund, Sweden and Dodoma, Tanzania — we aimed to look behind the polarized policy and academic debates on agricultural development by focusing on local perspectives. Who owns the control over, and who governs, future production pathways? And how do farmers position themselves in the making of agrarian futures? The empirically-rich papers presented in the double panels included case studies from across the globe and addressed the diversity of actors that are implicated and/or involved in the making of agricultural futures, and with what result. Within this panel, Mehwish presented findings from South Punjab concerning spatial imaginaries of smallholder farmers for desired improvement in agriculture, looking deeper into factors related to histories, structures, and livelihoods that may limit the farmers’ possibilities to envision alternate agrarian pathways.

In a separate panel on “Agrarian Transformations”, Aksana presented her manuscript in progress on the complex interactions among social, economic and ecologic variables that influence the decision-making processes of Tajikistani smallholders as they navigate the transition towards adopting organic cotton production practices. This transition, initiated and guided by the external actors, largely from the global North, emphasizes broader power dynamics and asymmetries inherent within the global agricultural system. She highlighted the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to the volatility of the global organic cotton markets, influenced by external shocks such as pandemics, wars, and natural hazards.

Special issue in ‚Eurasian Geography & Economics‘ published

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:22:37 GMT

At the very end of year, after an extentend process of editing and re-editing, Henryk and Michael published the special issue entitled ‚Coexistence or competition for resources? Transboundary transformations of natural resource use in China’s neighborhood‘ in the journal Eurasian Geography & Economics. The issue contains six contributions and can be openly accessed under https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rege20/current.

Annual meeting of BMBF funding scheme "Bioeconomy as societal change" at HNE

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:09:18 GMT

On November 10th, the TRANSECT team hosted the annual meeting of the junior research groups within the BMBF funding scheme "Bioeconomy as societal change" at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNE)

© https://www.bioecon-societal-change.de/

On November 10th, the TRANSECT team hosted the annual meeting of the junior research groups within the BMBF funding scheme "Bioeconomy as societal change" at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNE). The program was moderated by Dr. Förster from Projektträger Jülich. Also present was Dr. Walter, representing BMBF Referat 725. The meeting brought together nine junior research groups of which four had recently launched their projects. The meeting shed light on several dynamic transformation processes concerning bioeconomy, covering topics such as social inequalities in biomass production, stakeholder mentalities, local knowledge, the bio-based construction sector, meat industry, use of agricultural residues, and bioeconomy policy strategies. For a more detailed report, please refer to: https://biooekonomie.de/foerderung/foerderbeispiele/biooekonomie-als-gesellschaftlicher-wandel-statustreffen-der-bmbf-gefoerderten-nachwuchsforschenden

Advisory Board Meeting held in Eberswalde

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:25:46 GMT

On 17th of November 2023, a TRANSECT advisory board meeting was held at Hochschule Eberswalde

© Henryk Alff 2023

Among the external advisors present were Ralf Bloch (HNE Eberswalde), Andrei Dörre (FU Berlin), Irna Hofman (University of Oxford), Ulan Kasimov (TU Dresden), Hermann Kreutzmann (FU Berlin), Daniel Müller (Leibniz Institute), Martin Petrick (Giessen University), Fabricio Rodríguez (University of Freiburg), and Matthias Schmidt (Augsburg University).

The program entailed an update by the TRANSECT group on their progress since the last meeting (held in 2021). Henryk reported on agrarian modernization processes in South and Central Asia. Mehwish and Michael held a joint presentation on their research on the complex and multifaceted seed sector in Pakistan. Aksana presented her findings on organic agriculture in Tajikistan’s cotton sector and challenges therein. Christoph reported on his crop type mapping study in South Punjab. The team also reported on the participatory workshops held with the rural stakeholders of the 3 case studies in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan and the preliminary findings of the workshops. Critical discussions followed each presentation.

The afternoon was dedicated to the discussion of outlook for the TRANSECT group. All the participants, including the advisory board members, reported on their present engagements and future research plans and synergies were discussed.

The day ended with a visit to the Tadshikische Teestube in Berlin where discussions continued in a traditional Tajik tea house setting.

TRANSECT at DKG ’23 and Tropentag 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:29:53 GMT

In September, the TRANSECT team co-organized various panels and presented their project findings at the DKG’23 (German Congress for Geography) in Frankfurt am Main and at the Tropentag 2023 in Berlin, Germany.

At DKG’23, Michael and Henryk co-organized paper and discussion panels on various themes related to the TRANSECT research themes:

Double panel “ The Great Convergence? Agricultural Modernization and its Others in Global Perspective ”, with Stefan Ouma, Bayreuth University

Modernization, originating from different power centres (‘the West’, the former Soviet Union, China), remains the dominant paradigm of agrarian change. This session discusses points of con- and divergence among discourses on agrarian change in different parts of the world.

Panel “ Putting China’s belt and road initiative into perspective ”, with Matthias Schmidt, Augsburg University

This session investigates China’s and other transnational investments and development interventions abroad, with a focus on the Global South. Exploring local implications in the receiving countries, it questions the idea of a ‘Chinese exceptionalism’ in overseas engagements.

Panel discussion “ Contested ecologies in Eastern Europe: Crises, politics, and activism ” with Alexander Vorbrugg, Bern University

Russia’s 2022 invasion caused ecological havoc within Ukraine. It also had more indirect effects on environmental regulations and policies, and further issues, in neighbouring countries and internationally. Authoritarian tendencies in some Eastern European countries have an increasing impact on state environmental governance as well as activism, while past involvement of Western European countries and the EU in respective policy fields brought mixed results. The climate crisis, too, has an increasing impact on eco-politics in the region. Drawing on diverse, rich, and longstanding engagement with ecological issues in different Eastern European countries, the panellists address current events and their environmental implications, and geographers’ and activists’ responses to them. They also give insights into the longer traditions of environmental research and activism in ‘the region’, and how these matter for thinking about and conceptualizing political ecology and environmental issues more broadly and beyond this region.

Moreover, Michael, Henryk, and Aksana shared their TRANSECT research in three different presentations:

“ Chinese hybrid rice seed and the corporatization of agriculture in Pakistan ” (Michael Spies), “ Socio-economic factors affecting smallholder farmer decision-making in times of crises in south-western Tajikistan ” (Aksana Zakirova), and “ Modernisation beyond Soviet and Western technocracy? Lessons from agrarian practice for future sustainable agricultural development across the Central-South Asian divide ” (Henryk Alff).

At Tropentag 2023, Mehwish contributed with a poster presentation on “ Is there a future for smallholder farmers in Bioeconomy? ‘Improved seeds’ based intensification in south Punjab, Pakistan ” (Mehwish Zuberi). This presentation was part of the session on governance and (bio)economic aspects of food systems transformation which brought together several contributions on the complexities of governing bioeconomic transitions in Global South agriculture.

Sustainable Food and Biomass Futures: International Scientific Conference Hosted by TRANSECT

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:50:25 GMT

From June 22nd to June 24th 2023, the TRANSECT research group held its final conference in HNEE’s city campus.

HNEE President opened the conference with a welcoming address, followed by Dr. Michael Spies, the group leader of TRANSECT, who outlined the main objectives of the conference. As part of the BMBF's funding line 'Bioeconomy as Societal Change,' TRANSECT researchers have gained an in-depth understanding of agricultural dynamics in local case study areas in Central and South Asia over the course of more than four years.

The two-day conference focused on localized research approaches towards agricultural change and bioeconomy development, featuring invited speakers from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. Moreover, it included thought-provoking papers from other regions of the Global South, as well as research groups and scientific centers in Germany.

Lively discussions among participants enriched the scientific encounter and brought together perspectives from different geographic and thematic angles. The conference concluded on June 24th with an excursion to Eberswalde's forest botanical garden and the Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin.

Call for Papers: International Conference on Sustainable Food and Biomass Futures

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:11:38 GMT

Localised approaches to agricultural change and bioeconomy

Kazakhstan © HNEE 2022 / Christoph Raab

International Conference, June 22-24, 2023

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Germany

The demand for food and biomass is increasing globally, while natural resource overuse and climate change pose additional challenges to their production. Moreover, soaring energy and input prices push agricultural production to the limits. There is a need to rethink existing agri-food systems and to develop alternative production approaches with more sustainable trajectories. As one pathway, the concept of ‘sustainable bioeonomy’ (or ‘bio-based economy’) has been promoted by policy makers, particularly in the Global North, but also in China and India: This comprises productivity enhancing innovative technologies with reduced environmental footprints and dependency on fossil resources. It also includes the more efficient use of agricultural resources by developing improved value chains and circular economies, among other approaches. Yet, these policy directions have also been criticized from various directions: First, due to their narrow focus on technological fixes and productivity growth, and second, because they tend to neglect complex social-ecological dependencies of existing production systems. In this sense, these approaches often uncritically accept mainstream agrarian policy directions, neglect systemic transformations, and overlook the innovative potential of local knowledge and experiences. Hence, for any meaningful sustainability assessment of existing and envisioned pathways of agricultural change and bioeconomy, localized approaches, highlighting social and environmental perspectives, are critical.

This international conference is organized by the research group ‘TRANSECT—Agrarian Transformations and Social-Ecological Complexities. Local Bioeconomy Scenarios in Central and South Asia’ at HNEE ( www.transect.de ). It aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and activists working on similar questions in the region and beyond to foster knowledge exchange and comparative research perspectives.

We seek contributions that engage with existing and possible future food and biomass production systems and scrutinize their social and ecological sustainability. Contributions are particularly welcome that:

(a) investigate existing agricultural and bioeconomy-related policies in their local manifestation, and

(b) discuss alternative or complementary strategies to make food and biomass production socially just and ecologically sustainable.

We cordially invite you to submit short presentation abstracts (max. 400 words plus contact data) related to the overall conference theme until January 6, 2023 to transect@hnee.de . The conference is planned in hybrid format. Presentations may address preferably one or more of the following topics:

Sustainable food and biomass production systems for smallholding farmers
Participatory approaches to agricultural and bioeconomy development processes; mixed-method approaches (e.g. integrating remote sensing and social science methods)
Critical assessment of social and ecological impacts of agricultural and bioeconomy-related policies and pathways (e.g. applications of biotechnology in agriculture)
Path dependencies of post-Socialist/post-Green Revolution policies in agricultural development
Transnational dimensions of sustainable food and biomass production: investements, import/export of agricultural products knowledge and (bio-)technology. Of particular interest are the role of the EU and ‘Global China’ as overseas bioeconomy players

Upon acceptance of your abstract, we will ask you to prepare a short conference paper/extended abstract of maximum 2,000 words until early May 2023. The extended abstracts will be published as peer-reviewed conference proceedings.

For a small number of international participants, especially (junior) scholars from Central and South Asia who do not have access to funding, financial support for travel to Eberswalde is available. This will involve a separate application process, but eligible candidates should mention their interest already during abstract submission.

For further requests please write to Michael.Spies@hnee.de .

We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to Eberswalde!

>> Download Call for Papers as PDF <<

Field work for remote-sensing-based crop type mapping

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 15:35:31 GMT

TRANSECT collected field samples on crop types in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan

Dried soil after irrigation, Kazakhstan

All photos © HNEE 2022 / Christoph Raab

In May 2022, TRANSECT researchers and colleagues from Tajikistan conducted an extensive field data collection expedition in Jaloliddin Balkhi, a district in the south-west of Khatlon Region, Tajikistan. Data on crop types were gathered in order to derive a remote-sensing-based crop type map for the area of interest using these reference locations. For this, a classification algorithm will be applied to multi-temporal Sentinel-2 images in the future. As statistical data on agricultural land use are spatially aggregated, this will provide detailed information on the distribution and share of different crop types for our study region.

The agriculture of the district is mainly characterised by cotton cultivation, which is irrigated using a network of large and small channels. Secondary crops include wheat, alfalfa (also called lucerne), fruit trees and other minor crops. Salinisation phenomena sometimes occur, often related to difficulties with the drainage of the fields.

A similar field work expedition was conducted in June 2022 in Panfilov district, Kazakhstan. The field work was supported by our partner university, the Kazakh National University, named after Al-Farabi.

Analogous to our study region in Tajikistan, the agricultural land is irrigated by a branched network of large and small irrigation channels. Center-pivot irrigation systems are not widespread, but were found next to the town of Koktal, in the western part of the district. Agricultural land use is dominated by maize cultivation, often in crop rotation with alfalfa. Other crops, such as wheat or fruit trees play a subordinate role in terms of area shares. In some areas of the study region agricultural land use is challenged by reed, which can be described as tall, grass-like plants found in wetlands.

First Participatory Workshops held in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 11:10:30 GMT

TRANSECT gained new insights into local agricultural challenges and perspectives

Participants of MARISCO workshop in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
All photos © HNEE 2022 / Michael Spies, Henryk Alff

From May 10 to 12, 2022, TRANSECT researchers and colleagues from Tajikistan facilitated the first three-day participatory workshop in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. The workshop proceeding was based on TRANSECT's adapted MARISCO method (Adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites). MARISCO represents a toolbox and an approach to adaptive ecosystem-based management. The method has been adapted to agrarian settings with a stronger emphasis on social dimensions of resource use and bio-based economy.

The workshop was jointly organised with the National Centre for Genetic Resources of the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences and FARNICO Tajikistan LLC . Participants of the MARISCO workshop brought together insights and perspectives from diverse local stakeholders including farmers and agronomists from Jaloliddini Balkhi and Huroson districts of Khatlon region, representatives of Water Users Associations, research institutes, academia and agricultural NGOs.

A similar workshop was conducted together with local farmers and other stakeholders about three weeks later (May 31 to June 1) in Panfilov district, Kazakhstan. The workshop was jointly organised by TRANSECT and our partner university, the Kazakh National University , named after Al-Farabi. It was facilitated by a team of five German and Kazakh researchers.

While the format of the workshops was new to most of the participants, they quickly took the role of acting as local experts. They engaged in the process of knowledge mapping very actively. Both workshops aggregated valuable results for the TRANSECT research project, in terms of methodology as well as regarding new insights into farmers’ perspectives on the local social-ecological systems and challenges.

In Kazakhstan and in Tajikistan, the participants found the holistic approach of the MARISCO methodology insightful. They admitted that mapping local knowledge jointly with other local experts enabled them to look at their existing social and ecological problems systematically, beyond their own farm and household boundaries.

Call for Applications for a Student Assistant

Tue, 17 May 2022 08:37:01 GMT

On Agricultural Land Use and Remote Sensing

Tajikistan © HNEE 2022 / Christoph Raab

>> Download Call for Application as PDF <<

Student Assistant on Agricultural Land Use and Remote Sensing

Postgraduate (M.Sc. or M.A. student), 6 months, ca. 40h per month,
from July 1 ^st , 2022; (with the possibility of a 6 months extension)

The Student Assistant will work with the Junior Research Group TRANSECT (Agrarian Transformations and Social-Ecological Complexities - Local Bioeconomy Scenarios in Central and South Asia) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNE Eberswalde, Germany). The Junior Research Group investigates the social-ecological effects and interdependencies of agrarian transformations in Central and South Asia.

Within the project, the Student Assistant will be concerned with mapping agricultural land cover, using remote sensing data (e.g. Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8). Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

Visual interpretation of temporal vegetation index profiles (e.g. NDVI)
Collection of on screen validation data on historic crop types
Collection of on screen validation data on historic land use
Quality control and quality assurance
Creation of maps and figures

The candidate ideally should have a training in remote sensing and should be able to work independently under the supervision of the TRANSECT team.

General requirements:

Good command of English
Good knowledge of the mathematical/physical basics of remote sensing and the processing of satellite images
A good understanding of phenological characteristics of different crop types
Practical experience in raster and vector data processing
Confident handling of GIS software environments (preferably QGIS)
An independent, structured, goal-oriented and reliable way of working
Ability to work in a team and good communication skills
Ideally, the candidate should have practical experience in the programming environments R and/or Python

Further information:

Appointment from July 1 ^st , 2022
The position is initially limited to 6 month with an option for possible extension of 6 months
ca. 10 hours per week
Payment according to public pay agreement

The Student Assistant will be supervised by TRANSECT member Dr Christoph Raab, remote sensing and GIS researcher, who can be contacted for inquiries regarding the position.

Further information about the project: www.transect.de

The application should consist of a single PDF document containing a cover letter with a brief description of your possible starting date, your research background and interest, motivation, particular skills that you would like to highlight, and a short CV.

Send your application until May 31, 2022 to:

Christoph.Raab@hnee.de

Dr Christoph Raab

TRANSECT

Schwappachweg 3 (22.1)

16225 Eberswalde

Germany

New Publication "Towards a Participatory Systems Approach"

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:59:01 GMT

Managing complex bioeconomy interventions in the agrarian sector

Detail of MARISCO model © HNEE 2022 / Madlen Mählis

Calls for a “sustainable bioeconomy” have recently begun to proliferate in academic and political circles as an answer to global challenges such as the rapidly increasing world population and changing environmental conditions due to climate change. To build economies that rely on various sources of biomass rather than on fossil-based resources, bioeconomy policies highlight a need to explore ways in which productivity in agriculture can be increased. While the focus on productivity growth has largely been inspired by technology optimism and modernisation thinking, the local knowledge of farmers and other rural stakeholders – as a means of contributing to socially and ecologically more sustainable bioeconomy pathways – has frequently been sidelined. This perspective article proposes and discusses a participatory approach to strategy formulation and evaluation in agricultural transformation and bioeconomy development that is based on the methodological toolbox MARISCO (Adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites). By offering a means of developing a comprehensive knowledge map, bringing together both insights and perspectives from diverse local stakeholders, this approach enables a systemic evaluation of the social and ecological effects of intervention strategies on the ground. The article outlines the benefits – and challenges – of such a systemic and participatory approach and briefly sketches how the results can be utilised in more sustainable governance processes in the development of bioeconomy strategies. We conclude that our adapted MARISCO methodology offers a viable tool to make more visible the perspectives and knowledge of biomass producers for policymakers and to contribute to a much-needed discursive shift in bioeconomy debates towards more holistic and inclusive perspectives.

Keywords: Bio-based economy; Participatory methods; Social-ecological systems; Intensification; Agriculture

Reference:

Michael Spies, M.; Zuberi, M.; Mählis, M., Zakirova, A., Alff, H., Raab, C. Towards a participatory systems approach to managing complex bioeconomy interventions in the agrarian sector, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Volume 31, 2022, 557-568, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.03.020.

Open access under a Creative Commons license:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550922000732

Call for Applications for a Three Months Fellowship

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 14:55:48 GMT

TRANSECT is looking for a researcher analysing China’s engagement in agrarian and/or bioeconomy-related developments in our case study region

Maize drying in Kazakhstan © HNEE 2021 / Henryk Alff

>> Download Call for Application as PDF <<

Postgraduate 3 months short-term Fellowship

The Junior Research Group TRANSECT (Agrarian Transformations and Social-Ecological Complexities. Local Bioeconomy Scenarios in Central and South Asia) investigates social and ecological implications of agrarian change in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan to identify possible pathways towards a sustainable bioeconomy in the agricultural sector. The research group is part of the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, which is concerned with ecosystem functions and services under global change.

As part of their study, TRANSECT seeks to analyse China’s growing interest in partnering with local governments, businesses and research facilities in the three respective countries for gearing up on agricultural production and technology enhancement – with a particular interest on bioeconomy-related developments and questions of social and ecological sustainability.

Your responsibilities

As a short-term visiting fellow at our department you will

conduct independent research concerning China’s engagement and interests in agrarian and/or bioeconomy-related developments in the case study region of TRANSECT that should result in a (joint) publication,
actively participate in research collaboration with TRANSECT and the Centre for Econics.
Your analysis should ideally build on your previous or ongoing research. It should highlight Chinese perspectives and can focus on agricultural trade and development, biotechnology, bio-based economy, science- and knowledge transfer, research cooperation, development policies, agricultural investment, or green financing, but should be clearly linked to the TRANSECT research topics and objectives. It can include the analysis of (Chinese) policy documents, media, and international trade data, among other research methods and materials.

Your profile

You should be based at a research institute outside of Germany, preferably in China or Central Asia. You need at least a Masters’ degree in related study fields such as area studies, international relations, agrarian studies, human or political geography, development studies, or comparable fields. Candidates should already be engaged in research topics that they can build on or further develop during this fellowship in close collaboration with the TRANSECT team. Fluency in Chinese and good Academic English skills are required.

What we offer

This fellowship is limited to a 3 months period and granted with a monthly bursary of 2,300 € (for postdoctoral fellow) or 1,800 € (predoctoral fellow), respectively. In addition, we will cover your flight and other transportation costs to and from Eberswalde. Your work place will be at the University for Sustainable Development, Eberswalde, Germany, in close proximity to Berlin. We offer a workplace with well-equipped academic infrastructure and a supportive research network. Candidates will have the opportunity of exchanging ideas with other researchers working on the region from the angle of different disciplines.

Start of fellowship

The position is available from June 2022, but detailed travel dates need to be coordinated with the team. Application will be accepted until January 20, 2022.

The application should consist of a single PDF document containing

a cover letter with a brief description of your earliest possible starting date, your research background and interest, motivation, and particular skills that you would like to highlight
CV (with two reference contacts)
outline of your proposed topic of research (maximum 1,000 words)

Further information

Dr Michael Spies: Michael.Spies@hnee.de

Please send your application to: transect@hnee.de

International Conference on Sustainable Bioeconomy Held at Partner University in Pakistan

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:29:49 GMT

In cooperation with TRANSECT, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan organised the International Conference on Sustainable Bioeconomy in Livestock and Crop Production, Oct 20-21, 2021

Photo © HNEE / Spies, Zuberi 2021

In a joint cooperation with HNEE's TRANSECT, our partner university MNS-University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan, organised the International Conference on Sustainable Bioeconomy in Livestock and Crop Production on October 20-21, 2021.

The conference was facilitated by the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and held in hybrid format, with participants from Pakistan, Germany, India, Turkey, and China. In his keynote presentation 'Towards a sustainable bioeconomy in the agrarian sector: Pathways and challenges' , Michael presented an overview of bioeconomy strategies worldwide and discussed emerging challenges and opportunities for the agricultural sector in Pakistan. In four sessions and three keynote presentations, about 20 speakers presented a diversity of topics ranging from integrated farming systems to circular economy in livestock management and organic vegetable production. Most contributions focused on challenges faced by livestock and crop production systems in Pakistan, and presented approaches on how to address them through bio-based solutions. Examples included, among others, the use of algae to make wastewater fit for agricultural irrigation, the use of medicinal plant extracts to improve livestock performance, and to return agricultural residues to organic fertilizer. While many promising approaches exist, the presentations and discussions revealed that there is often a gap between research and development on the one hand, and actual implementation by farmers on the other.

The concluding remarks by MNS-University of Agriculture Multan Vice Chancellor Professor Asif Ali and Michael highlighted the importance of transdisciplinary approaches as the way forward to bring together farmers, agricultural and social scientists to develop more locally grounded solutions towards a sustainable bioeconomy that is rather based on farmer’s needs.

Photos 2021 © with kind permission of MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, from left to right:

Professor Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor, MNS-UAM, Pakistan; Professor Asif Raza, Chairman of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MNS-UAM; Dr Michael Spies and Mehwish Zuberi, HNEE

New Publication "Beyond Post-Soviet: Layered Legacies & Transformations in Central Asia"

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 12:08:52 GMT

Researchers from Various Disciplines Discuss their Ongoing Research on the Region

Thirty years after the disssolution of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian republics are still often granted the epithet ' post-Soviet' . While this is technically true, the region has been shaped and differentiated not only by seven decades of Soviet rule, but also by a pre-Soviet feudal and colonial history as well as various more recent phenomena and developments. Thus, each social phenomenon observed in Central Asia today has its own unique combination of elements from the past deriving from "layered legacies" — legacies of different phases that reinforce, interact with or contradict each other in complex ways, and can have very different consequences in local contexts.

This volume examines some of the region's layered lagacies by eclectically zooming in on topics, such as urban planning, water management, agricultural production, communal cooperation, migration patterns, ethnicity, Islam and gender. The overarching question explored across these different examples pertains to the relative relevance and dynamic interaction of these layers of legacies. Are Soviet structures still relevant today? How much was disrupted by the transformation efforts in the 1990s and to what degree are Central Asian republics affected by current global socio-economic and political dynamics today?

The publication outlines results of two workshops that were conducted earlier this year in Augsburg and online from Eberswalde. They served as first annual meetings of the Central Asian Studies Network in Germany (CASNiG) , an open network of Central Asia researchers, to exchange ideas, concepts and findings, and promote collaboration, mutual support and solidarity. This volume presents selected papers based on contributions from the two workshops, addressing contemporary issues and layered legacies in Central Asia. It was edited by one of the TRANSECT advisors, Matthias Schmidt from Augsburg University, Rune Steenberg and TRANSECT members Michael Spies and Henryk Alff. Other contributors are Gukzat Baialieva, Ottawia Cima, Andrei Dörre, Zarina Mukanova, Tabea Rohner, Jenniver Sehring, Wladimir Sgibnev, Martin Welp, and Katerina Zäch.

Reference:

M. Schmidt, R. Steenberg, M. Spies & H. Alff (eds.) (2021): Beyond Post-Soviet: Layered Legacies and Transformations in Central Asia. (Geographica Augustana 33). Institut für Geographie, Universität Augsburg. ISBN 978-3-948283-05-6.

A free copy of the journal is available here:

https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/89035/file/Beyond_Soviet_pdf_a.pdf

‘Beyond post-Soviet’: Web Conference on Central Asia

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 12:33:49 GMT

TRANSECT Co-organized 2nd Workshop of New Central Asian Studies Network, CASNiG, Mar 4-5, 2021

Together with Professor Martin Welp (HNEE Chair of Socioeconomics and Communication), Michael and Henryk organised an interdisciplinary web-conference entitled ‘Beyond post-Soviet: Path dependencies and new trajectories of change in Central Asia,’ hosted by Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) on March 4-5, 2021.

In five topical sessions, ranging from discourses and memories in agriculture to conflict and cooperation in natural resource use and new urban transformations, junior and senior colleagues from a broad range of academic institutions in Germany and beyond presented and discussed ongoing research work.

The web-conference is the second annual event of the ‘Central Asian Studies Network in Germany’ (CASNiG), founded in February 2020 at Augsburg University.

Find more information here: https://casnig.geo.uni-augsburg.de/

Aksana: "It's a good time for studies like mine"

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:10:03 GMT

Growing Cotton is a Vital Source of Income in Central Asia, yet it Creates Many Environmental Problems

Aksana was interviewed by the initiative Research in Germany . It presents research and science in Germany in globally relevant research markets. The initiative was initially launched by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2006.

Please read the article here:

https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/spotlight/bioeconomy/its-a-good-time-for-studies-like-mine.html

Bioeconomy and Path Dependencies

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:54:42 GMT

Henryk & Michael Publish New Article on Agricultural Intensification Pathways in Pakistan & Kazakhstan

Overcoming Path Dependencies in the Bioeconomy?

Agricultural Intensification Processes from a Social-Ecological Perspective

Abstract:

The “transformation” to a bio-based economy as propagated in international and national bioeconomy strategies implies profound changes in agricultural systems to increase production. In countries of the Global South, however, such processes have usually been accompanied by unintended – or deliberately accepted – negative consequences, such as environmental degradation or a widening of social inequalities. Yet, existing knowledge about the risks of agricultural interventions is hardly considered in bioeconomy strategies, which, on the one hand, focus on economic and technical approaches to “sustainable” intensification through agro-technological innovations, and, on the other hand, an expansion of production areas. These strategies lack any plausible ideas on how production increases can be made ecologically and socially sustainable, and previous experience with agrarian interventions give reasons for concern. Using two historical examples – the Green Revolution in the Punjab of Pakistan and the Virgin Lands Campaign in Kazakhstan – this article outlines the complex social and ecological consequences of large-scale agricultural interventions to increase production and examines the extent to which these experiences can (and should) be taken into account in bioeconomy strategies. In this context, the role of institutional path-dependencies in shaping present and future developments should be critically reflected on. As past experience in the agricultural sector has shown, bioeconomy strategies must take their claimed “systemic” approach seriously, which implies that technology and productivity-oriented goals must always be subordinated to social and ecological goals.

Keywords: agriculture, bioeconomy strategies, intensification, extensification, green revolution, virgin lands campaign, Pakistan, Kazakhstan

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Alff, Henryk/Spies, Michael: Pfadabhängigkeiten in der Bioökonomie überwinden? Landwirtschaftliche Intensivierungsprozesse aus sozial-ökologischer Perspektive, PERIPHERIE – Politik • Ökonomie • Kultur, 3+4-2020, S. 334-359. Volltext: PDF

Land Use Changes in Central & South Asia Illustrated by Satellite Imagery

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:14:27 GMT

Satellite remote sensing offers unique opportunities to investigate land use changes at large geographical and temporal scales. A valuable source of historical data are the recordings of the CORONA satellites, collected between 1960 and 1972 [1]. Comparing this historic imagery to data recorded by the Sentinel-2 satellites in 2020 are an impressive illustration of anthropogenic related changes of the landscape:

T ajikistan

The Qubodiyon District is located in the southern part of Khatlon region, in the valley of Vakhsh river. The agriculture of the district is mainly characterised by cotton cultivation, which was established as a monoculture farm practice during the Soviet Union era. In a comparison between a historic satellite image taken in 1964 and a most recent image recorded in 2020, the crop area expansion introduced during the Soviet Union period becomes evident (see red line). The irrigation system introduced during the Soviet Union period has largely modified the landscape of the area by transforming arid land into cropland. Consequently, such agricultural development resulted in an expansion of urban areas. The illustrated land use change around the village of Garavuti affected approximately 100 km² (see red line in 1964 and 2020) In addition, the structure of farmland has changed from large homogeneous fields to a more fragmented appearance. This change of farmland structure can be related to farm restructuring following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

K azakhstan

The Panfilov District is located in the eastern part of the Almaty Region, close to the border between Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China. The development of the area is closely linked to the Ili River and related irrigation systems for agricultural activities, mainly the production of maize. The maps show the city of Zharkent for two time steps, the major urban centre of the region. The urban expansion from 1968 to 2020 is clearly visible (see red lines). This can be associated with a doubling of the population from 19,173 inhabitants to 42,617 from 1970 to 2019 [2]. Noticeable is not only the increase in area occupied by urban infrastructure, but also the increased built-up area density. Similar to the case study presented for Tajikistan, the structure of farmland has changed from large homogeneous fields to a more fragmented appearance, due to the dissolution of large-scale farms.

P akistan

The Multan Division is located in South Punjab, Pakistan, and is a major production area for cotton. The location of the map is situated in the south of the city Multan, a major economic and cultural centre of the region. A comparison between 1967 and 2020 shows that the checkerboard-like pattern of agricultural fields is still present in most of the areas. This field pattern can be attributed back to colonial land allotment schemes and canal colonies in pre-partition Western Punjab that led to expansion of irrigated agriculture. In the western part (red arrows), large parts of the area is used for agriculture in 2020, previously been unused for agricultural production.

Sources

[1] Casana, J. (2020). Global-Scale Archaeological Prospection using CORONA Satellite Imagery: Automated, Crowd-Sourced, and Expert-led Approaches. Journal of Field Archaeology, 45(sup1), S89-S100.

[2] http://pop-stat.mashke.org/kazakhstan-cities.htm (accessed December 1, 2020)

"Year of Science 2020/21" on Bioeconomy

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:14:27 GMT

Michael's Contribution to the Dialogue on Bioeconomy

The Initiative "Year of Science 2020/21" by the German Ministry of Education and Research and the forum Science in Dialogue is dedicated to the topic of bioeconomy. Diminishing resources and decreasing usable land along with a growing world population, climate change and a decline in biodiversity - all of these are global challenges. Therefore, the ministry argues that change is necessary: away from an economy based on fossil resources towards a sustainable, bio-based economy - the bioeconomy. Citizens are called upon to actively shape this change in a participatory dialogue with science and research.

Michael's main points are:

Increasing agricultural production for the bioeconomy entails social and ecological risks.
The bioeconomy must be thought of holistically and we need to learn from the experience of previous agricultural interventions.
Economic goals must be subordinated to ecological and social goals.

Please follow the link to read the original article in German language:

https://www.wissenschaftsjahr.de/2020-21/aktuelles-aus-der-biooekonomie/koepfe-des-wandels/agrarwandel-und-sozial-oekologische-nachhaltigkeit

Transformations in the 'Cotton Belt' of Pakistan

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:19:31 GMT

Mehwish Reports from Multan District

In the ‘cotton belt’ of South Punjab, Pakistan, many farmers are shifting away from cotton farming as a primary source of livelihood. Mehwish Zuberi, a doctoral researcher from HNEE, shares some insights from her current research stay in Multan district. Her study is part of the junior research group project TRANSECT which explores agricultural transformation and scenarios for local bio-based economies in Central and South Asia.

Click on the picture above to watch Mehwish's video.

New Project Profile of TRANSECT on German Bioeconomy Website

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:21:25 GMT

Short Article Offers Interesting Project Summary and Updates on our Work

Simon Schöbinger, from the German Ministry of Education and Research, wrote a short and informative German language article about the TRANSECT project. He introduced our research approach and provides some insights into our recent research activities.

Click on the picture above to read the article.

Memorandum of Cooperation Signed with University in Pakistan

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:02:47 GMT

Memorandum of Cooperation signed between HNEE and Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University for Agriculture (MNSUAM), Multan, Pakistan

Photo © MNSUAM

Present in the photo:
Vice Chancellor MNSUAM, Professor Asif Ali
Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences MNSUAM, Professor Shafqat Saeed
Associate Professor and Chairman Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences MNSUAM, Dr Asif Raza
Doctoral Researcher HNEE, Mehwish Zuberi

HNEE and Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University for Agriculture (MNSUAM) in Multan, Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation which will last five years. Both universities pledge to establish a joint research platform for field research, use of resources and complementing each others technical benefits in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in sustainable agricultural development. Under this Memorandum, both universities agree on exchange of researchers. For example, Mehwish Zuberi is a doctoral researcher at HNEE with the junior research group TRANSECT who is studying agricultural intensification processes and their consequences in South Punjab with the aim to develop alternative sustainable pathways in a climate change scenario. She is currently hosted by MNSUAM for a two month long research stay. The memorandum is the first of its kind signed by HNEE with a university in Pakistan.

Scenario-building for Bio-based Economy Development in Central and South Asia

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:29:05 GMT

MARISCO Method Learning

In a four-day workshop in March 2020, TRANSECT research group received a training in the applied MARISCO method, which was developed by the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). MARISCO is a toolbox allowing a participative scenario development by including stakeholders, e.g. farmers and decision-makers, examining and evaluating factors for well-being, stressors and root-causes. Aim is to develop possible future paths for an improvement of local social-ecological systems. TRANSECT researchers were assisted to evaluate all phases of scenario-development, particularly in systems that are impacted by agricultural transformations, but also to look into opportunities to adapt the MARISCO method to particular research settings. The learned MARISCO method will be applied in a series of stakeholder workshops in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, starting from winter 2021/22.

Find out more:

https://www.marisco.training/news/

Transformations After the Transformation: Central Asia in Focus of Human Geography and Social Sciences

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:44:58 GMT

Conference at University of Augsburg, Feb 7-8, 2020

Photo published with permission of Paulina Simkin

TRANSECT members Michael Spies and Aksana Zakirova presented their recent fieldwork findings at the conference „Transformations After the Transformation: Central Asia in Focus of Human Geography and Social Sciences,“ which was held at the University of Augsburg, February 7-8, 2020.

The programme consisted of eighteen lectures covering a broad range of topics from the field of social sciences – human geography, anthropology and economic sciences. Aksana presented her first insights from an explorative field research undertaken in Khatlon region of Tajikistan in November and December 2019. Her research has a focus on agricultural transformations, particularly on the declining cotton production – a strategically important cash crop central to the bioeconomy of Tajikistan. Her preliminary findings point to changing environmental conditions and farmers’ adaptation strategies to such changes.

Michael Spies together with Professor Martin Welp (Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development) presented a participatory method of knowledge mapping for developing strategies of wider adoption and re-establishment of agroforestry systems in Central Asia. Knowledge mapping is inspired by the so-called MARISCO method that will also be utilised for scenario building within the TRANSECT project (https://www.marisco.training/). Key stakeholders’ systemic knowledge is essential for participatory policy and strategy development and offers important lessons for the promotion of sustainable land use in Central Asia and beyond.

More information:

https://www.uni-augsburg.de/en/fakultaet/fai/geo/prof/geohum/news/conference-transformations-after-the-transformation-central-asia-in-focus-of-human-geography-and-social-sciences/

TRANSECT Presentations at the 10th Annual Meeting of the South Asia Working Group (Arbeitskreis Südasien) in Freiburg

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 13:17:50 GMT

Early Insights from Fieldwork in Pakistan Presented by Mehwish and Michael

Participants of the 10th Annual Meeting of the South Asia Working Group, Freiburg, January 24–25, 2020
© Photo published with permission of Gregor C. Falk

10th Annual Meeting of the South Asia Working Group (Arbeitskreis Südasien) in Freiburg

The programme included fourteen lectures, which covered a broad spectrum of geographic research in South Asia. In addition to a human-geographic focus of the topics, there were also interdisciplinary, physical-geographic and remote sensing contributions.

Mehwish opened the session on “Changes in Agriculture” with her ongoing research on transformation processes in Pakistan’s agriculture. Using an assemblage approach, she examines the changing constellations of actors, technologies, ecosystem elements, and institutions that are underlying current changes agricultural production in southern Punjab. Subsequently, Michael reported on current developments of Chinese investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Find more information at:

www.geographien-suedasiens.de/2020/02/02/10-jahrestagung-des-arbeitskreis-suedasien-in-freiburg/

Henryk Presents Tentative Findings of His First Fieldwork Trip to Kazakhstan

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:17:16 GMT

Conference "The Art of Neighbourhoods: Border Dynamics, Natural Resources &Mobility in Central Asia"

Henryk will present tentative findings of his first fieldwork in Almaty Region at the conference
"The Art of Neighbourhoods: Border Dynamics, Natural Resources and Mobility in Central Asia"
in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 5 February 2020, organized by the University of Central Asia (UCA).

Find more information at:

https://ucentralasia.org/Resources/Item/2478/EN

Insights from an Explorative Field trip to Jaloliddini Balkhi District of Khatlon Region, Tajikistan

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 11:04:58 GMT

by Aksana Zakirova,
Doctoral Candidate of TRANSECT Junior Research Group

Jaloliddini Balkhi district is located in the western part of Khatlon region, in the valley of Vakhsh river. The agriculture of the district is mainly characterized by cotton cultivation, which was established as a monoculture farm practice during the Soviet Union era. However, during my explorative visits to the fields I have noticed a gradual shift towards a diversification of crops - mostly food and fodder crops such as wheat, maize, vegetables and alfalfa. Moreover, farmers also engage in small-scale animal husbandry, agroforestry and aquaculture. There are many reasons for this transformation and it needs further investigation. Jaloliddini Balkhi district was the first stop on my explorative field trip to Khatlon region. My next field visit will take place in neighbouring Qumsangir district which once used to be populated by an ethnically German minority.

Conceptualizing Agrarian Dynamics and Bioeconomy Futures in Central and South Asia

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:00:27 GMT

TRANSECT Kick-off Workshop took place at HNE Eberswalde

On October 21 and 22, 2019 the Kick-off Workshop of the junior research group TRANSECT took place at HNEE forest campus. While the first day of the workshop was dedicated to past and current agricultural transformations, the second one highlighted future thematical and methodological pathways in the TRANSECT context.

After opening remarks by Michael Spies and two professors from the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Martin Welp and Pierre Ibisch, participants provided glimpses into their work and gave thus important access points and food for thought for our research: Irna Hofman from University of Oxford presented her research work on Chinese farming in Tajikistan, posing important methodological questions of how Chinese engagement can be adequately grasped while avoiding generalisations. Based on his long-standing expertise, Martin Petrick from Gießen University demonstrated the added value of social science with regard to agricultural change across Central Asia. Nazia Yasmin from Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) in Potsdam elaborated upon household-based bioeconomy solutions in Pakistan, focusing on her work on micro-level biogas production from livestock manure.

An important aspect of the research of TRANSECT is the academic exchange with other workgroups of BMBF’s bioeconomy funding line. Fabricio Rodriguez from the junior research group "Bioinequalities" at Jena University shared insights of his research towards Sino-Brazilian trade in energy resources. Finally, Daniel Müller from Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Halle shed light on scenarios of environmental change in Central Asia.

Brief presentations of the respective research plans by the TRANSECT researchers Christoph Raab, Henryk Alff, Mehwish Zuberi, Michael Spies and Aksana Zakirova forged lively methodological and conceptual feedback and suggestions, particularly with regard to the upcoming fieldwork. Fruitful discussions continued while dining at the fireplace.

The second workshop day allowed for more in-depth engagement with some of the key themes of TRANSECT. Michael Spies introduced our proposed scenario development approach that draws on the methodological toolcase of MARISCO . A ‚World Cafe‘ format of small-group discussions was then used to generate ideas and solutions for some key challenges of our upcoming research: How to operationalize inter-and transdisciplinary research in the context of agrarian change and scenario development? How to study transboundary interventions in the field of agriculture? How to operationalize the concept of bioeconomy for our research on agrarian change? After presenting group work results and discussing upcoming research collaborations, we closed the workshop at noon.

Studying Border-Regions in the post-Soviet Space

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 09:11:05 GMT

Conference

Photo under Creative Commons License through Wikimedia Commons

Henryk is going to present preliminary results of his first fieldwork in Southeastern Kazakhstan at the workshop "Studying Border Regions in the Post-Soviet Space – Challenges and Opportunities" in Tbilisi, Georgia, 26-28 November 2019, organized by the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), Berlin, in cooperation with Tbilisi State University.

TRANSECT Presentation at Eberswalde Campus Colloquium, 7 October 2019

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 13:49:20 GMT

HNEE, H 11, HS 2, R 11/015 (EG re), 13:30 - 15:30 pm

TRANSECT research project will be presented at Eberswalde Campus Colloquium (ECK) on October 7, 2019 (in German). Eberswalde Campus Colloquium was founded in 2017 and serves as forum for regular academic exchange among forest and environment specialists. Other speakers will include Professor Dr Barbara Wolff (HNEE) giving a presentation on "Condition and Development of Juniper Forests in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan."

Link:

www.thuenen.de/de/infothek/veranstaltungen/details/news/detail/News/eberswalder-campus-kolloquium-41-kw-1/

Kick-off Workshop, 20-21 October 2019

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 09:52:44 GMT

Readjusting Research Design and Methodology

On 21-22 October 2019 a first Kick-off Meeting will take place at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.

We have invited several professional researchers who are studying on both agrarian and rural transformation in order to share their insights. Besides exchange among members of related research projects, we hope the participants of the Kick-off Workshop will provide us with critical feedback or our research plans. Putting project plans under scrutiny to an array of experts, we intend to thoroughly discuss presentations of our case studies and the overall research design. This will help fine-tune research design and methodology.

Participants come from renowned institutions such as Halle Leibniz-Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) and Centre for Development Studies (ZELF) at Freie Universität Berlin.

Press Release

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:30:34 GMT

by Annika Bischof, Communications Team
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

A team of young researchers at University for Sustainable Development, Eberswalde (HNEE), Germany, investigates possible future pathways in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. In terms of an emerging bioeconomy, the three countries have not yet been well attended in international debates. But with recent developments and the impact of China’s growing economy the re-gion is back into focus.

What alternatives to the extraction of fossil fuels would be thinkable for Kazakhstan? Which measures could make Tajikistan’s cotton production more sustainable? How can agrarian technologies be optimized in Pakistan in order to meet demand, but without harming smallholding farmers?

Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Junior Research Group TRANSECT will investigate social-ecological effects and interdependencies of agrarian transformations in three specific regions in Central and South Asia. „The region has rather not been well attended by researchers,” says Dr Michael Spies, project leader of TRANSECT at HNEE. “Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan are, however, exciting countries, though all of the three countries face vast ecological and social challenges.” Changes in climate patterns are evident, this causes problems with water demand and irrigation. Past approaches to the use of the agrarian landscape left a deep imprint on the region as well.

Therefore, will bioeconomy – understood as utilisation of agrarian and other renewable biological resources to secure food, industrial production, and bioenergy – do well on those regions? And, what kind of risks and opportunities are associated with it? To find answers to those questions, HNEE researchers will engage and collaborate with local people in the Punjab (Pakistan), Khatlon (Tajikistan), and Almaty (Kazakhstan). “Each region will serve as case study. In a first step we will examine and analyse current trends of local agrarian developments. The results will then provide the foundation for an exploration of possible future scenarios in terms of the bioeconomy,” describes coordinator Madlen Mählis the course of the project.

Research group members will begin with field studies already in November this year, each member spends a whole year in one of the three regions. In order to examine social and ecological risks as well as the scope of political governance and planning, joint workshops in cooperation with farmers and smallholders and other local partners are planned. There are also research collaborations with colleagues from neighbouring China scheduled. “China’s increasing engagement in agricultural developments is a common denominator in the three countries. Therefore, its growing bioeconomy is predicted to have multiple effects on the region,” explains Dr Michael Spies. Consequently, it will be essential to include Chinese perspectives into the research.

About the project:

TRANSECT – Agrarian and Social-Ecological Complexities. Local Bioeconomy Scenarios in Central and South Asia

is a Junior Research Group, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education (BMBF) with a grant of 2.613.171 Euros. It runs over five years, from 05/2019 to 04/2024. The research group is formed of six members.

Contact:

Head of Junior Research Group

Dr. Michael Spies

+49 3334 657- 198

michael.spies@hnee.de

Project Coordinator

Madlen Mählis

+49 3334 657- 539

Madlen.Maehlis@hnee.de

BMBF Research Program "Bioeconomy as Societal Change":

www.ptj.de/projektfoerderung/biooekonomie/gesellschaftlicher-wandel