Acronym: OEKO-Valuation

In brief: who, what, where?

What role do values and norms play in the transformation of our agricultural and food system? This question is the focus of the OEKO-Valuation project. The interdisciplinary research project is being carried out by the Universities of Hohenheim and Tübingen together with the Stuttgart based agency Oekonsult in the organic model regions (Biomusterregionen) of Enzkreis  and HeidenheimPlus. Together with local stakeholders, we investigate whether and how the understanding of ethical issues can strengthen organic farming. 

Background: Dispute over the future of agriculture

The starting point of the project is the current societal debate on the future of agriculture. In terms of content, the controversy revolves around the question of how food production can be made more ecological without endangering farmers' livelihoods. The debate is emotionally charged and often characterized by outrage and mutual incomprehension. Such conflicts cannot be resolved by mere "objectification". Rather, the needs, interests, and moral concepts of all those involved in the underlying conflicts have to be explicitly addressed. This is where the research project comes in. It aims to facilitate the understanding of values and norms in various event and participation formats in order to make them effective for practical cooperation.

For more information, please visit the website OEKO-Valuation - Values and Norms in Agriculture.