Competition for land is increasing due to a more diverse pattern of land use. The production of food, feed, bioenergy, and the replacement of fossil resources with renewable raw materials are all placing pressure on agricultural land in particular. In addition, soil degradation and the worldwide loss of fertile land are intensified by factors including erosion, contamination, and sealing.

Furthermore, other actors are penetrating the market: urban growth at the expense of agricultural land is causing a rise in purchase and lease prices in Germany and the EU. This results in decimated farm numbers and young farmers struggling to find affordable land. Innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture are becoming extremely difficult to finance.

A forward-looking land use policy is needed to meet the challenge of the increased pressure on land use in an ecologically and socially sustainable fashion. Ecologic Institute's research work focuses on what such policies could look like. This includes indicator-based qualitative and quantitative assessments along with the analysis, further development and of national and international policy instruments. For this purpose, the team works closely with various stakeholders and decision-makers.