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Tourism, especially in the European Alps, contributes to rural livelihood and depends on farming to preserve the landscape. The symbiosis is also expected to strengthen community resilience, conceptualized as a combination of economic, social, cultural, political and natural domains. The interplay of these domains may result in path dependencies driven by lock-in effects, beyond which controlled development is basically not possible. In our study of two villages in the Austrian Alps, we investigate how long-term development pathways affect the domains of community resilience in terms of path dependencies and lock-ins. A document analysis of a former Man and the Biosphere project from the 1970s, combined with recent qualitative expert interviews enabled us to draw a longitudinal picture of both villages that highlights strengths and weaknesses of each domain. Conclusions reveal that the different development pathways of the communities still result in similar economic, structural and political lock-ins that reinforce path dependencies.
Rike Stotten; Markus Schermer; Geoff A. Wilson. Lock-ins and community resilience: Two contrasting development pathways in the Austrian Alps. Journal of Rural Studies 2021, 84, 124 -133.
AMA StyleRike Stotten, Markus Schermer, Geoff A. Wilson. Lock-ins and community resilience: Two contrasting development pathways in the Austrian Alps. Journal of Rural Studies. 2021; 84 ():124-133.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRike Stotten; Markus Schermer; Geoff A. Wilson. 2021. "Lock-ins and community resilience: Two contrasting development pathways in the Austrian Alps." Journal of Rural Studies 84, no. : 124-133.
Today, insect applications for food and feed are of strong economic, ecological and social interest. Despite their tremendous potential, insects still elicit negative associations in the mindset of Western consumers, which is attributed to a lack of knowledge and scarce opportunities for engagement in this topic. The citizen science project ‘six-legged livestock’ aims to increase the potential of the insect Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), merging the topics ‘waste re-valorisation’ and ‘protein production’ as a cross-link to circular economy. Workshops were held in four school classes, involving 89 pupils, aged 15 to 18 years old. Making use of organic wastes, participating school classes ran eight rearing systems containing a total of 1800 H. illucens larvae. In the four-week experiments, the pupils monitored larval growth and development. Evidently, the pupils were highly motivated to run their rearing systems and fulfil their working tasks. Furthermore, negative associations with insects, including phobia and scepticism decreased, while excitement for the topic increased after hands-on work with the insects. The presented project may be considered an innovative approach paving the way for the establishment of insects as an important educational tool, since they are still underrepresented in scholarly curricula, despite the public outrage over insect decline.
Andreas Walter; Thomas Klammsteiner; Magdalena Gassner; Carina Desirée Heussler; Suzanne Kapelari; Markus Schermer; Heribert Insam. Black Soldier Fly School Workshops as Means to Promote Circular Economy and Environmental Awareness. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9574 .
AMA StyleAndreas Walter, Thomas Klammsteiner, Magdalena Gassner, Carina Desirée Heussler, Suzanne Kapelari, Markus Schermer, Heribert Insam. Black Soldier Fly School Workshops as Means to Promote Circular Economy and Environmental Awareness. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (22):9574.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreas Walter; Thomas Klammsteiner; Magdalena Gassner; Carina Desirée Heussler; Suzanne Kapelari; Markus Schermer; Heribert Insam. 2020. "Black Soldier Fly School Workshops as Means to Promote Circular Economy and Environmental Awareness." Sustainability 12, no. 22: 9574.
Over the last 30 years, extensive areas of Cerrado, the Brazilian savannah, have been converted to export-oriented agribusinesses. The social, environmental and economic impact of such large-scale land-use conversion is massive. To understand whether the current farming development in the Cerrado is sustainable, this study analyzes the sustainability performance of single farms applying the triple bottom line approach. Its aim is to assess the sustainability of soy, family and agroforestry farms. Fifteen farms were analyzed through the indicator-based sustainability assessment tool «RISE». The sustainability scores of RISE themes revealed that soy farms are economically sustainable, while their socio-environmental sustainability degree is rather critical. They scored lower than the other two farm types in all RISE themes except in the «economic viability» and «water use». Family farms and agroforestry are environmentally sustainable according to RISE.The sustainability degree of their social themes is either critical or scarcely positive mainly due to the high number of working hours and the low wage and income level. Looking at the economic sustainability, family farms reached a critical degree and agroforestry farms a barely positive degree. While the difference of sustainability performance between soy farms and the two others is large, it is minimal between agroforestry and family farms. RISE was a valid tool to assess with a moderate amount of data the sustainability performance of highly diverse farm types in the Cerrado.
Mark L. Miller; Markus Schermer; Michael Löbmann; Veronika S. Zbinden; Stefan Zerbe. Sustainability Assessment in Soy, Family and Agroforestry Farms: Application of the Rise Tool to the Cerrado. Espacio y Desarrollo 2020, 57 -86.
AMA StyleMark L. Miller, Markus Schermer, Michael Löbmann, Veronika S. Zbinden, Stefan Zerbe. Sustainability Assessment in Soy, Family and Agroforestry Farms: Application of the Rise Tool to the Cerrado. Espacio y Desarrollo. 2020; (34):57-86.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark L. Miller; Markus Schermer; Michael Löbmann; Veronika S. Zbinden; Stefan Zerbe. 2020. "Sustainability Assessment in Soy, Family and Agroforestry Farms: Application of the Rise Tool to the Cerrado." Espacio y Desarrollo , no. 34: 57-86.
Aderhold, Jens. 2016. Im Labyrinth sozialer Innovationen. Deutungsprobleme politischer EntscheidungsträgerInnen, wissenschaftlicher Institutionen und gesellschaftlicher AkteurInnen. In Neu! Besser! Billiger! Soziale Innovationen als leeres Versprechen, ed. Katharina Meichenitsch, Michaela Neumayr, and Martin Schenk, 14–45. Wien: Mandelbaum Verlag. Adorno, Theodor. 2003. Einleitung in die Soziologie. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp. Anderson, Tara, Andrew Curtis, and Claudia Wittig. 2015. Definition and theory in social innovation. The theory of social innovation and international approaches. Vienna. ZSI Discussion Paper, Nr. 33. Bock, Bettina B. 2016. Rural Marginalisation and the role of social innovation; A turn towards nexogenous development and rural reconnection. Sociologia Ruralis 56(4):552–573. Butkeviciene, Egle. 2009. Social innovation in rural communities: methodological framework and empirical evidence. Social Sciences/Socialiniai Makslai 63(1):80–88. Caulier-Grice, Julie, Anna Davies, Robert Patrick, and Will Norman. 2012. Defining social innovation. A deliverable of the project: the theoretical, empirical and policy foundations for building social innovation in Europe (TEPSIE). European Commission—7th Framework Programme. Brussels: European Commission, DG Research. Christmann, Gabriela. 2020. Introduction: struggling with innovations: social innovations and conflicts in urban development and planning. European Planning Studies 28(3):423–433. Christmann, Gabriela B. 2019. Soziale Innovationen und Identitätsbildungen in ländlichen Räumen. Lecture at the Auftaktveranstaltung des Zukunftsdiskurses Raumbezogene Identitäten verstehen und nutzen, Hannover, 19 June 2019. Edgerton, David. 1999. From innovation to use. Ten eclectic theses on the historiography of technolgoy. History and Technology 16(2):111–136. Franz, Yvonne, Hans-Heinrich Blotevogel, and Rainer Danielzyk (eds.). 2018. Social innovation in urban and regional development. Perspectives on an emerging field in planning and urban studies. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Howaldt, Jürgen, and Michael Schwarz. 2010. „Soziale Innovationen“ im Fokus. Skizze eines gesellschaftstheoretisch inspirierten Forschungskonzepts. Bielefeld: transcript. Howaldt, Jürgen, Anna Butzin, Dmitri Domanski, and Christoph Katletka. 2014. Theoretical approaches to social innovation—A critical literature review. A deliverable of the project: ‘social innovation: driving force of social change’ (SI-DRIVE). Dortmund: Sozialforschungsstelle. Landmann, Michael. 1961. Der Mensch als Schöpfer und Geschöpf der Kultur. Geschichts- und Sozialanthropologie. München, Basel: E. Reinhardt. Meichenitsch, Katharina, Michaela Neumayr, and Martin Schenk. 2016. Editorial. In Neu! Besser! Billiger! Soziale Innovationen als leeres Versprechen, ed. Katharina Meichenitsch, Michaela Neumayr, and Martin Schenk, 7–13. Wien: Mandelbaum. Moulart, Frank, Flavia Martinelli, Erik Swyngedouw, and Sara Gonzales. 2005. Towards alternative model(s) of local innovation. Urban Studies 42(11):1969–1990. Mumford, Michael D. 2002. Social innovation. Ten cases from Benjamin Franklin. Creative Research Journal 14(2):253–266. Murray, Robin, Geoff Mulgan, and Julie Caulier-Grice. 2008. How to Innovate: The tools for social innovation. Work in progress–circulated for comment. http://www.youngfoundation.org/files/images/publications/Generating_Social_Innovation_0.pdf. Accessed 2 Feb 2020. Murray, Robin, Julie Caulier-Grice, and Geoff Mulgan. 2010. The open book of social innovation. https://youngfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Open-Book-of-Social-Innovationg.pdf. Accessed 2 Feb 2020. Oosterlynck, Stijn. 2013. Introduction: social innovation—an idea longing for theory. In The international handbook on social innovation, ed. Frank Moulaert, Diana MacCallum, Abid Mehmood, and Abdelillah Hamdouch, 107–109. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Pol, Eduardo, and Simon P. Ville. 2009. Social innovation: buzz word or enduring term? The Journal of Socio-Economics 38(6):878–885. Richter, Ralph. 2016. Social innovations in rural life worlds. In Ruralism: the future of villages and small towns in an urbanizing world, ed. Vanessa M. Carlow, 148–154. Berlin: Jovis. The Young Foundation. 2012. Social innovation overview: a deliverable of the project: “the theoretical, empirical and policy foundations for building social innovation in Europe” (TEPSIE). European Commission—7th Framework Program. Brussels: European Commission, DG Research. Weber, Max. 1988. Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Wissenschaftslehre. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck). Zapf, Wolfgang. 1989. Über soziale Innovationen. Soziale Welt 40(1–2):170–183. Download references Correspondence to Markus Schermer. Reprints and Permissions Schermer, M., Kroismayr, S. Social innovation in rural areas. Österreich Z Soziol 45, 1–6 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11614-020-00398-w Download citation Published: 22 April 2020 Issue Date: March 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11614-020-00398-w
Markus Schermer; Sigrid Kroismayr. Social innovation in rural areas. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie 2020, 45, 1 -6.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer, Sigrid Kroismayr. Social innovation in rural areas. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie. 2020; 45 (1):1-6.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer; Sigrid Kroismayr. 2020. "Social innovation in rural areas." Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie 45, no. 1: 1-6.
The general decline of mountain farming all over Europe suggests encouraging farmers to adapt their farm management and to diversify their activities into tourism. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the impact of different types of farmer-based provision of accommodation on the preservation of the farm and the identification of farmers with farming activities. For our investigation in the case study area of Ötztal valley, Tyrol, Austria, we applied a mixed method approach. First, we developed a heuristic concept for categorizing the types of farms that offer farmer-based accommodation. The term ‘farmer-based’ refers to entities who are active in accommodation services and farming. We collected quantitative data in an online survey and carried out a qualitative focus group. Results reveal the importance of farmer-based accommodation even if decoupled from farm activities within the case study area. This type also supports, next to the ‘authentic’ form of farm-based tourism, the existing agricultural structure and contributes to the positive impact of mountain farming such as for the maintenance of multifunctional cultural landscapes, the provision of ecosystem services, and the viability of rural communities. Therefore, we suggest considering decoupled forms of farmer-based accommodation as agritourism.
Rike Stotten; Michaela Maurer; Hannes Herrmann; Markus Schermer. Different Forms of Accommodation in Agritourism: The Role of Decoupled Farmer-Based Accommodation in the Ötztal Valley (Austria). Sustainability 2019, 11, 2841 .
AMA StyleRike Stotten, Michaela Maurer, Hannes Herrmann, Markus Schermer. Different Forms of Accommodation in Agritourism: The Role of Decoupled Farmer-Based Accommodation in the Ötztal Valley (Austria). Sustainability. 2019; 11 (10):2841.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRike Stotten; Michaela Maurer; Hannes Herrmann; Markus Schermer. 2019. "Different Forms of Accommodation in Agritourism: The Role of Decoupled Farmer-Based Accommodation in the Ötztal Valley (Austria)." Sustainability 11, no. 10: 2841.
Agricultural land abandonment and transformation of the rural mountain landscapes have been of widespread occurrence in the European mountains. Such changes have strongly affected agricultural land, particularly traditionally used grasslands, which are hotspots of biological and cultural diversity in Alpine countries. We investigated the land use/cover changes and drivers of those changes between 1990 and 2010 in the Austrian and Italian bi-national region of Tyrol. We focus on grasslands as they covered around 94% of the utilized agricultural area since 1990. We mapped changes in grassland areas and assessed the socio-economic and biophysical factors associated with those changes using statistical modelling. Both sub-regions of Tyrol experienced changes in grasslands, but national and local scale factors mediated the impact of regional integration on land use decisions. Marginal grasslands decreased more rapidly in Austria's than in Italy's Tyrol, mostly in high elevation areas. High-management intensity grasslands slightly expanded in Austrian Tyrol, while in Italy's South Tyrol their conversion to other land uses such as permanent crops was more frequent. In the whole Tyrol region, grasslands of high management intensity expanded mostly in municipalities with a larger population, greater livestock density, smaller farms, more remote location, and fewer municipal grasslands and natural parks. Our findings suggest that grasslands conversion is a geographically heterogeneous process. Notwithstanding the de-agrarisation of the Tyrolean landscapes that took place in some Alpine areas, an expansion of grasslands was observed in others. These changes have ecological and social implications.
Leonith Hinojosa; Erich Tasser; Johannes Rüdisser; Georg Leitinger; Markus Schermer; Eric F. Lambin; Ulrike Tappeiner. Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region. Applied Geography 2019, 106, 50 -59.
AMA StyleLeonith Hinojosa, Erich Tasser, Johannes Rüdisser, Georg Leitinger, Markus Schermer, Eric F. Lambin, Ulrike Tappeiner. Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region. Applied Geography. 2019; 106 ():50-59.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonith Hinojosa; Erich Tasser; Johannes Rüdisser; Georg Leitinger; Markus Schermer; Eric F. Lambin; Ulrike Tappeiner. 2019. "Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region." Applied Geography 106, no. : 50-59.
While science widely acknowledges the necessity of climate change adaptation (CCA), concrete strategies for CCA by major land-use actor groups at a local level are largely missing. Immediate economic challenges often prevent the establishment of long-term collective strategies. However, collective decisions on a communal level regarding land use are crucial for CCA strategies, given the interdependencies of farming with forestry, tourism, and other economic sectors, especially in mountain areas. This paper presents inter- and trans-disciplinary learning processes, which have evolved into a project modelling the hydrological effects of combined future climate and land-use changes based on the combined scenarios of climate and socio-economic change in an Alpine valley (Brixental in Tyrol/Austria). Locally adapted scenarios illustrate future land-use changes as a result of both climate change and different socio-economic developments. The hydrological results show how an increase in the forested area reduces streamflow (as a measure of water availability) in the long term. For local stakeholders, the process demonstrated clearly the interdependence of different economic sectors and the necessity for collective action at a regional level to influence socio-economic development. Moreover, it made them aware that local decisions on future land use may influence the effects of climate change. Consistent storylines helped stakeholders to visualize a desired future and to see their scope of influence. The transdisciplinary research process allowed local stakeholders to translate the hydrological modelling results into a concrete local CCA strategy.
Markus Schermer; Rike Stotten; Ulrich Strasser; Gertraud Meißl; Thomas Marke; Kristian Förster; Herbert Formayer. The Role of Transdisciplinary Research for Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Strategies. Agronomy 2018, 8, 237 .
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer, Rike Stotten, Ulrich Strasser, Gertraud Meißl, Thomas Marke, Kristian Förster, Herbert Formayer. The Role of Transdisciplinary Research for Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Strategies. Agronomy. 2018; 8 (11):237.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer; Rike Stotten; Ulrich Strasser; Gertraud Meißl; Thomas Marke; Kristian Förster; Herbert Formayer. 2018. "The Role of Transdisciplinary Research for Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Strategies." Agronomy 8, no. 11: 237.
Impacts of climate change have become more and more evident and can be observed in ecosystems, societies and economies worldwide. Mountain agriculture is especially vulnerable to climate change, and adaptation seems crucial. Thus, certain adaptation activities, such as installing irrigation technology, switching to drought-resistant crop varieties or shifting planting dates, can already be observed. Despite these efforts, the barriers for climate change adaptation are still manifold and lead to adaptation gaps. One problem is that many approaches ignore non-climatic drivers, such as economic conditions or cultural aspects, which have a strong influence on farmers´ decisions. In the literature, the focus is mostly on planned, “top-down” induced adaptations, where climate change is considered the most important driver. Within this study, we focus on local, “bottom-up” adaptation actions in Tyrolean mountain agriculture that may be triggered by climatic as well as by non-climatic drivers. We identify 27 adaptation practices and cluster them into six types of climate change adaptation: ´Resilience-raising products and production´, ´Hidden actions by farmer organizations´, ´CC motivated agronomic actions´, ´CCA scientific knowledge production´, ´Risk-driven adaptations´ and ´Hidden governmental actions´. These types are helpful to show the broad range of local practices contributing to climate change adaptation. Several adaptation actions from practice are not motivated by climate change and thus are termed “hidden” adaptations, as they do not fit into common adaptation concepts. Hidden climate change adaptation practices, although not considered to date in official CCA policy documents, constitute “low-hanging fruit” for decision makers as they have already proved their feasibility and gained legitimacy by actors on the ground. We argue that additional support for such hidden adaptation practices can help to overcome present adaptation barriers and adaptation gaps.
Heidelinde Grüneis; Marianne Penker; Karl-Michael Höferl; Markus Schermer; Patrick Scherhaufer. Why do we not pick the low-hanging fruit? Governing adaptation to climate change and resilience in Tyrolean mountain agriculture. Land Use Policy 2018, 79, 386 -396.
AMA StyleHeidelinde Grüneis, Marianne Penker, Karl-Michael Höferl, Markus Schermer, Patrick Scherhaufer. Why do we not pick the low-hanging fruit? Governing adaptation to climate change and resilience in Tyrolean mountain agriculture. Land Use Policy. 2018; 79 ():386-396.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeidelinde Grüneis; Marianne Penker; Karl-Michael Höferl; Markus Schermer; Patrick Scherhaufer. 2018. "Why do we not pick the low-hanging fruit? Governing adaptation to climate change and resilience in Tyrolean mountain agriculture." Land Use Policy 79, no. : 386-396.
Building on critical community resilience studies, this study analyses the resilience of the village of Vent, a remote mountain community in the Austrian Ötztal valley challenged by slow-onset disturbances such as climate change, outmigration of young people and the repercussions of the post-2008 recession. A conceptual framework which focuses on how well economic, social, cultural, political and natural domains are developed within a community, is used as the conceptual springboard to assess the resilience of Vent. The study highlights that Vent is facing substantial resilience challenges and that the community is particularly vulnerable (weak resilience) with regard to the political and natural domains, is only moderately resilient in economic and social terms, and that only the cultural domain emerges as strongly resilient. Overall, Vent is, at most, moderately resilient in the face of continuing and future shocks/disturbances. The study interrogates current resilience frameworks and suggests that an approach based on the five resilience domains provides a richly textured framework for understanding the subtleties of resilience pathways, all the while acknowledging that obtaining a relatively complete picture of resilience is easier in small (and geographically bounded) communities.
Geoff A. Wilson; Markus Schermer; Rike Stotten. The resilience and vulnerability of remote mountain communities: The case of Vent, Austrian Alps. Land Use Policy 2018, 71, 372 -383.
AMA StyleGeoff A. Wilson, Markus Schermer, Rike Stotten. The resilience and vulnerability of remote mountain communities: The case of Vent, Austrian Alps. Land Use Policy. 2018; 71 ():372-383.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeoff A. Wilson; Markus Schermer; Rike Stotten. 2018. "The resilience and vulnerability of remote mountain communities: The case of Vent, Austrian Alps." Land Use Policy 71, no. : 372-383.
Ika Darnhofer; Markus Schermer; Melanie Steinbacher; Marine Gabillet; Karoline Daugstad. Preserving permanent mountain grasslands in Western Europe: Why are promising approaches not implemented more widely? Land Use Policy 2017, 68, 306 -315.
AMA StyleIka Darnhofer, Markus Schermer, Melanie Steinbacher, Marine Gabillet, Karoline Daugstad. Preserving permanent mountain grasslands in Western Europe: Why are promising approaches not implemented more widely? Land Use Policy. 2017; 68 ():306-315.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIka Darnhofer; Markus Schermer; Melanie Steinbacher; Marine Gabillet; Karoline Daugstad. 2017. "Preserving permanent mountain grasslands in Western Europe: Why are promising approaches not implemented more widely?" Land Use Policy 68, no. : 306-315.
Over the centuries, specific farming practices shaped permanent grasslands in mountains. With socio-economic change, farming practices have changed and with them the landscape. Over time, food production has been increasingly decoupled from the preservation of permanent grassland, endangering the delivery of crucial ecosystem services. This contribution looks into the role of institutions – including normative, regulative and cultural-cognitive elements – in preserving current bundles of ecosystem services provided by mountain grasslands. In particular, we investigate how such institutions affect farmers’ management choices. Based on a review of scientific literature and empirical data from three case studies, we compare institutions in Austria, France and Norway. The cases represent different modes of multi-level governance (EU and non-EU), different grassland management practices, linked to different farming systems (dairy, breeding, rearing of heifers, suckler cow and sheep production) and different socio-economic conditions. The results underpin that ecological insights into the impact of farming practices on the ecology of grassland need to be combined with an understanding of the complex institutional interactions that affect farming practices, to ensure the resilience of mountain grasslands. If the design of regulatory measures considers both changing dynamics, it may enable farms to adapt and transform while maintaining traditional grassland management practices
Markus Schermer; Ika Darnhofer; Karoline Daugstad; Marine Gabillet; Sandra Lavorel; Melanie Steinbacher. Institutional impacts on the resilience of mountain grasslands: an analysis based on three European case studies. Land Use Policy 2016, 52, 382 -391.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer, Ika Darnhofer, Karoline Daugstad, Marine Gabillet, Sandra Lavorel, Melanie Steinbacher. Institutional impacts on the resilience of mountain grasslands: an analysis based on three European case studies. Land Use Policy. 2016; 52 ():382-391.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer; Ika Darnhofer; Karoline Daugstad; Marine Gabillet; Sandra Lavorel; Melanie Steinbacher. 2016. "Institutional impacts on the resilience of mountain grasslands: an analysis based on three European case studies." Land Use Policy 52, no. : 382-391.
Zwischen 1985 und 1995 fand ein weitgehender Umbau des österreichischen Milchwirtschaftssystems, von einer Versorgungswirtschaft zur liberalen Marktwirtschaft, statt. Dies stand in engem Zusammenhang mit dem Beitritt Österreichs zur EU. Über Diversifizierungsstrategien der ökosozialen Agrarpolitik konnte sich die Österreichische Milchwirtschaft mit Qualitätsproduktion behaupten. Der Beitrag zieht das sozio-technische Konzept der ,Transition Theory‘ heran, um zu zeigen, wie das Zusammenspiel zwischen Veränderungen auf der exogenen Ebene der ,Landschaft‘ und sozio-technischen Innovationen in ,Nischen‘ das dazwischenliegende ,Regime‘ verändern kann. Die Transformation betrifft die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette von Produktion bis Konsumption und ist gerade im Lebensmittelbereich durch Änderungen im Bereich der Regulierungen wie auch der sozialen Praktiken gekennzeichnet. In preparation of the EU-accession the Austrian dairy sector witnessed a complete restructuring and the transition from a post war economy of provisioning to a liberal market economy. The concept of eco-social agricultural policy functioned as a catalyst. Calling for diversification on the producer level, it prepared ground for organic production and direct marketing initiatives. The case makes a good example to employ Transition Theory for the analysis of the interplay of ‘landscape’, ‘regime’ and ‘niche’ developments. The contribution follows consequences of the realignment through the entire supply chain and shows the impact of regulatory interventions as well as of social practices.
Markus Schermer. Die Milchwirtschaft in Österreich – ein Beispiel für sozio-technische Transformation. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie 2015, 40, 33 -51.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer. Die Milchwirtschaft in Österreich – ein Beispiel für sozio-technische Transformation. Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie. 2015; 40 (1):33-51.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer. 2015. "Die Milchwirtschaft in Österreich – ein Beispiel für sozio-technische Transformation." Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie 40, no. 1: 33-51.
The notion of a “third food regime” implies simultaneous processes of further global concentration and integration and at the same time resistance through new emerging producer–consumer relations. This paper examines these processes by looking at Austria over the last 30 years. While direct producer–consumer cooperatives established at an early point, today forms of community supported agriculture (CSA) are rare. This paper explains this by identifying a shift of the entire food system from “food from nowhere” to “food from here.” The account follows the early emergence of alternative food networks through the political appeal to consumer patriotism in connection with Austria joining the EU, to a sustained positioning of retail chains with regional and national food products. The paper argues that this satisfies the needs of a large proportion of consumers and discourages the emergence of new food initiatives. The paper follows the development of different approaches and their transformations until today. Thus a picture evolves of changing, and partly progressing consumer–producer relations in response to wider societal and political transformation processes. The results explain why the movement towards CSA is currently weak in Austria, but demonstrate at the same time how alternative food networks may contribute to a transformation of the food system.
Markus Schermer. From “Food from Nowhere” to “Food from Here:” changing producer–consumer relations in Austria. Agriculture and Human Values 2014, 32, 121 -132.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer. From “Food from Nowhere” to “Food from Here:” changing producer–consumer relations in Austria. Agriculture and Human Values. 2014; 32 (1):121-132.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer. 2014. "From “Food from Nowhere” to “Food from Here:” changing producer–consumer relations in Austria." Agriculture and Human Values 32, no. 1: 121-132.
In mountain regions, ecosystem services provision is strongly linked to land use, topography and climate, where impacts can be expected under global change. For our study site in the Austrian Alps, we examined the relationship between agricultural activities and multiple ecosystem services on landscape scale from past to future. Modelling of future land-use patterns was based on stakeholder workshops considering different socio-economic and climate scenarios. In the past, land-use intensity was reduced resulting in less forage provision but better regulating services. Future scenarios predict contrasting developments; under conditions of global change, farmers shift the focus of their activities towards tourism, but in times of global economic crisis farming becomes more important again. Developing the local economy facilitates new markets for agricultural products, but projected drought periods will cause an abandonment of farmland. While forest regeneration is valuable for regulating services, it reduces the aesthetic value. Both regulating and cultural services decrease when forage provision is optimized. To ensure multiple ecosystem service provision, agricultural management should be related to ecosystem services and included into land-use policies and agricultural incentives.
Uta Schirpke; Georg Leitinger; Erich Tasser; Markus Schermer; Melanie Steinbacher; Ulrike Tappeiner. Multiple ecosystem services of a changing Alpine landscape: past, present and future. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 2012, 9, 123 -135.
AMA StyleUta Schirpke, Georg Leitinger, Erich Tasser, Markus Schermer, Melanie Steinbacher, Ulrike Tappeiner. Multiple ecosystem services of a changing Alpine landscape: past, present and future. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management. 2012; 9 (2):123-135.
Chicago/Turabian StyleUta Schirpke; Georg Leitinger; Erich Tasser; Markus Schermer; Melanie Steinbacher; Ulrike Tappeiner. 2012. "Multiple ecosystem services of a changing Alpine landscape: past, present and future." International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 9, no. 2: 123-135.
The concept of ecosystem services is increasingly being used by scientists and policy makers. However, most studies in this area have focussed on factors that regulate ecosystem functions (i.e. the potential to deliver ecosystem services) or the supply of ecosystem services. In contrast, demand for ecosystem services (i.e. the needs of beneficiaries) or understanding of the concept and the relative ranking of different ecosystem services by beneficiaries has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to identify in three European mountain regions the ecosystem services of grassland that different stakeholders identify (which ecosystem services for whom), the relative rankings of these ecosystem services, and how stakeholders perceive the provision of these ecosystem services to be related to agricultural activities. We found differences: (1) between farmers’ perceptions of ecosystem services across regions and (2) within regions, between knowledge of ecosystem services gained by regional experts through education and farmers’ local field-based knowledge. Nevertheless, we identified a common set of ecosystem services that were considered important by stakeholders across the three regions, including soil stability, water quantity and quality, forage quality, conservation of botanical diversity, aesthetics and recreation (for regional experts), and forage quantity and aesthetic (for local farmers). We observed two contrasting stakeholder representations of the effects of agricultural management on ecosystem services delivery, one negative and the other positive (considering low to medium management intensity). These representations were determined by stakeholders’ perceptions of the relationships between soil fertility and biodiversity. Overall, differences in perceptions highlighted in this study show that practitioners, policy makers and researchers should be more explicit in their uses of the ecosystem services concept in order to be correctly understood and to foster improved communication among stakeholders.
Pénélope Lamarque; Ulrike Tappeiner; Catherine Turner; Melanie Steinbacher; Richard D. Bardgett; Ute Szukics; Markus Schermer; Sandra Lavorel. Stakeholder perceptions of grassland ecosystem services in relation to knowledge on soil fertility and biodiversity. Regional Environmental Change 2011, 11, 791 -804.
AMA StylePénélope Lamarque, Ulrike Tappeiner, Catherine Turner, Melanie Steinbacher, Richard D. Bardgett, Ute Szukics, Markus Schermer, Sandra Lavorel. Stakeholder perceptions of grassland ecosystem services in relation to knowledge on soil fertility and biodiversity. Regional Environmental Change. 2011; 11 (4):791-804.
Chicago/Turabian StylePénélope Lamarque; Ulrike Tappeiner; Catherine Turner; Melanie Steinbacher; Richard D. Bardgett; Ute Szukics; Markus Schermer; Sandra Lavorel. 2011. "Stakeholder perceptions of grassland ecosystem services in relation to knowledge on soil fertility and biodiversity." Regional Environmental Change 11, no. 4: 791-804.
The paper explores the difficulties and challenges in mobilizing and managing social capital in concrete local and territorial directed rural development project activities. The main focus is put on the roles of local facilitators working with farmers and other local stakeholders during project implementation. The EU 5th framework project IMALP included a strong component of implementing concrete actions. In each of the four participating countries a region was selected where a so-called local group was established. A local facilitator was employed to moderate the local group and to assist in the design and implementation of concrete projects. Research accompanied and monitored the process. The recent shift of EU policy towards rural development from a mainly sectoral (agricultural) approach to a territorial approach requires new competences in managing social capital and on their changing role(s) in the different stages of group formation and development. Professional support by facilitators with a set of new skills is needed in the course of group formation and development. The identification, mobilization and management of social capital become a crucial challenge. So far the mobilization and management of social capital does not happen consciously. Agricultural advisors taking over the task of local facilitators need to be specially trained in actively mobilizing and coordinating towards a common goal. The value of the paper lies in the analysis of the experimental approach of the project and the cross-country comparison of the results.
Markus Schermer; Christoph Kirchengast; Sandrine Petit; Natalia Magnani; Valérie Miéville-Ott. Mobilizing and Managing Social Capital: On Roles and Responsibilities of Local Facilitators in Territorial Development. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 2010, 16, 321 -334.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer, Christoph Kirchengast, Sandrine Petit, Natalia Magnani, Valérie Miéville-Ott. Mobilizing and Managing Social Capital: On Roles and Responsibilities of Local Facilitators in Territorial Development. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension. 2010; 16 (3):321-334.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer; Christoph Kirchengast; Sandrine Petit; Natalia Magnani; Valérie Miéville-Ott. 2010. "Mobilizing and Managing Social Capital: On Roles and Responsibilities of Local Facilitators in Territorial Development." The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 16, no. 3: 321-334.
In current scientific and political discourses there is common agreement that the future of alpine agriculture is not only a challenge for farmers, but also for the whole society. What remains unclear is the question of how to adapt agriculture towards sustainable development of the alpine territory in a manner that takes sufficient account of local diversity. We propose to treat agriculture and rural development as a matter of local concern starting with a definition of sustainable agriculture drawn up by local stakeholders. Based on a three-year experiment, we examine the capacity of local people to take joint action to contribute in a consistent way to rural development and to sustainable agriculture. We discuss the assets and limits of local projects based on multi-stakeholder participation to initiate closer links between farmers and other stakeholders and to renew the contribution of agriculture to rural development. Our paper highlights two main points. Firstly, how a social dynamics is initiated and how farmers and other actors take joint action towards sustainable development. Secondly we analyse the impact of such local projects on agriculture and rural development and the counterbalancing effects of global factors, including market trends and related policies. Finally, we discuss the consequences of our results for policies targeting rural sustainable development
Philippe Fleury; Sandrine Petit; Laurent Dobremez; Markus Schermer; Christoph Kirchengast; Giorgio De Ros; Natalia Magnani; Lauro Struffi; Valérie Mieville-Ott; Olivier Roque. Implementing Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Alps. Mountain Research and Development 2008, 28, 226 -232.
AMA StylePhilippe Fleury, Sandrine Petit, Laurent Dobremez, Markus Schermer, Christoph Kirchengast, Giorgio De Ros, Natalia Magnani, Lauro Struffi, Valérie Mieville-Ott, Olivier Roque. Implementing Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Alps. Mountain Research and Development. 2008; 28 (3/4):226-232.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhilippe Fleury; Sandrine Petit; Laurent Dobremez; Markus Schermer; Christoph Kirchengast; Giorgio De Ros; Natalia Magnani; Lauro Struffi; Valérie Mieville-Ott; Olivier Roque. 2008. "Implementing Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Alps." Mountain Research and Development 28, no. 3/4: 226-232.
Markus Schermer. GMO-Free Alps: An Alternative Path in Technology Development? Mountain Research and Development 2001, 21, 140 -147.
AMA StyleMarkus Schermer. GMO-Free Alps: An Alternative Path in Technology Development? Mountain Research and Development. 2001; 21 (2):140-147.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkus Schermer. 2001. "GMO-Free Alps: An Alternative Path in Technology Development?" Mountain Research and Development 21, no. 2: 140-147.