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TRANSECT – Agrarian Transformations and Social-Ecological Complexities

Local Bioeconomy Scenarios in Central and South Asia


Kazakhstan

© HNEE / Michael Spies


The Junior Research Group TRANSECT investigates social-ecological effects and interdependencies of agrarian transformations in Central and South Asia. We will investigate how pathways towards a bioeconomy can be shaped in a more socially just and ecologically sustainable manner. With case studies in Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, our research focuses on a region that has been subjected to vast agricultural interventions. Moreover, the growth of China’s bioeconomy sector and the progress of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ are expected to shape future agricultural developments in the region. The Research Group provides in-depth analyses of local effects, opportunities, and risks of agricultural intensification and other transformation pathways. Furthermore, we aim to generate a practice-oriented and integrative methodology of analysis, scenario development and management of bioeconomic transformation processes. The analysis and management of such processes must take their complex and nonlinear character into account.

Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the research program "Bioeconomy as Societal Change."
Project period: from May 2019 – April 2024
Grant: 2.61 Million Euros



Map South Central Asia

Central to the project will be the collection of empirical data from three case studies in the region aiming to investigate local manifestations of agricultural change. Inspired by assemblage and complexity theories, agricultural systems are conceptualized as dynamic social and ecological systems alike. System changes are always co-produced by a variety of social, natural, technical, and political constituents. Accordingly, the research will strongly draw on integrative methods. 

Three local case studies will be conducted in the Punjab (Pakistan), Khatlon (Tajikistan), and Almaty (Kazakhstan) regions. The study will be complemented by two cross-cutting research modules, one investigating the ecological dimension of agricultural transformations in more detail, and the other focusing on China’s role as emerging stakeholder in the region, particularly in the realm of its growing bioeconomy sector. Departing from empirical analyses of past and current trends, we want to explore potential future pathways. Through a series of participatory workshops in the three study regions, the research group will develop local bioeconomy scenarios that will reveal possible social-ecological risks and will identify potential leverage points for proactive management strategies.






Michael Spies

Head of Junior Research Group

Dr Michael Spies
+49 (0) 3334 657 198
michael.spies@hnee.de


Project Coordinator & Researcher

Madlen Mählis
+49 (0) 3334  657 539 (Mon, Tue, Wed)
madlen.maehlis@hnee.de



Henryk Alff

Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr Henryk Alff
+49 (0) 3334  657 537 
henryk.alff@hnee.de

Christoph Raab

Researcher, Remote Sensing & GIS

Christoph Raab
+49 (0) 3334  657 536
christoph.raab@hnee.de



Mehwish Zuberi

Doctoral Researcher

Mehwish Zuberi
+49 (0) 3334  657 538
mehwish.zuberi@hnee.de

Aksana Zakirova

Doctoral Researcher

Aksana Zakirova
+49 (0) 3334  657 538 
aksana.zakirova@hnee.de






BMBF_gefördert vom_englisch


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ptj Juelich






Postal Address:



Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development


Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management


TRANSECT Junior Research Group


Schicklerstr. 5 (intern Haus 22.1)


16225 Eberswalde, Germany

HNEE