The production of food, energy, and materials, along with the use of water, nitrogen, and other inputs, are key components of the Earth system. The global land system faces increasingly complex challenges, including climate change, land degradation and rising demand for ecosystem services. At the same time, it must undergo fundamental transformations to meet the goals of climate protection, improving environmental and social sustainability, food and water security, as well as biodiversity conservation and regeneration. This creates an urgent need for interdisciplinary research on sustainable land-use management.
Our research addresses this need by analyzing pathways for transitioning to sustainable land-use systems that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while staying within planetary boundaries. We estimate baseline trajectories for the future, identify intervention options, and assess the opportunities and risks related to various policy goals.
Integrating both social and natural sciences, we explore topics from interdisciplinary and multi-scale perspectives, ensuring strong policy relevance for organizations such as UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD, OECD, World Bank and FAO.
The Land Use Transition Lab plays a leading role in the comparative assessment of scenario results from multiple models, including ScenarioMIP, AgMIP and ISI-MIP. We also contribute extensively to international assessments and commissions, such as the IPCC, IPBES, Earth Commission, Food System Economic Commission, Eat Lancet Commission, Lancet-PPATS Commission on the Prevention of Viral Spillover, and the International Nitrogen Assessment.
Our core tool is the MAgPIE model (Model of Agricultural Production and its Impacts on the Environment), a global multi-regional land system modeling framework supported by the underlying data processing framework MADRaT which incorporates and processes a wide collection of data sources. MAgPIE uses bio-physical data from the global crop and vegetation model LPJmL including crop yields, water availability and carbon densities. It can be linked to the REMIND energy-economy model to assess integrated climate strategies. MAgPIE as well as its surrounding toolchain is open-source, providing transparency and enabling broader international collaboration.
Lab Leader
Models
MAgPIE (Model of Agricultural Production and its Impacts on the Environment)
Research Themes
Food Systems
The Food Systems theme analyzes the entire food supply chain, from production to consumption, focusing on the interplay between its components. Our research explores the dynamics within each component of the supply chain, as well as their interplay, identifies pathways to balance environmental sustainability with economic and social well-being. Key areas include (i) food security, nutrition, and health, (ii) resource efficiency and circularity, (iii) social equity, and (iv) policy strategies for transforming food systems toward sustainability.
Climate
The Climate theme investigates climate impacts, adaptation, and mitigation strategies within the land system. It examines how agriculture, forestry, and land-use change contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and explores pathways to achieve climate targets through land-based mitigation measures. These include strategies in agriculture and forestry, demand-side interventions, and broader bio-economy solutions. By conducting multi-dimensional trade-off and synergy analyses, this theme generates valuable insights into the interactions between climate adaptation, mitigation, and broader sustainability goals.
Nature
The Nature theme focuses on assessing the status and intrinsic value of nature in the context of global change. We analyze the complex relationships between land use, climate dynamics, biodiversity, and Nature’s Contributions to People, as well as their links to natural capital and human well-being. Through forward-looking scenario analysis, we identify integrated pathways that balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable development, providing a strong scientific foundation for policies that enhance environmental resilience, agroeconomic stability, and financial sustainability.
Master Thesis and internships
You are at the beginning of your master program and want to work on our topics? You want to write your master thesis in the landuse group of PIK? Please have a look at our potential topic list and contact us!
