LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER AGRARENTWICKLUNG IN TRANSFORMATIONSOEKONOMIEN (IAMO)

Their core work

IAMO is a German research institute specializing in agricultural economics and rural development, with a particular focus on transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They study how farming systems evolve under economic and policy change — analyzing farm structures, food value chains, and the socioeconomic forces shaping rural communities. Their applied research combines economic modelling, big data analytics, and policy analysis to inform EU agricultural and environmental policy. They also invest heavily in building research capacity through training programs and international staff exchanges.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 work (2016–2018), IAMO focused on foundational agricultural economics — research capacity building (ENHANCE), farm resilience assessment, and understanding farm demographics including family versus corporate structures. From 2019 onward, their work shifted markedly toward computational and data-driven methods: agent-based modelling, machine learning, and big data for policy support (MIND STEP), alongside a new interest in social dimensions like youth engagement and digital communication in farming (YOUNG FARMERS). This evolution signals a move from traditional econometric approaches toward modern data science applied to agricultural policy questions.

IAMO is moving toward computational modelling and digital tools for agricultural policy, making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects combining data science with food system transformation.

How they like to work

IAMO operates primarily as an active partner in larger consortia (4 out of 6 projects), contributing specialized agricultural economics expertise to multi-country research efforts. They have coordinated two projects — both Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships (CROSSGRASS, YOUNG FARMERS) — indicating they lead smaller, focused research initiatives while joining broader consortia as a domain specialist. With 48 unique partners across 22 countries, they maintain a wide and diverse network, suggesting they are well-connected and open to new partnerships rather than working with a closed circle.

IAMO has collaborated with 48 distinct partners across 22 countries, reflecting a broad European and international network. Their geographic reach extends beyond the EU into Central Asia (evidenced by the CROSSGRASS grassland study), giving them unusual connectivity between European and Asian agricultural research communities.

What sets them apart

IAMO occupies a rare niche: they combine deep expertise in transition economies (post-Soviet, Central/Eastern European agriculture) with increasingly sophisticated computational methods. Few European institutes bridge agricultural economics with machine learning and agent-based modelling the way IAMO is now positioned to do. Their Leibniz Association affiliation ensures long-term institutional stability and research independence, making them a reliable consortium partner for multi-year projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MIND STEP
  Largest budget contribution (EUR 296,625) and represents IAMO's pivot to machine learning and agent-based modelling for EU agricultural policy — their most technically ambitious H2020 project.
• SURE-Farm
  Major multi-year consortium (2017–2021) on EU farming system resilience, with IAMO's highest single-project funding (EUR 355,301) and strong alignment with their core farm economics expertise.
• YOUNG FARMERS
  Coordinated by IAMO, this project uniquely combines digital communication research with the socioeconomic challenge of generational renewal in farming — an unconventional but strategically important topic.