The vulnerability analysis of the food industry in the Metropolitan Region Bremen-Oldenburg is based on an examination of the supply chains of the poultry, pork, dairy and fish industries.
ONNO e.V., the East Frisian Network for Ecology – Region – Future, functions as a mediator between its members affected by climate change, the scientists in the project nordwest2050, and the public. The Association is especially active in the area of food communications and education, in order to strengthen the perspective of sustainable food culture in East Friesland among all relevant actors. In the context of this project, this is especially being developed and deepened with respect to the issue of climate change.
The establishment of a consciousness for climate change processes and the necessary changes for climate-adapted agriculture and a climate-adapted food industry will require communications and interaction at the level of economic clusters, in order to initiate exchange and cooperation alliances by means of targeting network formation. The Oldenburg Münsterland Agriculture and Food Forum (AEF) is an association of 75 businesses in the agriculture and food sector which operates as an interface between the scientific community and everyday practice. In close cooperation with the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, key issues for regional climate adaptation measures have been developed on the basis of scientific ascertainments and practice-oriented needs.
The Freese Organic Farm is testing a number of adaptation options for agriculture, especially in the area of the cultivation of cereals and of high-quality vegetables. Open-field crop farming is becoming ever more difficult due to climate change. In order to better protect vegetable cultures from such extreme weather events as heat waves or heavy rain, the Freese Organic Farm is testing the following innovations: (1) A new greenhouse covering which, due to its particular permittivity, makes open-field-like light conditions possible in a protected structure. At the same time the farm is seeking resilient, climate adapted vegetable strains which are to be examined for their particular properties, both in open-field cultivation and under the protection of this innovative foil. (2) In the area of cereal raising, the organic farm is trying to cultivate an old strain of rye. (3) And by baking and marketing bread from this rye, the farm wants to raise consciousness about the issue of climate change and adaptation.
The survey of 4.000 companies in the metropolitan area of Bremen-Oldenburg in north-western Germany conducted by the University of Oldenburg as part of the ‚nordwest2050’ project in 2010 and 2012 showed that the economic importance of climate change is growing. The 2012 survey revealed that 38% of the companies polled already saw climate change as an important success factor for their company. In 2010, 31% of the companies surveyed said that they ascribed a “high” to “very high importance” to climate change for corporate success.
In order to initiate the design, communication and implementation of the transformation to a lowconflict and climate-adapted land-use system, the Centers of Competence e.V. organized three events in the context of nordwest2050 between 2010 and 2013. In cooperation with the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, a dialogue was initiated in which heterogeneity of the issues and the various interests of the actors on the issue of land-use was discussed and a solution-oriented manner. At the second and largest event, in February 2013, the »Aurich Declaration,« a regional statement on the most important land-use problems, and concrete approaches to solutions, was adopted. It is represented and supported by a wide range of authors from the region.
Content:
Climate Change at the Baltic Sea Coast – The RADOST Project;
RADOST Annual Conference 2010;
Regional Activities:
Extractive Polyculture in the Kiel Fjord;
Kick-off meeting – RADOST focus network “Conservation and Land Use”;
Baltic Tourism Network for Climate Change Adaption is launched;
Kick-off for RADOST pilot projects for drainage management;
Geographic Information System (GIS) for RADOST online;
Stakeholder and institutional analysis in RADOST;
International Activities:
RADOST Side Event in Copenhagen;
Transatlantic Media Dialogue regarding;
Climate Policy in Europe and the US;
BaltCICA: 1st International Conference;
Dinner Dialogue;
Publications
Content:
Regional Activities:
RADOST Annual Conference 2011 in Travemünde;
Research at Anchor;
Stakeholder Analysis;
RADOST-Workshop “Coastal Tourism”;
BSSSC/BALTEX Conference “Adaptation to Climate Change
on the Regional Level”;
Workshop “Baltic Sea and Baltic Sea Coast between Climate Change and Climate Adaptation”;
Mussel Workshop at the Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde;
International Activities:
Climate Change, the Science Policy Interface and Coastal Zone Management;
Workshops on Regional Availability of Climate Knowledge in the Baltic Sea Region
Content:
Regional Activities:
RADOST: Baltic Sea Coast 2100;
Close Cooperation with Tourism Experts in the Future;
The Bay of Kiel Climate Alliance takes a new Direction;
National Activities:
Second Regional Conference on Climate Adaptation Communities in Climate Change;
International Activities:
National Adaptation Strategies in the Baltic States;
Exchange of Experiences with Practitioners in the USA;
Chinese Delegation Shows Interest in Coastal Research in Kiel;
RADOST and Baltadapt at Green Week and the UN Climate Conference;
RADOST at the Baltic Sea Days
Publications:
Perceptions and Activities regarding Climate Change on
the German Baltic Sea Coast;
Handbook „Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in the
Baltic Sea Region“;
New Edition of “Meer & Küste”;
Assessment of the Influence of Climate Change on Development Potential for Near-surface Geothermal Energy