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ZALF - Leibniz-Zentrums fur Agrarlandschaftsforschung
ZALF is a national research facility with about 300 employees, including more than 100 scientists. ZALF’a research focuses on integrated analysis of systems of agricultural landscapes for sustainable management of land and water, conservation of natural and cultural resources, and sustainable development of rural areas.

Research methods used include mathematical modelling, scenario-analysis, field and laboratory experiments in agricultural landscapes. Research activities are focussed on the development of methods and models that can be used to anticipate changes of the land use systems and to evaluate the impact of such changes on environmental and socio-economic sustainability indicators.

ZALF consists of seven departments, which focus on landscape ecology, soil science, hydrology, agriculture and socio-economics. Relevant research activities are conducted in interdisciplinary projects. The sustainable development of multifunctional landscapes is seen as one key issue integrating all research activities at ZALF.

Evidence for this field of research is also given by the co-ordinating role of ZALF in the European research network Landscape Tomorrow (www.landscape-tomorrow.net).