Environmental Knowledge and Interactions (EKI) Team
The EKI team is a multidisciplinary research group, which integrates
natural sciences into social sciences. The team focuses on the multifunctional
character of agriculture, i.e. landscape, food security and rural
viability. It develops the means for assessing the sustainability
of rural development and promoting rural-urban interaction. The research
has both policy-making and practical implications for rural development.
The team leader is Katriina Soini.
The team aims to provide the means for ecologically, economically,
and socio-culturally sustainable and indigenous development of rural
areas by:
- assessing the sustainable use of natural resources and the social
and cultural sustainability of rural areas,
- developing quality and environment information systems for food
production and rural entrepreneurs,
- exploring the social and cultural capital of rural areas.
The strength of the team lies in its multidiciplinarity (agriculture
and food science, history, environmental economics, cultural geography,
sociology, environmental education) and its knowledge of both quantitative
and qualitative methods.
Ongoing research projects
- Indicators for sustainable agriculture and rural development
- Material flows and ecological efficiency in agriculture
- Life cycle of food products (FOODCHAIN)
- Quality information on the potato
- Model for giving rural products environmental values (Rural Life
Design)
- Integrated management of rural-based environmental education (Eco
Learn)
- Improving social capital in rural development projects
- Social capital in the interim assessment of Leader+ Programmes
- Local perceptions of landscape and biodiversity
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