Our Strategy & Expertise

Our Strategy

By applying the holistic ATroLink Research Framework (Fig. 1), local assets and natural resources are assessed through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) research methods. In close collaboration with smallholders, socio-culturally suitable, environmentally sound and innovative ways of using these resources and assets are identified. This allows for holistic planning, testing and implementation of integrated food and energy systems (IFES) that are appropriate to the local context. 

Figure 1: Agro-Tropics-Linkages Framework 

The incorporation of RE technologies, such as solar, wind, hydropower and bioenergy applications, into agricultural systems will generate modern and clean energy for multiple purposes. Using modern knowledge and technologies, alongside with culturally and traditionally adopted production methods, effective water, nutrient and energy cycles are established on farm, village or regional level.

Locally appropriate IFES offer great opportunities to serve daily food, feed, raw material and energy needs of the local population in an innovative way. Bio-based resorces that are needed for the transition to a BioEconomy are produced sustainable while effective natural resource cycles decrease deforestation, soil erosion and environmental depletion. For smallholder farmers, this provides an incentive for self-sustainable rural livelihoods, with minimum dependency on external inputs and environmental conservation.

Our Expertise

The expertise of ATroLink is well grounded in widespread skills, experiences and knowledge across

different disciplines, including:

• practical experience in planning, deploying and operating of standalone IFES,
• sustainable agricultural practices, based on Agro-Ecology, Permaculture and demeter guidelines,
• capabilities of environmental protection and conservation,
• garden construction and landscaping,
• planning, operation and maintenance of RE-systems, in particular biodigesters and solar systems.

Studying at the University of Hohenheim completes these skills with:

• independent scientific and analytical working,
• methods for the assessment of natural resources, in particular for RE,
• technical feasibility analysis,
• cost control and management accounting,
• participatory, multi-criteria decision analysis.

This enables AtroLink to work interdisciplinary and to assess complex real world situations from a holistic perspective to provide an incentive for self-sustainable rural livelihoods in an international BioEconomy.