Federal state-scale soil management-related stakeholder database in German agricultural sector

In order to support sustainable soil management, an exchange between scientists and other soil-related stakeholders is crucial. Previously, an overview on the soil-related stakeholders in Germany was published at the national level (https://doi.org/10.13039/501100002347). This database is further overview of the soil-related stakeholders, though, at the German federal state level (in German).
The three listed-below stakeholder groups, which were assumed to have a direct or indirect influence on soil functions, were initially derived from the drivers of soil management (i.e. socio‐economic, biophysical, and technology). The groups were defined such as (1) state authorities, (2) civil societies, and (3) agricultural associations. The stakeholders’ influence/power and interest were evaluated with the focus of organizations on the five main soil functions, i.e. production, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, recycling of nutrients and chemicals.
The level of the influence/power and interest was estimated in a relative matter among the stakeholders by taking into account such parameters as the number of members/partners/employees, the visibility of organizations (via projects, products, policies, press, publications etc.) as well as the hierarchy among the state organizations. The level of awareness of stakeholders’ activities was also used in assessing the stakeholders’ influence.

Research domain: Soil Sciences

Research question: The aim was to create a stakeholder database, representing soil-related stakeholders across Germany at the federal state scale.