Research and teaching of the Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group (AEP group) focus on the economic analysis of agriculture, food and rural areas. Special attention is given to: production, trade, processing and consumption of agricultural and food products, the development of rural areas; agricultural, rural and food policies as well as institutional and organisational aspects of agriculture and rural areas.
The mission of the group is to perform advanced economic analyses on agriculture, food, rural areas and their policies.
Based on its mission the group distinguishes two aims. The first aim is to perform scientific economic research in our research area. We want to provide thorough economic analyses, grounded in relevant and up-to-date theory and using appropriate methodologies. Our second aim is to disseminate our research results to other researchers, policy makers, students and society. Other researchers, because we realize that science can only proceed by having open discussions within the wider research community. Policy makers, because policies they formulate should be supported and evaluated by good quality research. Students, because we are responsible for passing on knowledge to future generations of professionals and researchers. And finally society, because in a world flooded by information from companies, NGO’s and other stakeholders, people must have access to independent research.
With this mission the AEP group contributes to the overall strategy of Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) by providing economic analyses within the three core research themes of WUR: Living Environment, Food and Food Production, and Health, Lifestyle and Livelihood. |
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