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We are a dedicated team of environmental and conservation experts aiming to help shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. We provide innovative solutions and expert resources to guide decision-making processes, with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
With decades of experience, our experts specialize in evaluating environmental processes in agriculture, designing effective support mechanisms — particularly within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — and analyzing their impacts. We bridge the gap between science, policy, and governance, integrating knowledge across multiple fields and decision-making levels.
We connect science with policy and governance, emphasizing the integration of knowledge and expertise across multiple disciplines and decision-making levels.
Sustainability Strategy Advice
The biggest challenge of our time is finding the right balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. We believe that the future belongs to businesses that employ the mindful use of natural resources as a core principle. It is in this spirit that we conduct our sustainability strategy consulting activities.
Environmental Impact Analysis of Support Programmes & Strategic Assessments
The use of public money must be guided by public objectives. Our role is to demonstrate the public’s environmental interest, to make recommendations for better environmental performance of support programmes and to identify potential risks. We analyse and evaluate policies, plans, projects, and project proposals, conduct impact assessments for policies and plans, create practical implementation guidelines tailored for policymakers and practitioners.
Cooperation in National and International projects
Our extensive experience in grant-funded projects allows us to address complex environmental challenges through collaboration. We foster collaboration between scientific and policy communities to enhance environmental solutions, organize conferences, workshops, and study trips to promote knowledge sharing and networking.
Katalin brings a strong foundation in agriculture, environmental science, and economics, coupled with over 15 years of expertise in evaluation, research, policy analysis, and organizing stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue events within the realms of nature conservation, agriculture, and sustainable food systems. She is an agricultural engineer with a specialization in environmental management and holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences. Her extensive experience in multinational settings has fostered a systemic and holistic approach to applied research, allowing her to make significant contributions to policy analysis, indicator development, and evaluations for the European Commission and various governmental bodies. As a registered member of the Agri-economist Scientific Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Katalin focuses on agri-environmental economics and policy. She has considerable experience in project management, communication, dissemination planning, and project coordination, having played a key role in many EC-funded research projects. Additionally, she is regularly invited to assess research proposals and evaluate EC-funded initiatives.
László is a retired associate professor with a wealth of experience in environmental agricultural engineering, land use planning, and agri-environmental programme design. He has contributed to both academic and practical developments in agricultural systems and policy analysis throughout his career. Previously served as the deputy director of the Institute of Environment and Landscape Management at Szent István University, the precursor to the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences. He also led the Department of Environmental Economics within the Institute. László holds degrees in agricultural engineering and business economics, PhD in Economic Sciences, and habilitation degrees. His areas of expertise encompass evaluating the environmental performance of agriculture, designing and assessing agri-environmental programs, conducting financial planning and economic evaluations of agricultural enterprises, analyzing development alternatives in global agriculture, and developing computerized farm planning systems.
Péter Tóth brings over a decade of experience in both government and the NGO sector, specializing as an agricultural engineer in environmental management and wildlife engineering. Previously, he served as the head of a department at the former Ministry of Agriculture, where he oversaw the coordination of national nature conservation efforts across various areas, including agri-environment, Natura 2000 management, High Nature Value Areas, and landscape protection. Throughout his career, Péter has acquired extensive management and technical expertise in numerous national and international nature conservation and agricultural projects. His diverse skill set encompasses the design, monitoring, and environmental impact assessment of Common Agricultural Policy measures with ecological implications. Additionally, he is recognized as an expert in landscape and wildlife protection and is a candidate forensic expert.
Explore our selected publications, showcasing our contributions to the fields of environmental management, sustainable agriculture, and policy development.
Balázs, K., Szilágyi, A., Podmaniczky, L. (2022). Initiating Transition to Agro-ecological Farming Systems in Market-Oriented Arable Farming with Soil Conservation Practices: A Case Study in Hungary. In: Mattas, K., Baourakis, G., Zopounidis, C., Staboulis, C. (eds) Food Policy Modelling . Cooperative Management. Springer, Cham. DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-08317-4_2
Zawalińska K., Smyrniotopoulou A., Balazs K. et al. (2022) Advancing the Contributions of European Stakeholders in Farming Systems to Transitions to Agroecology. Eurochoices. Volume21, Issue3 Special Issue on Insights into Transitions to Agroecological Farming, pp.50-63. DOI 10.1111/1746-692X.12378
Jeanneret, P., Lüscher, G., Schneider, M.K., Balázs, K., et al. An increase in food production in Europe could dramatically affect farmland biodiversity. Commun Earth Environ 2, 183 (2021). DOI 10.1038/s43247-021-00256-x
Székács, A., Roszík, P., Balázs K., Podmaniczky L., Ujj A. (2020) Agroecological initiatives in Hungary and their Central European Aspects. Int. J. Agric. Nat. Resour. 47(3) 216-234. DOI 10.7764/ijanr.v47i3.2266
Vanni, Francesco; Gava, Oriana; Balázs, Katalin et al.Governance Networks Supporting Agro-Ecological Farming Systems. October 2019. Report number: Deliverable D5.2 Project: UNISECO: Understanding & improving the sustainability of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU (H2020 Project) DOI 10.5281/zenodo.4568422
Geijzendorffer IR, Targetti S, Balázs K, Báldi A, Kovács-Hostyánszki A, Herzog F. et al How much would it cost to monitor farmland biodiversity in Europe? JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY 53: pp. 140-149. (2016) DOI 10.1111/1365-2664.12552
Szép, T., Nagy, K., Nagy, Zs., Tóth, P., Halmos, G. (2016): Decline of farmland biodiversity in Hungary and efficiency of agri-environmental schemes, measured. 20th conference of the European Bird Census Council (EBCC): Bird Numbers 2016 ’Birds in a changing world’ by Farmland Bird Indicator. Presentation
B. Mihók, E. Kovács, P. Tóth et al.: Bridging the research-practice gap: conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country, Journal for Nature Conservation 28: 133-148. 2015. DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.09.010
Katalin Balázs, Dóra Mészáros, László Podmaniczky, Balázs Sipos (Eds.) Handbook of the “DIALECTE” Agri-Enviromental Evaluation System: The Agridiag project. Gödöllő: SzIE, 2014. 92 p. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.8142670
Schneider M, Lüscher G, Balázs K, Báldi A, Kovács-Hostyánszki A, Herzog F. et al. Gains to species diversity in organically farmed fields are not propagated at the farm level. Nature Communications 5:Paper 4151.(2014) DOI 10.1038/ncomms5151
György Ernyei, László Podmaniczky: Public-goods oriented agricultural business models with higher awareness. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.10, No.1, pp.66 – 79 DOI 10.1504/WREMSD.2014.058054
Katalin Balázs, Bertalan Balczó, Márta Belényesi, Laszlo Podmaniczky (2012): Hungary In: High Nature Value Farming in Europe Eds by Rainer Oppermann, Guy Beaufoy and Gwyn Jones. Verlag regionalkultur ISBN 978-3-89735-657-3.
L. Podmanicky – K. Balázs – M. Belényesi – Cs. Centeri – D. Kristof – N. Kohlheb (2011): Modelling soil quality changes in Europe. An impact assessment of landuse change on soil quality in Europe. Special Issue of Ecological Indicators Impact Assessment of Land Use Changes in Europe, Ecological Indicators, Vol. 11, Issue 1, 4–15. p. DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.08.002
Podmaniczky L. , Vogt J., Schneller K. , Ángyán J. (2007): Land suitability assessment methods for developing a European Land Information System for Agriculture and Environment (ELISA) (In: Mander Ü. – Wiggering H. – Helming K. (ed.): Multifunctional Land Use – Meeting Future Demands for Landscape Goods and Services, Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 421 p.), 225-250. p. DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-36763-5_14
I, Higuero ; Y R, Hoogeveen ; J E, Petersen ; K, Balazs. High Nature Value Farmland. Character, trends and policy challenges. Luxembourg, Luxemburg : Office for Official Publications of the European Communities (2004) , 32 p. ISBN: 9291676640
Ángyán, J., Balázs, K., Podmaniczky, L., Skutai, J. (2003). Integrated Land Use Zonation System in Hungary as a Territorial Base for Agri-Environmental Programs. In: Helming, K., Wiggering, H. (eds) Sustainable Development of Multifunctional Landscapes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-05240-2_9
Advancing Capacity and analytical Tools for supporting Common Agricultural Policies post 2027
Horizon Europe Grant Agreement Nr. 101134874.
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