New deputy director appointed

After more than 36 years of research and policy consulting for the German Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Peter Mehl retired at the end of October. Through numerous studies and statements, the political scientist provided important impulses during this time, particularly for the further development of agricultural social policy. In addition, as the deputy director of the institute for over 20 years, he was highly committed and successful in helping to establish and expand the research field of rural areas in the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) and the Thünen Institute.

Prof. Dr. Annett Steinführer was appointed as the new deputy director of the institute. The sociologist has been working at the Thünen Institute since 2010. Since May 2025, she has also held the professorship for Sociology of Rural Areas at the University of Rostock, through a joint appointment with the Thünen Institute.

“I would like to thank Peter Mehl for the many years of excellent cooperation and wish him all the best for the new chapter in his life,” says Prof. Dr. Peter Weingarten, director of the Thünen Institute of Rural Studies. “I congratulate Annett Steinführer on her new role and look forward to leading the institute together with her as deputy director in the future.”