Over the years the state has quit the direct control of most markets including the agricultural sector. Entrepreneurs and consumers thus find themselves in a global alliance. The "invisible hand" of the market steers the overall world economy. When there is, for instance, scarcity in one region caused by drought, trade creates a balance which means that all areas on the planet can react flexibly with production or consumption adjustments. So far, so good.

As trade links up all world regions, it does however also lead to increasing competition between and within regions Decision-maker and business enterprises are interested in timely and reliable estimates about changing market and trends in order to get planning reliability. Markets send out continuously signals but often too confusing to be easily and reliably to assess. For that reason the traditional, scientific-based, internationally oriented market analysis Thünen Institute remains welcome by policy and industrial advisory boards.

We focus not just on global dynamics for Europe and European markets but also how Europe impacts other parts of the world. Thus complex questions we debate fruitfully in networks with partners across the globe. As tool we use partial as well as more complex general market models which cover well international interdependencies between markets. Combining these macro-models with micro-models like regional and farm models within the Thünen model network we provide comprehensive analysis and differentiated estimates of actual and future developments.

Since a while, in a more complex economy, consumers, policy and industry are demanding better orientation and specific rules along the whole value chain from production up to the consumer. Eco‑labels, social labels as well as increasingly sustainability labels become more and more important. The aim is to enable consumers to promote the sustainable use of natural resources by targeted purchase behaviour.

We take part in developing standards of the global labels like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label. We are active in the evaluation of fish labels within the framework of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) as well as in the development of FAO minimum criteria and Standards for Aquaculture (ASC) and in the ongoing process of the development of EU criteria and standards for organic farming.  Currently a more challenging question is how policymakers and industry can effectively and efficiently ensure that the production and product standards are really observed and fraud is avoided.