to our
global network
About us
Who we are
agri benchmark – let’s grow together – your strategic partner for tomorrow’s agriculture
agri benchmark is a global, non-profit network of agricultural economists, advisors, producers and specialists in key sectors of agricultural, horticultural and aquacultural value chains.
We use internationally standardised methods to analyse farms, production systems and their profitability. Our farm-level knowledge is combined with an analysis of international commodity markets and value chains. In-depth analysis of sustainability aspects (for example greenhouse gas mitigation) and animal welfare add to our portfolio. In this way we are able to provide scientifically consistent and soundly based answers on strategic issues to decision-makers in policy, agriculture and agribusiness.
agri benchmark is a non-political and non-profit activity. Rules and values of the network are developed by mutual agreement. Methods and main results are exposed to an ongoing quality assurance process and are open for public discussion.
The main goals of this project are to
-
identify and understand driving forces for future trends and developments in global agriculture,
-
analyse the impact of changing economic, technological and political framework conditions on farming operations, farm structures and agricultural production, and
-
provide relevant information for all clients who want to strengthen their position in a global agricultural economy.
To deliver these goals we
-
establish a sustainable cooperation between farm economists and farmers in the participating countries,
-
develop powerful tools for a worldwide analysis of agricultural branches, compare typical farms (production systems, production costs and competitiveness),
-
invest in new partnerships with agricultural experts from developing and emerging economies, and strive for a fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation with agribusiness as well as government and non-government institutions.
Global expert networks and partners
Access to first hand farm information and communication with decision makers in primary production are key to our analysis. Thus, our network brings together professionals and decision makers from science, industry, policy, producer organisations, producers and extensionists. We work with research partners who provide the data from their country. The research partners have access to local experts (advisors) and producers in their countries. They collect and double-check the farm (and sector) data and share them with the agri benchmark center where data are processed and results are distributed and published. “Put your country in and get the world back” is the motto of the activity.
Click on the icons for information of our networks and partners.
Organisation
agri benchmark is a project operated by the Thuenen Institute of Farm Economics and global networks, a non-for-profit company. Thuenen has the scientific lead of the network and global networks is responsible for organisation and financial matters. The two institutions form the agri benchmark Center. Adding our research partners creates the global network. Public and private institutions and clients provide funding to the network, either in terms of sponsoring (and receiving data and knowledge) or through specific projects.
© Mandes Verhaagh
History
The agri benchmark Network was founded in 2006 as a cooperation between the Thünen Institute of Farm Economics and the German Agricultural Society (DLG).
In the field of beef and cash crops, agri benchmark is the successor of the International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN). The dairy sector is covered through a cooperation with the European Dairy Farmers (EDF), managed by DLG. Since 2016, the non-for-profit company global networks has taken over the operational tasks of the DLG.
In the following, a short description of the history and the roots of agri benchmark is given.
2024
As an additional product, we added the agri benchmark Academy, starting with Pig. The idea is to bring together young professionals, analyse production and economics and to create an exchange about hot issues in pig farming in a global context.
2023
Based on the long year analysis and experience in the poultry sectors, we started the Poultry Network. At the moment the focus is on broilers but first steps in layer analysis were done in 2025.
2016
After some years of trials, the agri benchmark Pig Network becomes operational. Until now, we work closely with the InterPIG Network as many partners are members in both networks.
2015
agri benchmark Fish is established as a new branch in the agri benchmark Network. Starting point of the fish Network has been a study on trout farms in Turkey, Denmark and Germany. Other studies on saithe fisheries in the North Sea, pangasius aquaculture in Vietnam and carp cultures in Poland have been already started.
2012
The agri benchmarkHorticulture Network (at first focusing on apples and wine grapes) is added to the networks.
2010
The agri benchmark Beef Network is extended by sheep analysis. Consequently, the network’s name is changed to ‘agri benchmark Beef and Sheep Network’.
2006
The founding year of the agri benchmark Network. The beef and crop branches of IFCN are now operated jointly by the Thünen Institute of Farm Economics and the German Agricultural Society (DLG).
1997
The International Farm Comparison Network IFCN is founded jointly by Folkhard Isermeyer, Torsten Hemme and Claus Deblitz. The network starts with Dairy and then extends to Beef (2001) and Cash Crops (2003). In 2006, a re-organisation of the existing IFCN infrastructure is undertaken. New organisational structures are implemented to facilitate further and unrestricted growth for all product branches.