By covering three main research areas, which are interrelated through interdisciplinary research projects, ZEF offers a broad and integrated perspective on development. ZEF works on crosscutting themes of central importance for the developing world. The research programs build on the methods and analytical styles of the disciplinary research areas and link and integrate knowledge and capacities from these different areas. ZEF's three research departments are: Political and Cultural Change, Economic and Technological Change, Ecology and Natural Resources Management. ZEF's research on land use and food security, water resources, agricultural systems, sustainable energy, climate change, science policy, economics of food and agriculture and biomass are of particular relevance for bio-economy research.