The COBE research group (Consumers’ Behaviour & Capacity Building) is focused on empowering individuals and communities to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges shaping the future — from sustainable agriculture and food security to natural resource management and rural development. Our mission is to build capacity and develop practical skills that support long-term well-being for the next generations.
Our Key Research Areas:
- Consumer Attitudes Exploring how people perceive and choose products — from traditional local foods and dietary supplements to innovations like 3D-printed meat.
- Consumer Behaviour Understanding how major events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, reshape food consumption patterns and lifestyle choices.
- Global Value Chains Analyzing agricultural value chains with a special focus on tropical products — for example, cashew and pepper production in Cambodia.
- Leadership in Agriculture Investigating leadership styles and skill sets that drive transformation and innovation in agricultural and rural sectors.
- Education & Employability Enhancing transferable skills, promoting multicultural education, and improving access to job opportunities in a globalized world.
Keywords: Consumer attitudes, Global value chains, Leadership & management, Skills & competences
Our Global Reach:
The COBE team has extensive experience coordinating international research and development projects across multiple countries. We work with partners through EU-funded programs (Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+) and the Czech Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Countries we have worked in include: Angola, Cambodia, Indonesia, Moldova, Ukraine, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Key partners
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
- SLU, Sweden
- Royal University of Agriculture and National University of Battambang, Cambodia
- Prince of Songkla University and Kasetsart University, Thailand
- Bogor Agricultural University and Tadulako University, Indonesia
A full list of our projects is available below.
