Hffa Research Gmbh

What Hffa Research Gmbh does

HFFA Research GmbH is a Berlin-based scientific consultancy specialising in agricultural, environmental, and food-system analysis. The firm delivers bespoke quantitative and qualitative studies for private-sector companies, public-sector bodies (including EU institutions and the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture), and non-profit or international development organisations such as GIZ, WWF Germany, and Crop Trust. Its core product is research and scientific consulting services, anchored by the proprietary HFFA-Model, a multi-market partial equilibrium model fitted with satellite modules that estimate impacts on land use, water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity.

The business operates on a project-based professional services model with bespoke per-engagement pricing; no standardised software product or self-service platform is offered. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct outreach, conference participation, publication credibility, and a curated global expert network. The core team is small (three named professionals plus a flexible network of high-profile scientists and institutional partners) and the firm has executed projects spanning more than 35 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Notable engagements include the EUIPO/CPVO impact assessment of the Community Plant Variety Rights system, the EMPHASIS-GO socioeconomic impact assessment under Horizon Europe, multi-country GIZ agricultural development and climate adaptation programmes, and a joint International Potato Center/GOPA impact study on salt-tolerant potato and sweet potato production in Bangladesh. The company is privately held as a German GmbH, owned and led by managing director Steffen Noleppa, with no external institutional investors or parent company.

Name

Hffa Research Gmbh

Legal name

HFFA Research GmbH

Website

https://hffa-research.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HFFA Research GmbH is a Berlin-based scientific consultancy that delivers quantitative and qualitative agricultural, environmental, and food-system analysis for private companies, government agencies, and international NGOs, anchored by its proprietary HFFA-Model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Economics Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB), Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural economics consulting
• Impact assessment services
• Agricultural market modeling
• Policy analysis consulting
• Climate risk analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Scientific Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements providing tailored quantitative and qualitative analyses for clients in the agricultural and food sectors. Services include impact assessments, policy analysis, climate risk analysis, and economic modeling for private companies, governments, and NGOs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HFFA Research GmbH is an independent, science-driven consultancy that delivers tailored quantitative and qualitative analyses grounded in advanced agricultural and environmental economic models and tools. Core deliverables include socioeconomic impact assessments, policy analysis, climate risk analysis, economic modeling, and market studies for private companies, governments, EU institutions, and non-profit organizations operating in agricultural, environmental, and food systems.

Product overview

HFFA Research GmbH operates as a scientific consultancy and research firm, not a software product company. The company provides science-based consulting services centered on quantitative and qualitative analyses using advanced agricultural and environmental economic models and tools. Their core offering is bespoke research and advisory services rather than a defined software product or platform. Services include tailored analyses, impact assessments, and data-driven consulting for stakeholders across the agricultural and food sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scientific Consultancy Services Independent, science-driven consultancy providing tailored quantitative and qualitative analyses based on advanced agricultural and environmental economic models and tools for private, public, and non-profit sector clients. Engagements cover impact assessments, policy analysis, climate risk analysis, market studies, and economic modeling for stakeholders in the agricultural and food sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plant breeding accounts for approximately 74% of productivity growth in EU agriculture
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor development partner executing numerous joint projects on soil protection, climate adaptation, agricultural development across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Multiple ongoing projects including ProSoil, bilateral cooperation programs, and adaptation monitoring.
• WWF GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO commissioning studies on virtual land trade, food waste, palm oil sustainability, dietary impacts, and biodiversity. Multiple completed projects providing research funding.
• EMPHASIS (European Research Infrastructure on Plant Phenotyping)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-European research infrastructure for plant phenotyping. HFFA conducted socioeconomic impact assessment within Horizon Europe project EMPHASIS-GO.
• EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU agency for trademarks. Commissioned comprehensive impact study of Community Plant Variety Rights system on EU economy and environment.
• CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU agency for plant variety rights. Joint publication with EUIPO on CPVR system impact analysis.
• Crop Trust (Global Crop Diversity Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting genebanks worldwide. Commissioned study on marginalized groups in ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources.
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch collaboration on climate change impacts on European agriculture, climate risk analysis, and adaptation studies across multiple countries.
• GOPA Worldwide ConsultantsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational consulting firm managing development projects. HFFA contracted for impact assessment work on agricultural projects.
• GFA Consulting Group GmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDevelopment consulting firm. Partner on BMEL-funded bilateral cooperation programs and German-Mongolian cooperation projects.
• Bayer Crop SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural input company. Commissioned innovation landscape analysis for North Rhine-Westphalia agri-food sector.
• BASF SEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical company. Commissioned study on land requirements of biodiversity policy measures in German arable farming.
• CropLife InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational plant science industry association. Listed as client/partner in research projects.
• IVA (Industrieverband Agrar)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman agricultural industry association. Collaboration on crop protection impact assessments.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple EU-funded projects including Horizon Europe, LIFE Programme, and ERDF. Projects span agricultural policy, biodiversity, and research infrastructure assessment.
• International Potato Center (CIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational agricultural research institute. Collaboration on salt-tolerant potato varieties impact assessment and in-situ potato diversity conservation.
• UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted study on socio-economic benefits of Viet Nam's UPOV membership. Study translations available on UPOV website.
• RUFIS (Ruhr-Forschungsinstitut für Innovations- und Strukturpolitik e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman research institute. Collaboration on Agri-Ecological Partnership model development and innovation landscape analysis.
• The Andersons CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK agricultural consultancy. Joint publication on mycotoxin risks in food and feed safety.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wageningen Economic Research: Part of Wageningen University & Research, this institute conducts socioeconomic and policy research for agriculture, food, and rural areas globally. Directly comparable to HFFA in scope of agricultural economics, impact assessment, and policy advisory work for EU and international clients.
• GOPA Worldwide Consultants: German-based international development consultancy managing agricultural and food security projects for GIZ, EU, and BMEL. HFFA works as a subcontractor to GOPA on impact assessments, making them a directly comparable international development partner.
• Pinion Advisory (formerly Promar International): UK-based agricultural and food chain consultancy providing market research, economic analysis, and supply-chain consulting. Comparable in agri-food economic consulting, particularly for UK and European agribusiness clients.
• Thünen Institute: German federal research institute focused on rural areas, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Conducts economic and policy analysis on EU CAP, sustainability, and agricultural markets — overlapping heavily with HFFA's core mandate and serving similar German/EU clients.
• Ecorys: European research and consulting company with strong practice in agriculture, food security, and rural development for EU institutions, GIZ, and member-state governments. Comparable in international development and policy evaluation scope, with similar B2G project-based delivery.
• ADAS: UK-based agricultural and environmental consultancy delivering research, policy advice, and impact assessment for government and private sector clients. Comparable scope across agri-environmental economics and sustainability analysis.
• The Andersons Centre: UK-based agricultural economics consultancy producing policy analysis, market intelligence, and impact assessments for agri-food clients. Already an established partner of HFFA, indicating directly comparable analytical services and customer base.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Global CGIAR research institute delivering economic analysis, policy research, and impact assessment on food security, agriculture, and climate. Comparable in methodology and end-markets, though larger and publicly funded.
• GFA Consulting Group: Hamburg-based consultancy implementing development cooperation projects for BMEL and other donors, including bilateral agricultural programs. HFFA partners with GFA on BMEL-funded work, indicating directly comparable scope and client overlap.

Broad incumbents

• PwC Agribusiness & Forestry Advisory: Global Big Four advisory serving large agribusinesses, food companies, and development finance institutions with strategy, M&A, and policy/sustainability advisory. Overlaps with HFFA on agribusiness strategy and sustainability work but operates at much larger scale with broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hffa-research-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hffa Research Gmbh