The innovation group AUFWERTEN aims to investigate into needed preconditions for a stronger implementation of agro-forestry systems in rural areas. For that, an trans- and interdisciplinary approach is applied. The IÖW will take the part of analysing potentials of regional economic development by quantifying economic value-added chains of agro-forestry systems of the model region. Based on that, recommendations of critical and supportive aspects of regional value chains and its increase should be derived.