There are many organisations within the Netherlands active in the field of organic advocacy; some are specifically covering one branch in a certain region, others are more general and nationwide. A partner of Otherwise has asked for an action research – as topic for a master thesis- on organic advocacy in the Netherlands. The goal is to map Organic Advocacy in the Netherlands and indicatethe extent of say and significance to members of the three main players (Biohuis, Bionext, Eko Keurmerk) and discuss the link between Biohuis and LTO Nederland. More information is available, please send a mail to lummina.horlings@wur.nl
Category Archives: Food
Grassroots science event – Discussing the future of agriculture: myths, facts and moving beyond
The next event of the Grassroots science series is a discussing on “The future of agriculture: myths, facts and moving beyond”: Wednesday November 20, at 20.00 in the Forum building.
Discussiants are:
- Josef Keulartz (emeritus professor environmental philosophy)
- Tomek Ponti (consultant on sustainable agriculture)
- Jacques van Nederpelt (platform ABC, author of ‘8 myths in food and agriculture’)
- Jan Diek van Mansvelt (Down to Earth, emeritus professor WUR, co-founder Louis Bolk Institute and former director IFOAM)
Master thesis experience in the US
A post by Max van Tilburg (MSc student International Development)
The nature of urban agriculture; initiatives in Lansing and Detroit, Michigan, United States
Urban agriculture over the past decennium has become very popular in the Western World, this brings up questions about the commonality between all these different initiatives. This question stood at the basis of my master thesis, and was translated to whether urban agriculture initiatives in Lansing and Detroit (Michigan, USA) could be seen as (being part of) a social movement.
Although the history and (organizational) background of the urban agriculture initiatives in Lansing and Detroit are very diverse, the similarity in practices, ideas and ideologies (both displayed in shared discourses and themes) was remarkably high. It turned out that community building with all its aspects is a first order concern for the initiatives, neighborhood organizations, a soup kitchen, private farmers, all practiced and expressed a major concern about working on the community.
On the overall I arrived at a point were I more or less hypothesize the same as Touraine (1998) did in his research on social movements; “that their ‘real’ purpose was a broad-based effort to oppose the corporate and government technocrats who initiated and directed most social change”.
Read more in my thesis!
Towards Implementation: Reflecting on 10 years of the Right to Food
Today an interim report by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, made to the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly has been released. You can download a PDF copy here: Assessing a decade of progress on the right to food
The report – Assessing a decade of progress on the right to food– provides insight into practical aspects of realizing the right to food. It notes that the right to food has “become an operational tool” that is “widely recognised as a key to the success of food security strategies” (para 3).
Focusing on progress made since the 1996 World Food summit, the report identified:
- Best practices
- Roles of key actors: governments, parliaments, courts, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations and social movements.
The report also notes that systems of national protection are being redefined in terms of rights, a welcome move away from the understanding social benefits as charitable hand-outs. It argues that the right to food has entered a new phase: implementation. This is key as it moves from theory and law to practice. Grievance redress mechanisms (e.g. courts, social audits) are playing a role in promoting this change.
Food4all festival and more … – presented to you by Grassroots science and partners
What are the current challenges facing our food systems. And what can be done? Get a taste of the problems and solutions at the 2nd edition of the Food4all festival. Part of the festival are: a regional farmers’ market, a documentary on Monsanto, a book presentation, and a dinner with music and gastronomic film. Later this year, a 2 day training on the right to food, agroecology and food sovereignty. For more information see the programme below or visit www.grassrootsscience.nl.
Grassroots science & partners are: OtherWise, ILEIA, Boerengroep, Lazuur, Fian, Transition Towns and Project EAT. Contact: leonardo.vandenberg@wur.nl
Also opportunities offered for MSc-thesis research, internship and Academic Consultancy Training (ACT) in 2nd educational period.
Rural Sociology Wageningen University 