Category Archives: General

General issues.

New to the Rural Sociology Group: Introducing myself

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I have been here in Wageningen and at the Rural Sociology Group for two weeks now so it only seems appropriate that I introduce myself.  I’m Jessica Duncan and I have been hired to teach courses in food cultures and food policy.

Conducting field work with women pastoralists in Gujarat, India (Summer 2012)

Conducting field work with women pastoralists in Gujarat, India (Summer 2012)

My teaching philosophy is based on the awareness of the central role food plays in socio-cultural and economic issues and across political discourse at all levels. Using food – with its physical, emotional and symbolic resonance – as a lens, allows us to approach complex problems and search for solutions that can impact our lives and the lives of others. I work hard to create a space where students feel encouraged to test ideas and tackle difficult questions with new concepts. Above all, I teach because I love to learn.

From 2008 to 2013 I worked in the Department of Food Systems, Culture and Society at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) in Barcelona. Here I developed and taught courses on research methods, food governance, and contemporary issues in food studies. I also supervised a broad range of post-graduate research students on topics related to food cultures and food security. The international nature of the programme gave me the chance to interact with students from around the world on key issues related to the study of food.

Continue reading →

Future farmers in the spotlight: A project to raise awareness for the situation of young farmers in Europe

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Future farmers in the spotlight

‘Future farmers in the Spotlight’ is a project to raise awareness for the need of young farmers and more sustainable food production systems in the European Union.

Describing the idea with the words of project founders Juliane Haufe and Joris van der Kamp:

“Many farmers are reaching the age of retirement: only 6% of Europeans farmers is currently below the age of 35. Young people are needed to take over to sustain food production!
But how can a young future farmer nowadays start up an inspiring farming project? Which options are there to get involved in food production? Which (new) concepts will make a farm sustainable in an ecological sense, will provide an adequate income and will create an added value for the civil society?
These questions urgently need an answer!
Future farmers in the spotlight is looking for these answers! We are visiting already existing farming initiatives all around Europe and make short documentaries!”

To find out more about the project and to watch interesting video clips about the troubles and joys of young farmers across Europe, please visit future-farmers.net

Uitgegeten? #3 ‘De Toekomst van het Platteland’

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Zonder het platteland geen voedsel! Maar, heeft u er wel eens bij stilgestaan dat ons voedselsysteem en consumptiepatroon van invloed is op hoe het buitengebied eruit ziet? De afgelopen decennia voelden veel boeren zich genoodzaakt om te investeren in megastallen of om te stoppen. Dit heeft niet alleen economische consequenties, maar is ook bepalend voor andere waarden die we aan het platteland verbinden, zoals; een aantrekkelijk landschap, een gezonde leefomgeving en kennis over de herkomst van voedsel. Tijdens het derde en laatste publieksdebat van de serie Uitgegeten? gaan we met ‘waarden-experts’ in op de toekomst van het agrarisch platteland. Welke waarden willen we behouden of juist ontwikkelen voor de toekomst? Hoe zou het platteland eruit zien als we onze voedselproductie vanuit die waarden zouden organiseren? En, kan duurzaam voedsel de link tussen boer en burger herstellen?

Met: Ton Duffhues (Stichting Atelier Waarden van het Land), Ina Horlings (onderzoeker en docent rurale sociologie, Wageningen Universiteit), Maria Hopman (arts en hoogleraar integrale fysiologie, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen). Met cabaret van Irene van der Aart.

woensdag 26 sept | LUX zaal 7 | aanvang 20.00 uur | entree gratis, met proeverij regionale producten van Oregional | kaarten bestellen via www.lux-nijmegen.nl of aan de kassa van LUX

Uitgegeten? De toekomst van duurzaam eten is een verdiepende debatreeks over duurzaam voedsel georganiseerd door stichting Landwaard in samenwerking met LUX. Onderwerpen die eerder in de reeks aan de orde kwamen waren; de nieuwe voedselketen en stadslandbouw.

Call for papers: EADI Prize for Development Studies 2012

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The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) announces the 13th edition of the prize for excellence in development research. The prize, worth €1 000, will be awarded for an essay on an issue of development studies in any field of the social sciences submitted and written by a postgraduate student from an EADI member country or attending a programme at an institutional member of the Association (see http://www.eadi.org/navigation/contact/members-of-eadi.html). Continue reading →

Learning on Food Security from a regional systems perspective

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The ETC Foundation is looking for a volunteer; this may well be the start of an intersting career! You can also contact our education people if you would like to do your master thesis on this topic.

Food Security (FS) is a hot topic in the Dutch and international development debate today. Therefore, learning about FS interventions has priority amongst organisations like ETC.

ETC is involved in a Learn-and-Work trajectory called “Learning on Food Security from a Regional Systems Perspective”. In this trajectory, two learning questions (see below) will be addressed through three case studies in different regions in East-Africa. These case studies will be 1. jointly prepared in a preparatory event, 2. then implemented by organisations in East-Africa in their respective regions, 3. analyzed jointly in an international workshop and then 4. reported and presented both within and outside ETC and partner network. Continue reading →