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 →

Science Shop project Participand- Meetings for people involved in international development cooperation

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In December we announced the kick-off meeting of the Participand project. Participand is for people who live in the Wageningen area and are involved or interested in international development cooperation. Together with these people (You?) we would like to build a network platform where you can exchange knowledge and experiences, get involved, find partners to work together with and whatever else you can imagine.
The first meeting took place on a rainy evening shortly before Christmas, a busy time of the year. Yet, an overwhelming number of 42 people joined! This was excelling our wildest dreams. So what did we actually do? Continue reading →

Food Film Festival 2012, March 16-18

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The Food Film Festival 2012, March 16 – 18 in Amsterdam, is an event initaited and organised by the Dutch branch of the Youth Food Movement. It promises an interesting mix of films, workshops, events and even a specific food festival for kids. See the programme at the website or the pdf here. Tim Lang will close the festival with a key note. Take a look at the short video clip blow, an appetizer.

Next period the course Understanding Rural Development starts again!

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On March 12th 2012 the Rural Sociology Course Understanding Rural Development starts. There is still room for new students to attend this course.
The course aims to provide a theoretical, empirical and methodological understanding of rural and regional development processes in Europe, with emphasis on agro-food, rural and regional dynamics in metropolitan landscapes. It builds upon several BSc and MSc courses, such as Agrarian and Rural Development: Sociological Perspectives (RSO-20806), Sociology of Farming and Rural Life (RSO-30806), Sociological Theories of Rural Transformation (RDS-30306), Globalisation and Sustainability of Food Production and Consumption (ENP-31806) and Sociology in Development: Towards a Critical Perspective (RDS-32806). Continue reading →

Insect food taboo?

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Just like last year, the first week of the course Food Culture and Customs deals with what a food taboo is and discusses theories on how a food taboo comes into existence. These theories inform an assignment where students question people for their opinion on insects as food. Clearly, insects are a food taboo in Western countries, no? Well, maybe reality is by-passing me soon. And I might have to look for other examples soon. There were quite a few insect-should-be-food seminars during the past year. It fits so well with the current Malthusian fear on an exploding world population which supposedly can’t be fed. For this, new solutions are sought. In the direction of so-called ‘sustainable intensification’ for example. Or in alternative protein sources, such as those from insects. Continue reading →