Tag Archives: grassroots science

Grassroots science event – Discussing the future of agriculture: myths, facts and moving beyond

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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)

Sign up at http://grassrootsscience.nl/events/wed-20-nov-the-future-of-agriculture-myths-facts-and-moving-beyond/

Food4all festival and more … – presented to you by Grassroots science and partners

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food4allWhat 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.

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The Farm Experience Internship (FEI) : experiences from Brazil

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Part of a joint initiative the Farming Systems Ecology group  of Wageningen University offers a new course the Farm Experience Internship (FEI). This course is presented and discussed in Grassroots Science event next July 4. See the earlier blog for more info. The course is inspired by a similar course in Brazil. Below Heitor Texeira, student from Federal University of Vicosa and currently intern at Stichting Otherwise and ILEA, tells about the Brazilian experiences and about course starting for the first time summer, from 11th to 30th of August. See for more information on the FEI course also the site of the Boerengroep.

By Heitor Texeira

The Estágio Interdisciplinar de Vivência

In Brazil family farmers and traditional communities play a very important role concerning food production and conservation of natural resources. They are responsible for the production of approximately 70% of the food consumed in the country and in many cases manage their production systems in a more sustainable way, seeking for the integration between nature and agriculture. Although their great contribution for society, the knowledge developed and disseminated in educational institutes of superior level is often disconnected from the reality and needs of family farmers. On the one hand their traditional knowledge is underestimated regarding research and extension at the University. Continue reading →

Grassroots Science: Do the NL have an agro-ecology movement?

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Stichting Otherwise organizes another Grassroots Science event. The new course The Farm Experience Internship (FEI) will be presented and the significance it can have for formal education and the agroecology network in the Netherlands. See http://www.st-otherwise.org/thu-4-july-grassroots-science-agroecology-in-the-netherlands/ for more info or the site of the Boerengroep for more info on the FEI course.

GS Agroecology

Agro-ecology debated in Wageningen – grassroots science series

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Under the heading of Grassroots sciences St. Otherwise has organised a new series to debate the agro-ecology approach, see the website for the programme and to make a reservation.

Monday, March 18 will be the next event, called The power of agro-ecology. This is part of the Rode Hoed debate series ‘It is the Food Stupid’. Venue: Forum building, Wageningen.

The agro-ecology movement is gaining momentum worldwide. Family farmers, sometimes in collaboration with researchers, have successfully developed agro-ecological innovations that use local resources and work with nature to strengthen production systems, increase farmer autonomy and maintain productivity. This makes farming more resilient, and less dependent on expensive external inputs such as chemical fertilizer and pesticides. What has agro-ecology achieved? Can  it feed the world? What choices can we make to give it a fair chance? And what  challenges are there for Wageningen University? Irene Cardoso (professor of soil science and vice chair Brazilian Agroecology Association) and Tom Saat (organic farmer and winner of the 2012 Ekoland Innovation Prize) share their insights and experiences. You are invited for a drink afterwards. Follow it live at http://wurtv.wur.nl/. Find out more on Facebook.

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