"Agroecology: crossing paths on the way to sustainable food" is a webinar where professionals with various backgrounds will discuss their role in the transformation towards a sustainable food system.

This unique format will present insights into the different facets of agroecology and is going to channel the experiences and perspectives from praxis, science, governmental and non-governmental actors.

Whether you are a newcomer or an expert, the broad mix of participants will provide you with an opportunity for a refreshing dip into the colourful world of agroecology where you can widen and challenge your own perspectives.

Link to the event: https://slu-se.zoom.us/j/67365787551?pwd=ekJrWHc4ZlBiQkkwTkhSVTJpT01jdz09

The 2020 edition of the annual Agroecology Day conference at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) will be a webinar.

The link to participate in the event will be sent to registered participants via email.

In collarboration with SIANI https://www.siani.se/

What is Agroecology?

“Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system.”

“Agroecology is fundamentally different from other approaches to sustainable development. It is based on bottom-up and territorial processes, helping to deliver contextualised solutions to local problems. Agroecological innovations are based on the co-creation of knowledge, combining science with the traditional, practical and local knowledge of producers. By enhancing their autonomy and adaptive capacity, agroecology empowers producers and communities as key agents of change. Rather than tweaking the practices of unsustainable agricultural systems, agroecology seeks to transform food and agricultural systems, addressing the root causes of problems in an integrated way and providing holistic and long-term solutions. This includes an explicit focus on social and economic dimensions of food systems. Agroecology places a strong focus on the rights of women, youth and indigenous peoples.” (FAO 2020)

Agroecology: Sharing Perspectives

The webinar will present you with insights into professionals' work with agroecology. Each panellist will give a short presentation about what they do and how they relate to agroecology. Following this, a panel discussion will go into more depth of specific issues and provide a common ground for exchanging perspectives.

This webinar will provide participants with the unique opportunity to meet a range of professionals working with agroecology. Hereby, you will experience the different facets of agroecology through the diversity of the panellists. The mix of panellists will guarantee an interesting discussion and a multitude of perspectives. As panellists discuss prepared questions and selected questions by the audience, the discussion will be relevant and relatable. By the end of the webinar, you will know how different actors work within the concept agroecology. The webinar will give you enough context to think about how you and your work can relate to agroecology.

We are looking forward to a highly diverse and participative event, where people meet that usually would not. Do not miss to take part in this accelerating event to a more sustainable food system and register now!

Timeline

• The panellists present themselves and how they work with agroecology

• Break

• Moderated panel discussion

• Answering selected questions by the audience

• Interactive conclusion by all participants

Introducing the panel

• Maja Lindström - Swedish filmmaker with a focus on making movies about sustainable practices and its colourful and diverse facets (https://paradigmshiftfilm.com/).

• Rim Melake - Trainee at the European Commission's department for international cooperation and development (DEVCO) with a variety of work experiences in promoting women's role in agriculture and rural development in Africa.

• Marco Tasin - Farmer, independent researcher and consultant in Italy. As a former researcher and teacher at the SLU in Alnarp, Marco recently left the university life to get back into farming, because: “farmers are the real innovators”.

• Jonas Ringquist - Author of a book about small scale vegetable farming and farmer at the Swedish Farm Bossgården (http://www.bossgarden.se). See here for a short introduction https://youtu.be/2C3S59Ysbvo.

• Nicolas Carton - Researcher in cropping systems diversification, his work at SLU Alnarp focused on integrating legumes in crop rotations.

• Magnus Ljung - Principal extension officer at the National competence centre for advisory services at SLU. He does research in communication science but is also a part-time sheep farmer in southwest Sweden.