Webinars – October 2021

06/10/2021 - introductory webinar on 13 principles of agroecology

Watch again this Webinar on our YouTube channel!
Agroecology is a dynamic concept that has gained prominence in scientific, agricultural and political discourse in recent years. It is increasingly promoted as being able to contribute to transforming food systems by applying ecological principles to agriculture and ensuring a regenerative use of natural resources andecosystem services while also addressing the need for socially equitable food systems within which people can exercise choice over what they eat and how and where it is produced.
 
Agroecology embraces a science, a set of practices and a social movement and has evolved over recent decades to expand in scope from a focus on fields and farms to encompass whole agriculture and food systems. It now represents a transdisciplinary field that includes all the ecological, sociocultural, technological,economic and political dimensions of food systems, from production to consumption.
 
In this introductory webinar of the Month of Agroecology, we have explored the 13 principles of agroecology and discussed how they can represent an operational framework for the agroecological transition in Europe and worldwide.
Mrs. Paola Migliorini, President of Agroecology Europe moderated the discussion between Mrs. Rachel Bezner Kerr, Mr. Fergus Sinclair and Mr. Alexander Wezel, three team members of the High Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition Project – the foremost international science-policy interface of the Committee on World Food Security.

13/10/2021 - Webinar on the key role of farmers seeds in the agroecological transition

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This second webinar of the “Month of Agroecology” will address the process of co-construction of knowledge between agroecological science and practice through the exciting topic of farmers’ seeds!

“Seeds are at the heart of agriculture and are part of the agronomic, socio-cultural, economic and political dimensions of the agroecological transition. Several major issues, such as the preservation of cultivated biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, peasant autonomy and food sovereignty, are linked to it.In the field, on farms, the use of peasant seeds implies different ways of working and producing which sometimes require farmers to reappropriate peasant practices and create new ones. Horizontal sharing, in particular through farmer-to-farmer exchanges, is essential in this process of reappropriating peasant knowledge and know-how and participates in the co-creation of practical and scientific knowledge, one of the 13 principles of agroecology that will be explored during this Month of Agroecology.

These are the aspects that will be explored, discussed and debated during this webinar. The speakers will share their experiences of working with farmers’ varieties, the associated knowledge and know-how and the opportunities and constraints of their use, particularly in market gardening.

20/10/2021 - webinar on how biodistricts are empowering and re-embedding agroecological food systems in local economies?

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Presentation of Jostein Hertwig - Introduction to Biodistrics at International and European level-
Presentation of Aina Calafat - Organic districts in Spain
Presentation of Karen Hoberg - How Biodistricts are empowering and reembedding agroecological food systems in local economies?
Presentation of Cesare Zanasi - How to think and manage a Bio-Region according to local conditions? The Italian Experience
Presentation of Salvatore Basile - Organic districts in Italy
How Biodistricts are empowering and re-embedding agroecological food systems in local economies? Perspectives from Spain and Italy
 
During this third webinar, the experts have addressed extensively this topic in Europe:
  • Jostein Hertwig (Norway): Coordinator of the United Nations Core initiative ” Organic Food System Programme” and Head of Beras International Foundation
  • Ceesare Zanazi (Italy): Associate Professor at Bologna University and Member of the Scientific committee of IN.N.E.R (International Network of Eco-Regions)
  • Aina Calafat (Spain): Responsible for advocacy and international projects at SEAE (the Spanish Society for Organic Farming)
  • Salvatore Basile (Italy): President of IN.N.E.R. (International Network of Eco Regions) and co-President of GAOD (Global Alliance for Organic Districts)
  • Karen Hoberg (Spain): Economist and Board Member of the SEAE (the Spanish Society for Organic Farming)
The webinar has been moderated by Juan Pablo Sciurano (Italy), Agroecology Europe Board Member and Researcher at Parma University.