Grassroots Science
socially driven alternatives that tackle global problems
“Socially driven” initiatives, by for example farmers, consumers, civil society organisations, sometimes in collaboration with scientists, constantly emerge in the face of poverty, social injustice, hunger, natural resource degradation, environmental decline and other global problems. Some of these initiatives contain practices that promise more sustainable livelihoods for the people on the ground while simultaneously tackling global problems. Many initiatives stand in stark contrast and sometimes even contradict with the “technologically driven” solutions implemented by many scientists and policy makers.
We invite you to participate in a journey full of exiting examples of good practices, local initiatives, grassroots organisations, farmer groups, and others who succesfully contribute to a better global food system. Not only is our food system to become more environmental and animal friendly, it should also be more social and fair to farmers world wide. With this new series, we aim to provide clear alternatives that work.
Everybody is welcome to join seperate evenings. Students who are interested in Grassroots Science can make this series into a capita selecta course.
| Monday February 13 19:30h Forum C221 |
Agroecology as a science, movement and a practice: can it feed the world?Irene Cardoso, vice president agroecology association Brazil In this lecture Irene Cardoso will discuss some questions that are common when talking about Agroecology: Is agroecology a science, a movement or practice? Is it possible to feed the world using agroecology approach in agriculture? What is the best: intensifying agriculture to have more area for nature conservation or to have a more extensive agriculture integrated with nature? She will also share some of her own experiences, mainly with agroforestry systems, in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil. One question she would like to leave for the discussion: how can we scale up the agroecological experiences around the world? |
| Wednesday February 29 20:00h Forum |
Political developments in Bolivia: their impact on indigenous people and the environment ‘Ricardo Calla, anthropologist and former Minister of Indigenous Affairs in Bolivia, has a long history of working with indigenous people in the Andes.In Bolivia, indigenous people form a majority of the population and therefore, possess significant political power. However, economic power is in the hands of the oligarchy. Ricardo Calla will give his view on contemporary politics and their impact on indigenous people and on environment in Bolivia.’ |
| Monday March 5 19:00 Forum |
Shell, seeds and saving the planet: rights and livelihoods in a global economy Nnimmo Bassey’s work as Chair of Friends of the Earth International and Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria has turned him into one of Africa’s leading advocates for the environment and human rights. He will speak about the practices of Royal Dutch Shell and the oil industry in Nigeria, and the impacts on the environment and the livelihoods of peasant communities. Karin Nansen is a founding member of Red de Ecología Social (REDES/Friends of the Earth Uruguay). She will discuss sustainable alternatives to the dominant system of seed management and efforts in Uruguay to strengthen food sovereignty by rescuing local seed varieties and promoting organic locally-grown food for local communities and the domestic market. She will also examine the links between gender justice and food sovereignty. Ricardo Navarro is the founder of the Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology (CESTA/Friends of the Earth El Salvador). He will discuss rights, livelihoods and grassroots solutions in the context of climate change, which has been disastrous for the people and ecosystems of El Salvador. |
| Thursday April 5 19:30h Forum |
Family farming as a starting ground for rural development Sergio Schneider, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) |
| Monday May 14 19:30h Forum |
Building on farmers’ knowledge |
| Monday June 11 19:30h Forum |
Rural Sovereignty |