Seminar schedule 2023

The seminar is a combination of lectures (theoretical, case study and projects presentation) and interactive exercises that introduces the conceptual frameworks of Agroecological Urbanism, Regional Agroecological Food Systems, Multi-level governance, Food justice and democracy. The transdisciplinary approach is supported by the Participatory Action Learning Research and Action Learning Research (PALAR) in connection with a series of existing Living Labs on food resilience.

International participants from different background and level of education and professional expertise (from planning disciplines, agronomy, environmental sciences, and related subjects) are invited to participate to this transdisciplinary and participatory learning activity that supports a broader understanding of the contemporary challenges and existing strategies of approaching sustainable food systems in the context of spatial planning.

There will be two possible forms of participation: only attending the lectures and discussions or working on the assignment (5 ECTS). The assignment participants will work in small teams that focus on Living Labs or projects. They will benefit from additional tutoring/ feedback sessions and present their results in intermediary sessions.

The online seminar structured in 12 sessions (with additional presentations for assignment students) will take place in the first half of spring of 2023, running from March 2nd until June 1st 2023, Thursdays from 17.00 until 18.30 CET on zoom.

Session March 2, 2023

In the first session Roxana Triboi: gave an introduction to the program of the seminar and its learning goals. Damien Conaré showed the historical context and the field of play with the main sustainable food challenges. On the basis of an interactive session, Jeroen de Vries reviewed the main concepts for sustainable food planning. The PowerPoint presentation can be viewed here, the video recording of the plenary parts can be seen on the landscape portal.

Session March 9, 2023

Introduction by Roxana Triboi and an explanation of the challenges and background in governance by Nicole Pita of IPES. Agroecological Urbanism and the difference with traditional planning approaches - by Michiel Dehaene, Ghent University. You can view the presentation here. Michiel Dehaene presented the results of the project Building an Agroecological Urbanism on the website, which you can see here.

Session March 16, 2023

After a short recap of the first two sessions, Joe Nasr and Matthew Potteiger presented foundational visions and contemporary concepts of productive urban landscapes, and an outlook of approaches for this. You can download the presentation here. The recording of the lecture is on the landscape portal.

Matthew Potteiger is a Professor of Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York, Syracuse, where his teaching, research and community projects focus on linking food systems with the design of landscape systems. He has studied food systems of Japan, Brazil and North American cities. For 10 years he taught a food systems design studio and has lead numerous community-based food system projects to for urban agriculture, public markets, and regional foodshed planning in New York State.

Joe Nasr is an independent scholar, lecturer and consultant based in Toronto. He has been exploring urban agriculture and food security issues for three decades. Joe taught or held fellowships at a number of universities in several countries; he is a lecturer and member of the Centre for Studies in Food Security at Toronto Metropolitan University. He co-wrote or co-edited five books and dozens of articles and co-edits the Springer Urban Agriculture Book Series.

Session March 23, 2023

The second phase focuses on the mapping of food systems. Marian Simón Rojo of UPM gave an introduction on the relevance of mapping for starting transformative actions and presented an overview of the types of mapping. Katrin Bohn, of Bohn&Viljoen Architects & the School of Architecture & Design of the University of Brighton, presented several projects and how mapping played a role in them. You can review the recording of the presentation here. The PowerPoint with the introduction and presentation on types of mapping can be seen here.

Session March 30, 2023

After an introduction by Marian Simón Rojo of UP Madrid, Jorge Molero of the Red de Municipios por la Agroecologia gave a presentation on Mapping the Short Food Supply Chains. You can see the presentation here. You can find the recording of the session here.

Session April 13, 2023

Marian Simón Rojo of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid builds upon the former presentations on mapping. She shows how maps can be used for various aspects of the food system and for different goals. Maps can serve to analyse and present the needs, and the assets. They can also link up to policies and be used as a basis to develop strategies. Intersectoral collaboration is important in connecting sustainable food to health issues, food security, and well-being. Maps can also be created in a collaborative way to help communities to formulate common goals.

You can find the recording of the session here.

Session April 20, 2023

The phase of collaborative goal setting and visioning started with an introduction by Damien Conaré on the background and experiences from France by Marc Nielsen of Terres en Villes) with the title Designing and implementing a local food strategy: key messages.

The participants engaged in an exercise using mural.co on collaborative goal setting in breakout rooms.

You can find the presentation of Damien Conaré and Marc Nielsen here.

Session April 27, 2023

Damien Conaré gave a short explanation on challenges, goals, visions, and acvitivies related to the goals. Jess Halliday, Chief Executive of RUAF presented Inclusive multi-stakeholder platforms and food policy councils – from visioning to action planning and answered questions of the participants. You can find her presentation here.