This document discusses a project on agroecology led by Professor Philippe Baret of the Earth and Life Institute at the University of Louvain. The objectives of the project are to build a new sustainable agriculture paradigm, legitimate small-scale farming as an option for food security and environmental issues, and rebalance agricultural research funding. Agroecology proposes a new management approach for agricultural and food systems. Belgium leads in this area through a research network comprising scientists from multiple universities in Wallonia. The project examines challenges facing food systems and transitions to more sustainable models like alternative dairy systems through innovation within social and technical regimes.

1. EARTH AND LIFE INSTITUTE
Faculty of Science
www.uclouvain.be/eli
UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN (UCL)
Agroecology
A new
managment of
food systems
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015
Prof. Philippe Baret
Professor
philippe.baret@uclouvain.be
portrait

2. AGROECOLOGY
 Agroecology is a new proposition for a sustainable
management of agricultural and food systems
 Belgium is leader on this topic in Europe with a
network called GIRAF, Groupe interdiscipinaire du
FNRS sur agroécologie
 The group comprises scientists from different
universities in Wallonia : Ulg, ULB, UNamur & UCL
Bref descriptif du projet choisi
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
 To build a new paradigm for sustainable agriculture
 To legitimate small scale and self-sufficient farming systems as an
option for addressing issues as food security, climate change and
loss of biodiversity
 To rebalance investment in agricultural research toward aliternaitve
promising pathways
 To take advantage of other forms on knowledge based on peasant
practices and traditions
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015

4. NEW CHALLENGES
OF FOOD SYSTEMS
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015

5. TRANSITION
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015
Niche
Innovations
Socio- technical
Regime
Socio-technical
landscape
( Exogene context)
Adapted from Geels & Schott 2007
- Protection
- Learning, vision, networks
- Empowering (capacitation)

6. DAIRY SYSTEMS IN TRANSITION
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015

7. DAIRY SYSTEMS IN TRANSITION
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015

8. « Stockage d’Energie: Défis et avancées technologiques »
CONCLUSION
 Innovation is at the heart of alternative systems
 An uncertain world requires a diversity of option
 Agroecology is at the interface of science and action
 A multidisciplinary approach is the key for a systemic vision of food
systems
Feeding the planet in 2050 - 06/24/2015
To go further
www.agroecologie.be
www.philagri.net

9. FEEDING THE PLANET
IN 2050
24TH of June 2015
Belgian Pavilion