Wageningen Social Sciences

🌱 Feeding the Multicultural City: Immigrant Gardening and Culinary Heritage in Amsterdam 🌍 How can a city's diverse cultural roots help shape its future? 🌾 In a new project led by the AMS Institute and Wageningen University & Research, gardening expertise and culinary heritage of immigrants in Amsterdam and their vital role in transforming the urban food system is explored. Centered in Nieuw-West, the initiative focuses on the Wereldgroentetuinen—a former greenhouse converted into allotment gardens. Here, residents grow crops like sopropo (bitter gourd), kouseband (bora), tajerblad, and Madame Jeanette peppers—plants tied to rich culinary traditions that thrive in these controlled conditions but struggle in Dutch climates. 🌱 Why does this matter? While urban gardening is gaining traction globally, policies often overlook the value of immigrants’ culinary heritage. For Amsterdam—a city shaped by migration—this knowledge is a vital asset in creating a truly inclusive and sustainable food future. Postdoctoral researcher Antonia Weiss, states: “If we mobilize the diverse culinary heritage in this city, Amsterdam can lead the way in changing our food system for good." Beyond gardening, the Wereldgroentetuinen fosters community, knowledge exchange, and a deeper appreciation of the connection between migration and food traditions. 🚀 What’s the goal? This project advocates for: 🔑 Recognizing immigrants as key changemakers in the urban food transition. 🌍 Integrating diverse food traditions into urban food policies. 🌱 Expanding gardening spaces to support crops that reflect Amsterdam’s multicultural fabric. Let’s build cities that honor the past while growing a sustainable, inclusive food future. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/ebrqyShp #UrbanGardening #FoodTransition #DiversityMatters #SustainableCities #CulinaryHeritage

🌿🌍 Does it make sense for developing countries to report on their actions to mitigate climate change? This question is central to Professor Aarti Gupta’s research within the TRANSGOV project - Wageningen University & Research. The team is currently present at #COP29 in Baku focusing on how climate transparency can transform climate action for nations with limited resources. 📈What is the TRANSGOV-project all about? TRANSGOV investigates the impact of the Paris Agreement’s transparency framework on the progress of various countries toward their climate goals. The framework aims to build accountability and trust by requiring countries to report on their voluntary climate commitments. The TRANSGOV-project critically examines wether this process benefits developing countries whose priorities often lie more in adapting to climate impacts than in mitigating them. 🇪🇹Recently, the TRANSGOV team conducted a two-week trip to Ethiopia, meeting with stakeholders who are involved in generating these reports. A country like Ethiopia has very low emission levels compared to the global average but will face major challenges with the consequences of climate change. Reporting on mitigation requires resources, often diverting attention from urgent adaptation needs like drought resilience and food security. So, does it make sense for developing countries to prioritise reporting on mitigation? What do you think, let us know in the comments! 👉 https://lnkd.in/ednVm-q4 #ClimateChange #Adaptation #Mitigation

🌍🌱 Big Week for Climate Law in The Hague: Shell & Greenpeace Cases Set Stage for Global Impact ⚖️🚨 All eyes were on The Hague this week as two significant climate-related lawsuits unfold, potentially reshaping the intersection of environmental policy and corporate responsibility. 🌐 Both cases focus on urgent environmental targets and could have global ripple effects. 1️⃣ Milieudefensie vs. Shell CO2 Case 🌬️: The case, with global climate stakes, seeks to mandate that Shell cuts its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 (based on 2019 levels), aligning with the Paris Agreement. This morning, the court ruled against Milieudefensie’s appeal, a decision expected to have vast implications for climate-related obligations of corporations. The 2021 ruling included Shell’s client emissions, a groundbreaking decision based on emerging climate science. Assistant Professor Chiara Macchi, climate justice expert, noted the court’s stance on corporate responsibility and the "weighing of climate science" as essential for our field. 2️⃣ Greenpeace & Co. vs. the Dutch State Nitrogen Case 🌾: Greenpeace and partners are pressing the state to adhere to nitrogen targets, aiming for a 40% unburdened nature area by 2025. The parallels to the landmark Urgenda case are clear, where the Dutch government was compelled to follow stricter emissions targets. Assistant Professor Edwin Alblas emphasizes the weight of judicial oversight in holding governments accountable to climate legislation. Wageningen’s Law Group are keen to see how climate science will be interpreted and used as legal motivation. These cases underscore the role of law in driving climate accountability on a global stage. Read full story on WUR's Resource Magazine: https://lnkd.in/ev4CQqHk #ClimateJustice #LawAndPolicy #WageningenLawGroup #Sustainability #EnvironmentalLaw #GreenLitigation

🌍 New food system should curb food waste 🌱 Did you know that Dutch households waste around 2 billion kilos of food annually? This staggering amount affects food availability, strains the economy, and impacts our environment. A collaborative project led by Wageningen University & Research is addressing this challenge with a visionary new food system designed to curb waste and optimize resources. Through their project, Food Waste: From Excess to Enough (FETE), researchers shared promising interventions recently at the Waste-Free Week conference, including: 🔸 Encouraging flexible consumption: Advising consumers on smaller, more suitable packaging sizes to avoid excess purchases 🔸 Tools for food management: Helping households plan better with practical tools, like portion-measuring cups and fridge stickers to guide storage 🔸 "Surprise bags" from retailers: Offering discounted surplus food bags to reduce waste while encouraging consumers to try new items 🔸 Educational efforts: Raising awareness on best-before dates and ways to assess freshness—many foods last longer than packaging dates imply! Keynote speakers Christian Scheffler (HelloFresh) and Toine Timmermans (Together Against Food Waste) emphasized the benefits of pre-planned meal boxes, where ingredients are pre-measured, and shared the importance of collective action. The FETE project’s roadmap highlights a critical insight: people motivated by the moral impact of food waste (not just cost savings) waste less. This shows we’re ready for real change. By rethinking food access, purchasing, and consumption, we can build a system where food is valued and waste minimized. Let’s work toward a sustainable future where food ends up on plates, not in landfills. 🌍🥕 https://lnkd.in/eiGcNCHY #SustainableFuture #FoodWaste #Innovation #WageningenUR #ReduceReuseReimagine

🌱 System Change in Agriculture: Transition or Continuous Development? 🌱 At our latest #LeboTalk, inspired by Minister Femke Wiersma’s comments, we explored whether agriculture’s evolution is best seen as “continuous development” or a “transition.” We invited Prof. Cees Leeuwis to reflect and kick off the one hour event, where he shared: "A true transition is more than gradual change—it’s a systemic shift driven by new values, policies, and radical outcomes." "Looking back, agriculture’s past transformations—from land consolidation to EU policies—were not just developments; they were value-driven transitions with both growth and costs. Now, as we envision a sustainable, zero-emissions future for agriculture, similar political commitment and systemic innovation are essential." Read Prof. Leeuwis full opinion article about System Transitions and Political Will here: https://lnkd.in/etxfpAvN At Wageningen’s Social Sciences Group (SSG), we’re committed to helping drive this change. By working with real-life coalitions and rethinking how we organize and innovate, SSG can play a key role in shaping a sustainable food future. 👉 How can academia best support systemic change? Share your thoughts below! #AgriculturalTransition #SustainableAgriculture #SSG #SystemChange

📢 Join us for the next Lebo Talk: "Digital Media and Democracy: Threat or Opportunity?" 🗓 Date: Thursday November 7th 🕛 Time: 12:00 PM 📍 Location: Lebo Canteen In today’s fast-changing digital world, social media has transformed our engagement with democracy. It offers exciting new pathways for political participation and discourse, yet it also brings significant risks that can undermine democratic integrity. How do we navigate this complex duality? Our special guest, Prof. Sanne Kruikemeier, an expert in digital media's impact on democracy, will explore the latest research on this topic. Prof. Kruikemeier will discuss the role of social media in shaping political engagement, the potential dangers of disinformation, and how algorithmic personalization influences public opinion. 📊 As social scientists, researchers, and engaged citizens, we are uniquely positioned to address these issues. By conducting interdisciplinary research, advocating for stronger platform regulations, and promoting ethical tech practices, we can ensure digital media serves to strengthen democratic institutions. 👉 Come reflect with us and Prof. Kruikemeier on the media and democratic landscape. Don’t miss this engaging and essential conversation!

🌍 Discover the Master's in Sustainable Business and Innovation at Wageningen University & Research 🌱 Curious about how future leaders are prepared to drive companies toward a sustainable future? Wageningen University & Research offers a Master’s program in Sustainable Business and Innovation, blending management and marketing science to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed for impact-driven careers. Dr. Caspar Krampe from the Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Groups shares his inspiring perspective: "I see how motivated they are to actually really have an impact. They are studying for a purpose, and I think that could be, and is maybe, the highest motivation you can have—to really have an impact on the future, and particularly on a sustainable future in this case." This video shows how students are equipped to become managers, marketers, or entrepreneurs, all with one common goal: making sustainability a cornerstone in businesses and markets. This program enables graduates to transform organizations and society, making sustainability a priority from the inside out. https://lnkd.in/eHtxEhg2 ➡️ Link to programme: https://lnkd.in/eABVVHFu #Sustainability #BusinessInnovation #WageningenUniversity #SustainableFuture #BusinessTransformation #EducationForImpact

🎉 Exciting News from the Social Sciences! 🎉 Two esteemed researchers have been awarded prestigious Vidi grants to tackle pressing social issues that shape our world today: 🌐 Prof. Sanne Kruikemeier (Communication Science) will explore the role of social media in polarization. As we witness conflict, hate, and misinformation grow online, there’s a widespread belief that social media may be fueling polarization. However, rigorous research is still scarce. Prof. Kruikemeier, a professor in Digital Media and Society, aims to address this gap and uncover the true dynamics at play. 🌍 Dr. Pim de Zwart (History) will investigate the complex relationship between colonialism and deforestation in Southeast Asia. While colonial trade has led to vast deforestation in some regions since the 1850s, other areas remained less affected. Dr. de Zwart will reconstruct deforestation patterns using historical maps and analyze how colonial policies, local land rights, and socio-economic factors shaped these outcomes. They are among 102 talented researchers at Dutch universities receiving this year's Vidi grants, part of the NWO’s Talent Program alongside the Veni and Vici grants. Together, these initiatives empower groundbreaking research across disciplines in the spirit of "Veni, Vidi, Vici." 📚 Congratulations, Sanne and Pim!

🌍 Discover the Master’s Programme: Governance of Sustainable Transformations 🌱 Wageningen University & Research is shaping the future of sustainability through its interdisciplinary master’s programme, Governance of Sustainable Transformations. 🎓 This short documentary-style video takes you on a journey of how students are equipped with critical social science skills to create real-world impact. 🔑 Key Highlights: Learn how to design and negotiate innovative governance models that blend top-down and bottom-up approaches. Understand the role of governments, the private sector, and communities in driving sustainable change. 🗣️ Professor Simon Bush form the Environmental Policy Group: “We look at governments but also beyond that. The private sector, communities, and everyday individuals all play a vital role in steering towards sustainable outcomes.” “Our students are set to work across all sectors, leading societal transformation for a sustainable future.” 🚀 Ready to lead the change? Watch the video to learn more about this exciting programme and its vision for global sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eQmaAKHF #Sustainability #Governance #SocietalTransformation #InterdisciplinaryScience #WUR #Leadership #SustainableFuture #GovernanceTransformation

🌱 Discover the Master’s Economics of Sustainability! 🌍 In this short documentary-style video, Wageningen University & Research showcases how students are equipped with essential quantitative and analytical skills to solve real-world challenges in food systems, natural resource management, and the living environment. 🔍Prof. (Ewout) Frankema explains the program and multiple benefits of the Masters programme that delves into the complex interactions between economic actors, the natural world, and society, empowering students to develop sustainable economic solutions for the future. 🎥 Watch now and share the programme: https://lnkd.in/eWCwuGR7 #Sustainability #EconomicsOfSustainability #WUR #SustainableFuture #HigherEducation