'We need a compass for a sustainable future'

Sjoukje Heimovaara, board chair of WUR, tries to keep a bird’s eye view of the climate, biodiversity and food challenges. Zooming out and looking ahead is crucial, she believes. 'In society, I often see a focus on one theme, whereas a sustainable future requires all aspects of our food system, i.e. production and consumption, and the green living environment to come together. We need a compass, a green vision for the future.'

'We want to show that an attractive, sustainable future is possible. At WUR, we enjoy the benefit of perspectives from different disciplines and from individual researchers.’

Overcoming dilemmas

The speakers at the ceremony each have their own perspective on a sustainable future. Ken Giller shares his views on the concepts of land sharing and land sparing. Should we intensify food production on small pieces of land, leaving land for nature? Or should we combine agriculture and nature in less intensive forms of farming? The answer to this question depends on the discipline from which you consider the matter. Giller clarifies this complexity and shows that both are needed, using many examples from his research in Africa.

Ingrid de Zwarte explains what we can learn from the history of famine for a future with enough food for all. Her angle is the role of conflict. This view helps expose the false dilemma that making the global food system more sustainable jeopardises food security. 'This perspective is less known, but crucial if you seek to engage in dialogue about this kind of dilemma,' says Heimovaara.

The final speaker, Jeroen Candel, sheds light on another aspect that Heimovaara says has not yet received enough attention: the importance of food policy. 'There is an important dilemma there, too. To what extent do we dare to deploy food policy on the road to a sustainable future?' Candel therefore shows how the topic of food moves in the political arena and how citizens can influence this.

Every angle matters

The three researchers are united in their motivation to contribute to a sustainable future. 'Everyone at WUR - students, researchers, teachers and other staff - has their own story, perspective or motivation that drives them to contribute to Shaping Sustainable Futures. My appeal to everyone inside and outside of WUR is to help bring these elements together. Listen to someone with a different perspective. Don't get stuck in dogmas, but, like me, look forward to that sustainable future in which people and nature are more in balance.'