Publication of March 19th 2026 PresentationTransition pathwaysFrom Denmark to Brussels: The Harmonised Pesticide Load Indicator (HPLI) as a model for risk-based eu pesticide policy and governancePresentation at the workshop “EU Pesticides Law and Governance: Legal, Political, and Epistemic Challenges” organised by the Institute of European Studies at UCLouvain (Saint-Louis, Brussels) Transition pathways Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorProtein cropsPotato sectorBeetroot sectorMeadows and pasturegovernanceagri-environmentPesticidesLeversLock-inEnvironmental footprintPolicy recommendationsEurope
Past event Thesis presentation March 2nd 2026 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysPhD Defence Anton RieraThis PhD reflects on the concept of scale in the context of food system transitions. It gathers a series of research outputs on the livestock transition in Belgium, researched at different scales and following the different steps of a transition cycle. Transition pathways Production systems Protein cropsEggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorMeadows and pastureAgricultural land managementLand use planningProtein transitionClimate changeSustainability indicatorsProspective scenariosEnvironmental footprintPolicy recommendationsParticipatory approachFlandersWalloniaBelgium
Publication of March 2nd 2026 PhD thesisTransition pathwaysUnpacking food system transitions across multiple scales. The Belgian livestock sectorThis PhD reflects on the concept of scale in the context of food system transitions. It gathers a series of research outputs on the livestock transition in Belgium, researched at different scales and following the different steps of a transition cycle. Transition pathways Protein cropsEggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorMeadows and pastureProtein transitionClimate changeBiodiversitySustainability indicatorsProspective scenariosEnvironmental footprintSupply balanceFlandersWalloniaBelgium
Publication of February 10th 2026 Research articleTransition pathwaysNarratives, trade-offs and scenarios to explore the livestock transition in BelgiumScientific paper exploring different scenarios for the livestock transition in Belgium. The paper illustrates dominant narratives, reveals sustainability trade-offs and reflects on the usefulness of foresight approaches. Transition pathways Protein cropsEggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorMeadows and pastureProtein transitionClimate changeBiodiversitySustainability indicatorsPlanetary limitsAnimal feedProspective scenariosEnvironmental footprintBelgium
Past event Thesis presentation October 10th 2025 Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysPublic thesis defence of Noé VandevoordeThis PhD shares three hands-on tools to cut risks for health and the environment while keeping farms productive. From toxicity indicators to crop rotations and groundwater protection, join us to explore solutions for pesticide reduction. Talk in French, drinks after—all welcome! Transition pathways Production systems Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorPotato sectorBeetroot sectorMeadows and pasturegovernanceagri-environmentRotationsPesticidesSustainability indicatorsCrop diversificationOrganic farmingEnvironmental footprintPolicy recommendationsWalloniaEurope
Publication of January 27th 2026 Research articleProduction systemsDigging deeper: assessing soil quality in a diversity of conservation agriculture practicesConservation Agriculture (CA) aims to enable sustainable crop production and improve soil quality. However, the three CA principles can be implemented in very different ways. Is soil quality consistent across all CA fields? Production systems RotationsOrganic farmingConservation agricultureEnvironmental footprintWallonia
Past event Conference January 23rd 2025 NamurProduction systemsParticipation in the SPW ARNE DAEA annual conference – Crossed perspectives on Walloon agricultureOn January 23th (2025), we took part in the first symposium entitled "Different perspectives on Walloon agriculture", organised by the Directorate for Agricultural Economic Analysis (Walloon Public Service). Production systems Cereals sectorPotato sectorPesticidesEconomic performanceEnvironmental footprintWallonia
Publication of December 1st 2025 Research articleTransition pathwaysFive methodological updates of the Danish Pesticide Load Indicator to support EU-wide pesticide risk reduction policiesIn this new scientific article, we propose five methodological updates to the Pesticide Load Indicator (PLI) to support pesticide reduction policies in a transparent, scientifically robust manner, harmonised at the European scale. Transition pathways Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorProtein cropsPotato sectorBeetroot sectorPesticidesLeversEnvironmental footprintPolicy recommendationsEurope
Publication of September 19th 2025 CommunicationAcetamiprid: Setting the record straightIntervention in the public and mediatic debate on exemptions that still allow the use of neonicotinoids in Wallonia. PesticidesEnvironmental footprintWalloniaBelgiumFrance
Past event Conference March 10th 2020 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveProduction systemsHow can current farming systems contribute to provide sustainable and local food?How to measure the social and environmental footprint of our food habits? Which are the land use opportunities for more sustainable and local food systems? How can vegetable production at the regional level meet these challenges? Production systems Vegetable sectorProspective scenariosEnvironmental footprint
Publication of April 22nd 2025 ReportTransition pathwaysContextualizing PARCEL-Wallonie Simulations: Perspectives, Tensions, and Case StudiesThis report presents the simulations carried out for the Walloon Region using PARCEL-Wallonie and discusses the tensions related to their implementation. It also illustrates the practical use of the tool through three case studies conducted with actors in Wallonia. Transition pathways Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorProtein cropsPotato sectorBeetroot sectorEggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorMeadows and pastureEnvironmental footprintWallonia
Publication of May 2nd 2024 PhD thesisFood value chainsThe Diversity of Practices in Conservation Agriculture: Categorization and Impact Assessment in the Walloon Region, BelgiumWhat types of Conservation Agriculture (CA) are present in Wallonia? Do these different CA-types have the same potential impact on soil quality, and do they follow the same transition processes? Food value chains Climate changeCrop diversificationConservation agricultureEnvironmental footprintParticipatory approachWallonia
