Upcoming event Conference June 11th 2026 Production systemsVegetable Seeds in Wallonia: How to Develop the Sector?Wallonia is building its seed self-sufficiency! Join the event to learn about, share, and contribute to the development of a local, sustainable, and innovative seed sector. Production systems SeedsOrganic farming
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
Publication of December 20th 2024 CommunicationSubscribe to our newsletterOur latest newsletter is out! Published quarterly, it summarises the main publications and provides information on new research and the dynamics of our research team.
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
Past event Workshop December 9th 2025 UccleTransition pathwaysScience for Climate Workshop on agri-food systemsScience for Climate Action Workshop PATHWAYS TO CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS IN BELGIUM Transition pathways Food value chains Protein cropsDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorFlandersBelgiumEurope
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
Past event Thesis presentation October 30th 2025 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysPhD Defence Océane Duluins on the Protein TransitionThis dissertation examines the concept of the protein transition, reconsidering the role of animal proteins within contemporary food systems. Transition pathways Eggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorProtein transitionPath dependencyLock-inEurope
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 February 25th 2026 ReportTransition pathwaysNatural carbon sinks in Belgium by 2050 and beyond: Definition of scenarios and assessment of potentialThe goal of the project was to explore the potential for natural carbon capture in Belgium by 2050, through the combination of i) land use change scenarios and ii) changes in land use management practices. The Sytra team focused particularly on agricultural land. Transition pathways Climate changeBiodiversityProspective scenariosBelgium
Past event Workshop May 26th 2025 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysPWRP 3: What transition scenarios could reduce pesticide use and risks in Wallonia?Open workshop discussion on transition scenarios to guide the reduction of pesticide use and associated risks in Walloon agricultural regions and sectors. Transition pathways Production systems Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorProtein cropsPotato sectorBeetroot sectorMeadows and pastureLand use planningPesticidesInputsOrganic farmingProspective scenariosParticipatory approachWallonia
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
