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.
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
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
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
Publication of February 2nd 2026 PresentationTransition pathwaysPresentations at Natagriwal’s Scientific Support DayThree members of SYTRA spoke at Natagriwal's annual scientific exchange and support day for advisors, dedicated to the issue of reducing pesticide use and associated risks. Transition pathways Production systems Vegetable sectorFruit sectorCereals sectorProtein cropsPotato sectorBeetroot sectorMeadows and pastureagri-environmentLand use planningRotationsPesticidesInputsCrop diversificationOrganic farmingLeversProspective scenariosWallonia
Publication of January 28th 2026 Policy briefProduction systemsPolicy brief – Developing the organic vegetable seed sector in WalloniaTwelve recommendations for developing the production and use of regional seeds in organic market gardening in Wallonia, with a view to resilience, technical development, and economic opportunities. Production systems Vegetable sectorPlant breedingSeedsOrganic farmingLeversPolicy recommendationsWalloniaEurope
Publication of April 30th 2024 ReportFood value chainsLoCoSoy – Developing a soybean value chain in FlandersThis research project investigates the development of an organic soybean value chain in Flanders. Working with actors throughout the chain, it analyses the opportunities and potential barriers. Food value chains Protein cropsProtein transitionInnovationCrop diversificationShort supply chainsOrganic farmingLock-inParticipatory approachFlanders
Publication of October 29th 2025 Research articleTransition pathwaysDiversity of agri-environmental governance and potential impacts on environmental performance – a systematic reviewThis study highlights the diversity of Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES) governance across 15 Member States of the EU, and identify governance-related factors influencing AES environmental performance Transition pathways Production systems governanceagri-environmentLiterature reviewEurope
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 October 28th 2025 PhD thesisTransition pathwaysScientific narratives for the protein transition: Will systemic change be possible?The PhD of Océane Duluins focuses on one of the major ongoing transformations in agri-food systems, the protein transition, understood as the shift from unsustainable animal-based dietary and production patterns toward more sustainable protein sources and production systems. Transition pathways Protein cropsEggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorProtein transitionLiterature reviewEurope
