Past event Conference June 5th 2024 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysSeminar on the Paradoxes of the Protein TransitionYou are warmly welcome to attend a seminar I will be giving on June 5th from 12 to 13 p.m. (Belgian time zone). The seminar will tackle the paradoxes of the protein transition, defined as the dietary shift from animal to alternative protein sources.Protein cropsDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sector
Past event Conference January 10th 2023 OxfordProduction systemsLEAP Conference (Oxford) : Sytra’s presentations on the bovine sectorOn 25 January 2023, Sytra will give two presentations at the LEAP conference : (1) Economic implications of a protein transition: evidence from Walloon beef and dairy farms; (2) Accounting for diversity while assessing sustainability: insisghts from the Walloon bovine sectors.Dairy sectorBeef meat sectorProtein transitionDiversitySustainability indicatorsEconomic viability
Past event Conference March 20th 2019 Ottignies-Louvain-la-NeuveTransition pathwaysTowards a low-pesticides agriculture in Wallonia? Presentation of a diversity of scenariosWhat are the main modes of production today in Wallonia? How are the sectors organized? Which scenarios can we envisage, and with what consequences in terms of production and use of pesticides?Cereals sectorPotato sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorBelgiumWalloniaParticipatory process
Publication of September 9th 2023 Research articleProduction systemsAssessing crop sequence diversity and agronomic quality in grassland regionsThis study aims to provide an assessment of the diversity and agronomic quality of crop rotation/sequence, generalised grassland regions and regions with a high rate of organic farming. The assessment methods are applied to Famenne, Ardenne and the Jurassic region of Wallonia.Organic agricultureCereals sectorBeef meat sectorMeadows and pastureAgricultural land managementDiversitySustainability indicatorsAgricultural inputs
Publication of April 15th 2023 Research articleProduction systemsAccounting for diversity while assessing sustainability: insights from the Walloon bovine sectorsA scientific paper on the importance of accounting for the diversity of farms when assessing sustainability. We take the opportunity to discuss the dilemmas of sustainability assessments and show that economic and environmental performances can go hand in hand. Open-access link below.Dairy sectorBeef meat sectorSustainability indicatorsEnvironmental footprint
Publication of April 5th 2022 Research articleTransition pathwaysThe economic implications of a protein transitionThe protein transition, defined as the rebalancing between animal and alternative proteins in diets, is presented as a solution to mitigate the harmful effects of cattle production on the environment. We discuss the implications of such a transition on current livestock farms.Dairy sectorBeef meat sectorMeadows and pastureFeedProtein transitionEuropeEnvironmental footprintBelgiumWalloniaEconomic viabilityPathways
Publication of November 8th 2021 ReportProduction systemsAssessing the use of pesticide for livestock productsThis study assesses the use of chemical pesticides for animal-based products.Eggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorDiversitySustainability indicatorsAgricultural inputsEuropePesticidesEnvironmental footprint
Publication of April 22nd 2021 PhD thesisTransition pathwaysThe pursuit of agroecological principles by Flemish beef farmers : advancing towards a body of thought for sustainable food systemsThe thesis of Louis Tessier based on the Flemish beef sector. Is agroecology an option in this context ? Beef meat sectorFarmer agencyFlandersShort food supply chainEconomic viabilityAgroecology
Publication of December 18th 2020 Research articleProduction systemsHow and to what extent are Flemish farmers pursuing the principles of agroecology ?How and to what extent the Flemish farmers are pursuing the principles of agroecology ? A paper by Louis Tessier and colleagues in collaboration with ILVO.Beef meat sectorFarmer agencyFlandersStrategiesAgroecology
Publication of September 30th 2020 ReportProduction systemsThe dual challenge of livestock production in WalloniaThis study highlights that it is possible to combine environmental and economic performance in bovine (dairy and suckler) production systems in Wallonia (Southern Belgium).Dairy sectorBeef meat sectorDiversitySustainability indicatorsEnvironmental footprintWalloniaEconomic viability
Publication of July 17th 2020 Working paperTransition pathwaysCan prospective approaches ignite debate on the future of the agriculture and livestock sector?How do actors relate to prospective approaches? In this article, we analyze the responses of farmers' unions to the release of scenarios about the future of the livestock sector in Belgium.Eggs sectorDairy sectorBeef meat sectorPig meat sectorPoultry meat sectorMeadows and pastureSustainability indicatorsFlandersLand use planningProspective scenariosBelgiumWalloniaParticipatory process
Publication of April 24th 2020 Research articleProduction systemsPathways of action followed by Flemish beef farmers – agroecology as a practiceAgroecology is often brought up as an alternative development pathway for livestock systems. Yet, what does it mean in practice? In this article we find out by asking beef farmers themselves how they put agroecological principles into practice.Beef meat sectorFarmer agencyFlandersShort food supply chainBelgiumPathwaysAgroecology