Archives for Sustainability indicators

Past event

March 2nd 2026

Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

PhD Defence Anton Riera

This 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 crops Eggs sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector Pig meat sector Poultry meat sector Meadows and pasture

Agricultural land management Land use planning Protein transition Climate change Sustainability indicators

Prospective scenarios Environmental footprint Policy recommendations Participatory approach

Flanders Wallonia Belgium

Speakers

Anton Riera

Publication of March 2nd 2026

PhD thesis

Transition pathways

Unpacking food system transitions across multiple scales. The Belgian livestock sector

This 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 crops Eggs sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector Pig meat sector Poultry meat sector Meadows and pasture

Protein transition Climate change Biodiversity Sustainability indicators

Prospective scenarios Environmental footprint Supply balance

Flanders Wallonia Belgium

Authors

Anton Riera

Past event

Thesis presentation

October 10th 2025

Louvain-la-Neuve

Transition pathways

Public thesis defence of Noé Vandevoorde

This 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 sector Fruit sector Cereals sector Potato sector Beetroot sector Meadows and pasture

governance agri-environment Rotations Pesticides Sustainability indicators Crop diversification Organic farming

Environmental footprint Policy recommendations

Wallonia Europe

Speakers

Noé Vandevoorde

Publication of February 10th 2026

Research article

Transition pathways

Narratives, trade-offs and scenarios to explore the livestock transition in Belgium

Scientific 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 crops Eggs sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector Pig meat sector Poultry meat sector Meadows and pasture

Protein transition Climate change Biodiversity Sustainability indicators Planetary limits Animal feed

Prospective scenarios Environmental footprint

Belgium

Authors

Anton Riera Noé Vandevoorde Antoine Squilbin Quentin Vandersteen Philippe Baret

Past event

Conference

October 15th 2024

Antwerpen

Food value chains

How to effectively engage actors in transitions for sustainable impact?

The Futures4Food team wants to convene practitioners and scientists alike to exchange on lessons learned, best practices and analytical frameworks of transition-related multi-stakeholders processes

Food value chains

Cereals sector Protein crops

Sustainability indicators

Path dependency Policy recommendations Participatory approach

Belgium

Speakers

Caroline Amrom Diana Borniotto Erik Mathijs, Sfere, KULeuven, Ines Cottignies, Sfere, KULeuven

Publication of September 11th 2025

Report

Transition pathways

What transition pathways should be followed to reduce pesticide use and risks in Wallonia by 2035?

This work carried out by Sytra aims to provide the Walloon Region with a new forward-looking and strategic overview to facilitate discussions on the future of the Walloon agricultural sector and potential transition paths towards 2035.

Transition pathways Production systems

Vegetable sector Fruit sector Cereals sector Protein crops Potato sector Beetroot sector Meadows and pasture

Pesticides Inputs Sustainability indicators Crop diversification Organic farming

Prospective scenarios Participatory approach

Wallonia

Authors

Antoine Squilbin Anton Riera Noé Vandevoorde Manon Ferdinand Philippe Baret

Publication of October 22nd 2024

Report

Transition pathways

Toward a resilient food supply of Brussels Capital region: possible scenarios based on a barriers analysis and an explorative prospective approach

Brussels Food 2050 (BruFo2050), is an explorative prospective research project that gathers two teams: Sytra from UCLouvain and Sfere, from KULeuven. This three-years long project aims at diving into the analysis and understanding of the Brussels food supply system.

Transition pathways Food value chains

Vegetable sector Cereals sector Potato sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector

Sustainability indicators

Prospective scenarios Lock-in Policy recommendations Participatory approach

Belgium

Authors

Caroline Amrom Hannelore Deschaepmeester

Publication of May 8th 2024

Report

Transition pathways

Scenarios and case studies for a sustainable transition of the Belgian food system

Study for WWF Belgium proposing two scenarios for the future of the Belgian food system

Transition pathways

Vegetable sector Fruit sector Cereals sector Protein crops Potato sector Beetroot sector Eggs sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector Pig meat sector Poultry meat sector Meadows and pasture

Protein transition Sustainability indicators Crop diversification Organic farming

Prospective scenarios

Belgium

Authors

Quentin Vandersteen Anton Riera Noé Vandevoorde Philippe Baret Louis Tessier

Publication of April 24th 2024

Report

Transition pathways

Payment schemes for environmental services by farming

Project aiming to clarify the theoretical concepts and best practices regarding payment schemes that reward farmers for environmental services. Project funded by the Walloon Public Service (SPW) as part of the Terraé action plan.

Transition pathways

Climate change Biodiversity Sustainability indicators

Environmental footprint Policy recommendations

Wallonia Europe

Authors

Anton Riera Philippe Baret Charles Vander Linden

Publication of March 23rd 2026

Report

Food value chains

Establishment of a sustainable food barometer in Wallonia

In partnership with ICEDD, the Sytra team developed the first sustainable food barometer in Wallonia.

Food value chains Production systems

Vegetable sector Fruit sector Cereals sector Protein crops Potato sector Beetroot sector Eggs sector Dairy sector Beef meat sector Pig meat sector Poultry meat sector Meadows and pasture

Territories Sustainability indicators

Economic performance Environmental footprint Supply balance

Wallonia

Authors

Anne-Maud Courtois Quentin Vandersteen Céline Chevalier Institut de Conseil et d'Etudes en Développement Durable

Publication of September 9th 2023

Research article

Production systems

Assessing crop sequence diversity and agronomic quality in grassland regions

This 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.

Production systems

Cereals sector Beef meat sector Meadows and pasture

Inputs Sustainability indicators Crop diversification Organic farming

Authors

Noé Vandevoorde Philippe Baret

Publication of April 15th 2023

Research article

Production systems

Accounting for diversity while assessing sustainability: insights from the Walloon bovine sectors

A 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.

Production systems

Dairy sector Beef meat sector

Sustainability indicators

Environmental footprint

Authors

Anton Riera Océane Duluins Philippe Baret Monica Schuster

All publications and events on the topic Sustainability indicators