From October 7th to 9th, 2024, WATSON participated in the 4th International Workshop on System Innovation Towards Sustainable Agriculture (SISA-4), held at the University of Kassel (Germany).
About SISA-4
The SISA-4 workshop was organised by the Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences at the University of Kassel, with support of the Sustainability Transitions Research Network, the Synergia project of Wageningen University and Research, the LabEx SITES at the Institute For Research and Innovation in Society (IFRIS), of the Gustave Eiffel University. Additional support was provided by the Fiat Panis Foundation.
The workshop aimed to address contemporary challenges in agriculture, offering an integrative approach to discuss the future of agri-food systems.
Researchers and practitioners from various sectors came together to explore innovative pathways for advancing sustainable practices across the agri-food value chain.
Key themes included the need for systemic innovations, policy-making strategies and practical applications that ensure sustainability, equity and resilience in food systems.
A socially and environmentally just agri-food transition
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation by our partner Dr. Claudia Coral (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), representing the Agri-food Chain Management Group.
Dr. Coral’s work focuses on understanding how food systems can transition towards greater social and environmental justice. Her presentation, titled “Reconceptualising food fraud vulnerability towards socially and environmentally just agri-food transitions”, drew on a case study of the honey supply chain to illustrate her findings.
In her session, Dr. Coral argued that addressing food fraud vulnerability is essential for creating a more equitable agri-food system. By exploring the intersections of social justice and food supply chains, she emphasised how food systems can be redesigned to ensure fairness for all stakeholders, from producers to consumers.
This perspective on food security, particularly in the context of emerging challenges in global supply chains, resonated with many participants and sparked meaningful discussions around ethical practices in agriculture.
The discussions at SISA-4 reinforced the importance of rethinking food systems from a holistic perspective. As the agri-food sector faces increasing pressure from environmental, social and economic challenges, it is clear that innovative solutions and systemic transitions are essential for a sustainable and equitable future.
The ideas and strategies presented at the workshop will continue to shape research, policy and practice as stakeholders across the world work to build food systems that are not only productive but also just and resilient.
WATSON remains committed to exploring and supporting sustainable practices that drive positive change in the agri-food sector.