Future events
- 2026-04-09T13:30:00+02:00
- 2026-04-09T14:30:00+02:00
9
ThursdayZEF public lecture: Power and politics in food systems
Power and politics shape how we produce, trade and consume our food – i.e. food systems. Researchers, practitioners and policy makers recognize that power relationships at different levels influence the equity and sustainability issues in food systems. However, existing evidence has been mostly qualitative due to epistemological and methodological discrepancy. As a result, we lack understanding whether and how much power relationships lead to material consequences, and what methodologies can be employed to unpack the quantitative consequences of power. This lecture gives an overview of current food systems debate on power and politics, existing evidence that links power relationships and food system livelihoods, sustainability and equity, and emerging evidence that links power and economic and livelihood outcomes based on a case study of aquaculture sector in Vietnam. We discuss the methodology that captures certain aspects of power and politics in food systems.
- 2026-04-29T10:00:00+02:00
- 2026-04-29T11:00:00+02:00
29
WednesdayDriving Rice Innovation for Food Systems Transformation
This ZEF public lecture will present the International Rice Research Institute’s 2025–2030 Strategy, which sets a clear direction for transforming rice-based agri-food systems toward a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. The strategy repositions IRRI – an international research for development organization credited for spurring the Green Revolution in rice-based systems in the 1960s in Asia - as a demand-driven and impact-oriented organization that integrates science, partnerships, and delivery to address country-specific needs across Asia and Africa. The lecture will highlight how IRRI is evolving its research and partnership model to become more integrated, agile, and collaborative in response to a rapidly changing global landscape. It will also explore the role of strategic partnerships, data and digital innovation, and South–South collaboration in scaling solutions and accelerating food systems transformation.