A highlight of the event was the presentation by Aubrey Streit Krug, Director of the Perennial Cultures Lab at The Land Institute (USA) and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the “Alternative Nobel Prize.” In her talk, “Pathways to a Perennial Future,” she shared inspiring insights into perennial agriculture and long-term ecological thinking.
PhD researchers from ZEF presented innovative studies on coffee value chains and gender relations in Rwanda and Ethiopia, dairy systems and true cost accounting in Bangladesh and Kenya, sustainable land use and perennial crops in Kansas, and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Kenya. They also explored social and environmental dimensions of conflict between migrants and indigenous communities in Indonesia’s coffee regions, as well as the livelihoods of Adivasi and forest-dependent communities in India.
Together, these discussions reinforced the importance of transdisciplinary research and highlighted a shared vision for equitable and sustainable food futures.