The MBS COAST Chair is selected to serve the European Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy within the framework of the H2020 program
The H2020 program aims at finding concrete solutions in innovation, research and economy in order to meet the challenges of sustainable development. Supported by the European Commission, the objective is to identify recommendations and a clear roadmap of actions to be implemented by government authorities and companies.
On February 4th, Prof. Domenico Dentoni, co-holder of the MBS COAST Chair with Prof. Helen Etchanchu, and Dr. Elsa Kassardjan have been selected to foster dialogue and conduct research on the innovative policy and business practices needed to steer and accelerate sustainable transformations in the agricultural sector over the next four years.
Experts in ecological transition and in solving systemic problems
The COAST Chair combines two inseparable dimensions to trigger and support sustainable transformations of the economy and of society: communication and organizing. “In the framework of the H2020 program, the first step is exactly a organizing issue. It consists in bringing together and connecting the multiple stakeholders : political authorities, companies, civil society and communities to engage in complementary and radical changes in our individual and collective lives” explains Dr. Domenico Dentoni.
To build this methodology, the Chair will rely on its expertise in system mapping, a tool that has already proven its effectiveness in solving socio-ecological problems. “In particular, we have been able to test this methodology with 150 agricultural professionals in Malawi and Zimbabwe, social entrepreneurs and managers worldwide, as well as academics and students across several disciplines.”
A close collaboration with local authorities and companies
At the end of this research work, this project attached to the COAST Chair will be able to deliver recommendations to farmer associations, political authorities and company managers. “In the first case, we will focus on regional or municipal actors, to take more effective action on issues such as reducing carbon emissions in food production system or ensuring a healthier supply of food. For businesses, we will be able to help them adopt alternative, more environmentally friendly methods to reduce their environmental impact and then spread their good practices,” explain the co-holders.
The Chair’s participation in this European-scale research project is perfectly in line with the school’s mission: educating to transform, and also shows the diversification of the Chairs’ activities, supporting both public and private institutions.
To learn more about the Chair, please click here.
