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Eco Social transformation between environment and people by Francesca Forno – June 22 @ 16:00 to 17:00 CET
June 22, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
We all consume food, some more and some less, every day, often multiple times. In Western countries, we are fortunate to have an abundance of food. However, one of the major issues of our time is “food waste.” Studies show that the agri-food chain is responsible for approximately 25-27% of CO2 emissions. During the lecture, we will examine the various reasons behind the unsustainability of the agri-food chain. We will start by discussing the three main paradoxes related to food: Hunger vs. Obesity, Food vs. Fuel, and Waste vs. Starvation. Additionally, we will explore potential solutions to address these sustainability challenges. In recent decades, grassroots initiatives worldwide, both in the global North and South, have been striving to identify solutions. We will begin our exploration from these “living laboratories” and focus on a specific project that involves collaboration between the University of Trento and the Municipality of Trento, engaging multiple stakeholders in the region. Through this, we will contemplate how responsible consumption can be put into practice more effectively.
About the Guest lecture:
Francesca Forno is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Trento in Italy. She obtained her Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Strathclyde, UK. Her research interests are in the areas of political sociology, social movements, consumption, and sustainability.
Forno is studying the ways in which consumption practices can be used as a form of political activism, investigating the relationship between political consumerism and social movements. In her research, Forno has highlighted the potential of political consumerism to complement and reinforce traditional forms of political action, such as protests and lobbying, by creating new channels for citizen participation. She has also pointed out the challenges and limitations of political consumerism as a strategy for social change, including the risk of individualisation, marketisation, and co-optation by corporate interests.
In her research work, Forno has always used research methods and practices to enhance knowledge exchange and production between academia, civil society, business and institutional actors to promote and assist healthier and ecologically sustainable forms of production and consumption.
The Nutrire Trento project (https://www.nutriretrento.it/) exemplifies how her research has been applied to real-world issues and contributed to positive change in the community. The project is aimed at promoting sustainable food systems in the city of Trento, Italy, by encouraging residents to make more environmentally-friendly food choices. The project included various initiatives such as organising workshops and events to inform the public about sustainable food practices, promoting the consumption of locally produced foods, and developing a network of local producers to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities.
When: 22 June 2023 (16:00 to 17:00 CET)
Where: Online – Zoom
(confirm your attendance to get the Zoom link and attendance certificate)
We look forward to seeing you there!