Musings on sustainable food systems, agriculture vs. agroecology, and more!
Yesterday, as I stepped out of the DG AGRI building, head full of terminology and legislation non-sense, this bag caught my eye… what would that be about? In fact, a little stand had set up shop in the park adjacent to the European Commission’s main agriculture and rural development building and challenged all the bureaucrats … Continue reading Campesiños in the City
The cool thing about being in Brussels? Showing up at a lunch meeting across the street from your office and have the chief statistician of the FAO and the director of the WFP Brussels office explain how they arrived at estimating the state of food insecurity in the world. I will talk more about the … Continue reading World Food Day: The Numbers #WFD2014
Today is World Food Day! Originally created to celebrate the founding of the FAO, every year it gives a great opportunity to highlight some of the issues on the international food policy agenda. This year, the importance of family farming is in the spotlight. I’ll be back tonight with a more in-depth discussion, but until then, … Continue reading Happy World Food Day 2014! #WFD2014
Yesterday night was a magical night in the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria (can we just pause a minute and reflect on the fact that this exists? They even served beer and brezels. Represent indeed.) The WWF European Policy Office was celebrating its 25th anniversary and decided to do that in the spirit … Continue reading What's Your Story? #TEDxWWF at @WWFEU in Brussels!
What’s better on a Sunday morning than brunch? A Fair Trade brunch! Oxfam Belgium is celebrating its 50 year anniversary (Happy birthday!) and invited the public to celebrate with organic and fair trade breakfast treats. An invitation my friend and I just couldn’t say no to! The event was organized in a huge market hall, … Continue reading How Fair Is Your OJ? Fair Trade Brunch by Oxfam!
Wow, has it only been a bit more than a week since I started work? It feels like I’ve always been roaming the streets of Brussels. Today I even got to sneak a peek into the Council of Ministers, woot! Let’s see what has been interesting otherwise in the last little while: – The WWF … Continue reading Fun Links Friday II!
On another Slow Food taste walk I took part in on Saturday, we met the inspiring Christine Waignein from Nanouk Ice-Pops. Her story is a great one, mixing equal parts idealism, determination and an overwhelming joie de vivre that reflect in her products. For Christine, everything changed on a trip to Italy with her family. … Continue reading Nanouk – Ice Cream Inspiration
Seeing as I have only a short period of time in the city, I didn’t hesitate long before jumping into activities organized by the local foodie community. I was lucky to come across the Slow Food Walks that happened to be scheduled for this weekend, and so took ample opportunity by doing not one, not two, … Continue reading Insights In Belgian Chocolate: From Theory to Practice!
As I will be trying to post more content more regularly (since I suddenly don’t have to study in the evenings – can’t even deal with no more obligations after 5pm…), but still find cool links that deserve to be posted, I’m considering doing a weekly round-up like other blogs do – how about on a … Continue reading Fun Links Friday!
Today, as part of my job (ha! hard ‘work’), I spent 2 1/2 hours watching the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament grill the new Commissioner-Designate on Agriculture Phil Hogan and pondering his answers. After the hearing, he was approved by 32 members (vs. 10 against), making it as good as certain that he will … Continue reading A New Boss In Town… What Will It Mean For EU Ag?