Sustainable Food Security: Systems Thinking

Dr. Gerrie van de Ven serves as Assistant Professor in the Plant Production Systems Group at Wageningen University & Research, where she combines research and teaching with a focus on farming systems analysis and optimization of land-use systems related to all dimensions of sustainability. After completing her agronomy training at Wageningen University, she spent 13 years at the Centre for Agro-Biological and Soil Fertility Research developing methodologies for exploring production potentials under conflicting goals. Her PhD research explored opportunities for Dutch dairy systems, examining trade-offs between economic and environmental goals with particular attention to nutrient emissions. Following three years at the Centre of Environmental Sciences – Leiden University working on farm certification and biodiversity issues, she joined Wageningen's Plant Production Systems Group in 2000, where she has contributed to diverse research areas including mixed farming systems, multi-functional agriculture, biofuel production opportunities, and homegarden systems in Ethiopia. Her work consistently emphasizes systems analysis and sustainability, focusing on nutrient cycling, environmental impacts, and crop-livestock interactions in both Western and African contexts. She currently teaches natural resource management and systems analysis while also developing MOOCs on production ecology principles as part of the XSeries Programme in Food Security and Sustainability. Her research combines systems analysis and modeling approaches at farm and regional levels, contributing to our understanding of sustainable agricultural systems and their environmental impacts.

Dr. Imke J.M. de Boer serves as Professor and Chair of Animal Production Systems at Wageningen University & Research, where she leads groundbreaking research on sustainable livestock production systems. Her work focuses on exploring the complex relationships between animal production, environmental impact, and food system sustainability. Through innovative systems analysis, she examines how livestock systems can contribute to a circular food future by converting inedible biomass into valuable food products while minimizing environmental impact

Dr. Carolien Kroeze now serves as Rector Magnificus and Vice President of Wageningen University & Research, after previously chairing the Earth Systems and Global Change Group and directing the Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research (WIMEK). Her distinguished career began with biology studies in Groningen, followed by a PhD in Amsterdam and a transformative postdoctoral position at Wageningen's Environmental Systems Analysis group under Prof. Leen Hordijk. Her research pioneered new environmental models focusing on understanding links between human activities and environmental pollution, particularly in water systems. She has made significant contributions to integrated assessment modeling, including co-developing the Global NEWS model for simulating nutrient export from watersheds. Her work spans multiple environmental challenges, from water pollution to climate change, using interdisciplinary approaches to analyze environmental systems and policies. As a leader in environmental science, she has fostered international collaboration through networks like IIASA, where she participated in the Young Scientists Summer Program in 1991. Her expertise in large-scale environmental modeling and scenario analysis has influenced policy and research worldwide, particularly in understanding nutrient flows and water quality. In her current role as Rector Magnificus, she continues to champion interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global challenges in food, water, climate, and nature, emphasizing the integration of natural and social sciences while training the next generation of environmental experts.

Dr. Eddie Bokkers serves as Associate Professor in the Animal Production Systems group at Wageningen University & Research, where he specializes in animal welfare and sustainable development of animal production systems. After completing his PhD in Animal Sciences from Wageningen University, he has established himself as a key researcher in understanding the complex relationships between animal welfare, environmental impact, and economic sustainability in livestock systems. His current work includes leading work package 2 of the ClearFarm project, where he focuses on validating sensor technology as welfare indicators in pig production chains. His research emphasizes the importance of combining traditional observation methods with modern technology to monitor animal welfare, particularly focusing on early detection of welfare issues through behavioral analysis, health monitoring, and physiological measurements. Through his teaching role in the MOOC "Sustainable Food Security: The Value of Systems Thinking" and the XSeries Programme in Food Security and Sustainability, he helps students understand the systems approach in animal sciences. His expertise spans multiple species including pigs, dairy cattle, and poultry, with particular emphasis on how technological innovations can improve animal welfare while maintaining sustainable production practices. He advocates for a balanced approach to technology in farming, warning against over-reliance on automated systems and emphasizing the continued importance of human observation and interaction in animal welfare assessment.

Dr. Martin van Ittersum serves as Professor at the Plant Production Systems group of Wageningen University & Research, where he has established himself as a prominent researcher in agricultural systems analysis and global food security. After earning his PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Science from Wageningen University, he has focused on developing research concepts and methods for analyzing and designing agricultural systems from field to global levels. As leader of the Global Yield Gap Atlas project since 2011, he has been instrumental in mapping opportunities for increasing agricultural production on existing farmland. His work spans multiple critical areas including global food availability, integrated assessment of agricultural systems, yield gap analysis, phosphorus scarcity, climate change, and circular food systems. He has co-chaired multiple editions of the International Conference on Global Food Security and will chair the 5th edition in 2024 in Leuven. Since 2022, he holds a visiting professorship at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, spending two months there annually. His significant impact on the field is reflected in his status as a highly-cited researcher since 2015, with over 200 publications in international scientific journals. As a member of the Academic Board of Wageningen University since 2020, he continues to shape agricultural research and education while supervising numerous MSc and PhD students from across the globe. His research integrates concepts of sustainable intensification, resource use efficiency, and environmental impact assessment to address critical challenges in global food production.