During September 25th to 28th 2023, doctoral students from Africa, Asia and Latin-American countries participated in the international Workshop on “Sustainable agriculture and local livelihoods: Understanding complex systems and rethinking change”. The event was hosted by the Right Livelihood College Campus Bonn at the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn and funded by DAAD with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation. Gremary Aza doctoral student at the research group of Bioeconomy Economics of University of Passau was selected as Right Livelihood Junior Scientist and got a scholarship to present her doctoral research project at the international workshop.
The Right Livelihood College (RLC) is a global transdisciplinary education and research initiative brings together an assemblage of universities and the Right Livelihood Foundation, widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’. The workshop brought together a select group of doctoral students from German universities, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Till Stellmacher. The group presented case studies from rural areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin-American countries. Their research projects were discussed in a collaborative setting with researchers from ZEF and the environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey, who is also a Laureate of the “Alternative Nobel Prize” and Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation in Nigeria.
The workshop commenced with a lecture from Dr. Daniel Callo-Concha, addressing critical aspects of philosophy, methodology, and concept within the realm of complex systems research. The discussion ventured into socio-ecological systems and grounded theory, presenting them as viable frameworks for studying complex systems in developing countries. Dr. Stefanie Griebel of “Welthunger Hilfe” contributed to the discourse, shedding light on projects implemented such as the innovation labs of USAID “feed the future” to combat hunger in developing nations. The debate revolved around critical evaluations of the roles played by cooperation agencies, NGOs, and research institutions, and an analysis of how tools can be better evaluated for an efficient cooperation with local partners.
Coinciding with the German Action Days Sustainability and the Bonn Sustainable Development Goals days, the workshop facilitated participation during the public talks of Nnimmo Bassey on climate and environmental justice in Nigeria. The poet and alternative Nobel laureate’s discourse emphasized that what is most needed today is a citizen's movement that advocates for “leaving fossil energy sources in the ground”, highlighting the multifaceted conflicts arising from oil extraction activities in the Niger Delta, including human rights violations and environmental degradation.
The event also featured presentations of thesis projects by the participating doctoral students, including Gremary Aza. Her presentation highlighted the objectives and methods she is willing to implement in the upcoming fieldwork in Costa Rica during November this year. Her project focuses on understanding the participation of stakeholders in the pineapple industry in Costa Rica and the knowledge exchange among them. Each presentation contributed to the ongoing discussions about sustainable agriculture, local livelihoods, and how best to address the complex issues faced by rural communities in different parts of the global south.
The international workshop provided a valuable opportunity for doctoral students, including Gremary Aza to present their research, exchange knowledge and network with other PhD fellows. It was a great platform for engaging with experienced researchers and activists, and participate in discussions about sustainable agriculture and local livelihoods. The dialogue initiated at this workshop is anticipated to contribute significantly to the broader discourse on sustainability, development economics and Bioeconomy particularly in the context of rural communities in developing countries.
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