Thailand first Cleveringa Lecture on Agro – Biodiversity Theme

“In 2018 The Netherlands took the initiative to launch the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) whose secretariat is based in the Netherlands. The GCA is aiming to raise awareness on the need for more intense adaptation efforts and to share knowledge on innovative adaptation approached in the area of water management solutions as sea levels rise and climate-smart agriculture. In the (digital) era we live today, innovative and sustainable agro-food value chains become more and more important  for food security and foodsafety.. The key transitions to sustainable agro-food systems are  related to Agro-Biodiversity. The challenge is not only to meet the growing demand for food security & safety but also how to do this in a sustainable way with respect for biodiversity and a positive effect on climate change.. The government of the Netherlands has always supported the transfer and sharing of knowledge (innovation & technology) all over the world. Changes in social demands and the pressure from Corona virus have created a need for more innovative and sustainable agro-food value chains” Ambassador Remco van Wijngaarden said during his welcome remark at the first Cleveringa Lecture in Thailand on 29^th November 2021.

“Food culture is connected to local traditional wisdom and recipes. One example is reflecting on the diversity of main carbohydrate diet for the same principle of energy sources in human food. More and effective cooperation among key stakeholders in agro-food value chain could result in food security and safety for all. Agro-biodiversity provides food and others essential for our livelihood as well as ecosystem services to ensure the sustainable agro-food value chain” Dr. Pattarawadee said during her presentation at the first Cleveringa Lecture in Bangkok on “Global Agro-Biodiversity; A Communication on Sustainable Agro-Food Value Chain.   

The Cleveringa Lecture is a lecture series in the Netherlands aiming to commemorate and honour Rudolph Cleveringa (1894 – 1980). He was Professor of Law and Dean at Law Faculty, University of Leiden who in November 26^th, 1940 publicly opposed the expulsion of his Jewish colleagues Eduard Meijers at the University and opposed the German occupation. After the address, Cleveringa was arrested. The annual Cleveringa Lectures are these days organized the same time of the year at difference location worldwide.