“It’s time to listen to nature!” - said Vandana Shiva. With the Serralves Auditorium audience entire, the Indian scientist and activist shared many of the principles that have driven her environmental activism over the decades and recalled that “humanity is part of nature, we are not separate. Separation is an invention.”
Vandana Shiva stated that we are taking the earth “to the limits of collapse” and that it is telling us that “it is necessary to regenerate”. The activist used the image of the soil as an “empty container” to explain to the public that humans choose what they put on the land. Therefore, it is in people’s hands to choose more sustainable paths, paths capable of “giving more life to nature.”
Entitled “Food and environmental transition: time to listen to nature”, the international conference was promoted by INSURE.hub, an initiative of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto, through the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia and the Católica Porto Business School, and Planetiers, in partnership with the Serralves Foundation.
Living in harmony, in cooperation with nature
“We are interconnected and destined to live in harmony”: explained activist Vandana Shiva. “Nature does not work based on human extraction. Nature and diversity are not compatible with constant extraction. You have to give something to nature. When we realize that the human species is not superior to others and that there are other beings, they become our family members. Our relationship with nature transforms into a relationship of care”, he shared.
Isabel Braga da Cruz, pro-rector of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, during the opening session of the conference, highlighted the work carried out by the Universidade Católica through INSURE.hub to promote Innovation, Sustainability and Regeneration. Isabel Braga da Cruz also highlighted the importance of the conference as an opportunity for dialogue, sharing and inspiration, “capable of promoting positive changes towards the food and environmental transition”. Ana Pinho, president of the board of directors of the Serralves Foundation, also highlighted the Foundation’s role and commitment to promoting dialogue for sustainability and the close relationship between the Foundation and UCP, implemented in different actions.
More food, more nutrients
Vandana Shiva is the founder of the non-governmental organization Navdany, whose main objective is the promotion and conservation of organic farming, seed biodiversity and workers' rights in India.
Vandana Shiva recalled that “nature gives us healthy food” and that “the more we relate to nature’s living systems, the more real food we will have.” But, of course, “that is if we know how to listen to nature and cooperate with it.”
In a speech that was close and attentive to the world's problems, Vandana Shiva challenged the audience with inspiring messages that provoked “change and transformation of behaviours and paradigms.” At the end of her presentation, a panel discussion took place with the presence of Manuela Pintado, researcher and teacher at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Helena Freitas, director of Parque de Serralves, and Filipe Araújo, vice-president of the City Council from Porto.
The international conference, which took place on October 30th at the Serralves Foundation Auditorium, also featured two presentations and discussion panels on different topics related to the food and environmental transition.
Biodiversity, Regeneration, Food Systems
The first panel of the afternoon - Biodiversity and Regeneration - featured the participation of Helena Freitas, director of Serralves Park, Luís Rochartre, senior advisor at Planetiers New Generation, and António Vasconcelos, co-leader of Planetiers New Generation.
“Nature has an increasingly central place in our thinking, in our lives, in our economy. Nature is much more fundamental than we thought before the pandemic”, said Helena Freitas. Luís Rochartre challenged the audience, stating that “we must accelerate regeneration”. António Vasconcelos, during his presentation, shared that INSURE.hub is “an ambitious ecosystem open to collaboration.”
The second panel - Food Systems - was attended by Marta Vasconcelos and Manuela Pintado, researchers and teachers at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica, Ondina Afonso, president of the Clube de Produtores Continente, and Pedro Rocha, from the Noocity Project.
Marta Vasconcelos reinforced the importance of “diversifying protein sources” and shared the potential of legumes. Manuela Pintado addressed the issue of food waste, showing that “it doesn’t have to be a problem because it can be an opportunity”, and Ondina Afonso presented the Continente Producers Club, which “promotes agriculture, sustainability, innovation and competitiveness ”. Pedro Rocha presented Noocity, a project from growing vegetable gardens to “cultivating communities and sustainability values”.
It was an opportunity to share knowledge between different entities dedicated to the cause of Sustainability and that, in various dimensions and areas of action, carry out the transition that the world demands.
“It's time to listen to nature”: this was the backdrop of the international conference, through which all themes were addressed and reflected. Vandana Shiva led this appeal and pointed the way to the “true transition”.
The Indian scientist and activist was also at the UCP Porto campus for a meeting with students and researchers. The meeting occurred on October 31st and highlighted the importance of proximity and connection to nature. At the international conference “Food and environmental transition: time to listen to nature”, Vandana Shiva always remembers: “We are part of nature!”
Fotografias 1 a 19 © nvstudio, Fundação de Serralves
