EEAC Network
Ongoing since 2021
On behalf of CSDD (Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable), Dr. Reckinger is mandated to represent the CSDD in a process initiated by EEAC (European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils Network), with the aim to bring together the knowledge, propositions and experiences of EU-wide High Councils for Sustainable development in order to make a concrete policy proposition for a “Common Food System Policy” at EU-level. This process will run from the end of 2021 until the end of 2022, during several workshops on sustainable food systems and co-writing of a final text, composed of numerous iterative feedback loops.
The final position paper can be downloaded here and will officially be launched in January 2023 at the European Commission DGs involved in preparing the forthcoming EU Sustainable Food Systems framework law.
Mandate at Luxembourg’s High Council for Sustainable Development (Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable)
Ongoing since 2020
From 2020 to 2024, Dr. Reckinger holds a four-year mandate at Luxembourg’s High Council for Sustainable Development (Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable (CSDD)), where she co-leads the Working Group around Food and Agriculture together with Jacques Pir. Dr. Reckinger’s profile is available here.
In autumn 2020, as a first task, this working group drafted an official position statement about the “projet de loi relatif à l’agrément d’un système de qualité ou de certification des produits agricoles (n°7672)”. To enable this, they collaborated with the lawyer Crina Negoita, to establish the precise legal bases of the various criteria that are enumerated in this law project (see more below).
In 2021, Dr. Reckinger was instrumental in this working group’s two other official positions statements, first the finalisation of the one started in 2020, “projet de loi relatif à l’agrément d’un système de qualité ou de certification des produits agricoles (n°7672)” and another one on the planned bill on the coordination of Luxembourg’s future food policy (see more below).
In 2021, she also collaborated with the external expert Anna Pax to analyse the empirical survey on food system professionals’ and citizen’s alleged priorities for the future Food Policy Council for Luxembourg. This survey was launched in March 2021 at the conference “Towards a resilient and sustainable food system” (co-organised by the University of Luxembourg, the CSDD, Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte and the Non-profit INFINO), and largely advertised by the University of Luxembourg’s official channels of communication.
Lycée Ermesinde, Mersch: SEEFOOD
Ongoing since 2019
Ermesinde High School in Mersch invited Dr. Rachel Reckinger to join its group of experts, who meet on a monthly basis, alongside the catering department of the establishment, in order to co-construct an educational approach and a responsible orientation in social, ecological and nutritional realms called SEEFOOD.
SOS Faim General Assembly
Ongoing since June 2018
Dr. Reckinger was invited to join the SOS Faim’s General Assembly looking at themes of food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, and an inclusive rural economy. In the summer of 2018 Dr. Rachel Reckinger also consulted on several projects with SOS Faim.
The work that SOS Faim are carrying out overlaps with Dr. Reckingers’ research:
“Informer. Sensibiliser. Mobiliser. Complémentaire aux appuis à nos partenaires africains, le travail d’éducation au développement et de sensibilisation du public, ainsi que le plaidoyer auprès des décideurs, sont essentiels. Parce que la lutte contre la faim commence ici : par un comportement et des décisions cohérentes et responsables.”
The work is guided by two key references: la Charte Education au Développement Durable (Luxembourg) et le Code de conduite régissant la diffusion d’images et de messages (Europe).
Dr. Reckinger also consulted on SOS Faim’s project, Changeons de Menu (Changing the Menu). Changeons de menu is a campaign raising for sustainable and repsonsible eating: respecting people and the environment. The goal of the project is to offer Luxembourgish citizens and consumers a practical tool that makes it easier for them to change their menu “La carte de l’alimentation responsable” (The Responsible Food Menu).
SOS Faim Belgique
February 2019
Following the public defense of her doctoral thesis, ‘Impacts of Agroecology-based Development Programs on Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihoods in Eastern Burkina Faso?’, Dr. Diane Kapgen was asked to consult for SOS Faim Belgique on their development projects aiming to improve the conditions of life of small farmers through an agroecological approach.
‘Îles de Paix Belgique: conseil scientifique sur des projets de développement agroécologiques’
October 2019
Following the public defense of her doctoral thesis, Dr. Diane Kapgen was invited by Olivier Genard (Head of Programming, Support, Monitoring Unit at Îles de Paix) to provide scientific counsel in an exchange with the partners who direct the programs in Burkina Faso, Benin, Peru, Uganda and Tanzania.
Minett Unesco Biosphère: ‘Local (Terroir) products’/ Produits du Terroir – Workgroup
January 2019
Dr. Rachel Reckinger was invited by Isabelle Renoir (PRO-SUD) to participate in a discussion group working for the extension of local (terroir) products in the South region of Luxembourg. The South region is a candidate for the ‘Biosphere Reserve’ label of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, coordinated by Gaëlle Tavernier. Dr. Reckinger attended several meetings herself and was occasionally represented by doctoral student Ariane Fragnon.
The south of Luxembourg is not a predominantly agricultural region, and the main themes were the economic viability of local products, raising awareness for products from sustainable agriculture, selective criteria applicable to products from a Biosphere reserve and, the creation of a label certifying this quality.
Mouvement Ecologique – Gesondheetsgrupp
Since 2017
Dr. Rachel Reckinger has been a member of the Mouvement Ecologique’s Gesondheetgrupp (Health Group) since 2017. In 2018 and in view of the legislative elections, she attended numerous meetings discussing public health policy, contributing largely on the topic of food policy and health.
