Following the "Eco-Management: Strategies and Policies" introductory session held in China last April, the first CASS delegation of 2015 is coming to Italy from May 10 to 20. The 42 participants will attend lectures and participate in site visits in Rome, Siena, Venice and Turin.

After being presented the role of the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the Italian policies on Urban Planning, the delegates will meet in Siena representatives of the Provincial and Municipal government and discuss a concrete example of eco-city. The Province of Siena has in fact earned several international environmental certifications, among which the ISO 14064-1, a certification for the GHG Emission Balance.

The course will then explore other important aspects characterizing an eco-friendly citiy. Topics such as mobility, waste and wastewater management, energy efficiency and health protection will also be included in lectures and visits.

Further details can be found in the training course agenda at the Sustainable Development Community website.
More info on the TEN Center activities can be found at this link.

January 14, 2015
2.00 pm

International Seminar
“Land and water resources: balancing the needs for food and energy”

"The Food-Energy-Water Nexus: A Multi-scale Bioeconomic Perspective"

Mario Giampietro (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)

Abstract: The nexus between energy, food, water, and land use has recently been put on the front burner of the sustainability discussion. The analysis of this nexus requires us to address the epistemological implications of complexity: How to integrate quantitative assessments referring to different dimensions and scales of analysis? The Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), an innovative method of accounting, can be used to this purpose. Applications of this approach are presented, including scenarios of change for biofuel production from sugarcane in Mauritius and for the productive matrix in Ecuador.

"Virtual water exports from land acquisitions in Africa"

Emma Li Johansson (Lund University)

Abstract: Since the early 2000s there has been a boom in long-term and large-scale land acquisitions globally. This study focuses on Africa since it’s the most targeted region. The areas that are currently in production are converted to water demand by using modeled results from LPJmL, and then visualized as virtual exports of water to the regions where the investing companies originate. The water consumption is then related to the water availability of the targeted area, to highlight areas where an increased water use is more and less suitable.

Venue

Room Tafuri, Palazzo Badoer

San Polo 2468

IUAV University of Venice

 Programme

 Seminar abstract

The seminar is part of the series “Water, energy, land and food security. The challenge of large-scale land acquisitions” that will run from October 2014 to January 2015. 

Organized by The School of Doctorate of the University of Venice IUAV and the Department of Design and Planning in Complex Environment in collaboration with Venice International University. 

With the endorsement of: INEA, National Institute of Agricultural Economics, Comitato Expo Venezia, Enel Foundation

Participation is free of charge. Please register here.

For further information follow this link
Contacts and info: martaantonelli84@gmail.com and margheri@iuav.it

January 28, 2015
2.00 pm

International Seminar
EU and International Land Deals

"Large scale land acquisitions in developing countries: new evidence and development challenges"

Giorgia Giovannetti and Nadia Cuffaro (University of Firenze; University of Cassino)

Abstract: The seminar will (i) Present a review of recent evidence on large scale land acquisitions in developing countries and of econometric analyses of their determinants, with a focus on Sub Saharan Africa; (ii) Discuss the development challenges posed by FDI in land, focusing on: land concentration and business models in agriculture, institutional capacity building, role of corporate social responsibility.

"How Institutions Shape Land Deals: The Role of Corruption"

Tim Krieger (University of Freiburg)

Abstract: Large-scale land acquisitions, or "land grabs", concentrate in developing countries which are also known for their corruption-friendly setting caused by a weak institutional framework. We argue that corrupt elites exploit this given institutional set-up to strike deals with international investors at the expense of the local population. Using panel data for 157 countries from 2000-2011, we provide evidence that these land deals indeed occur more often in countries with higher levels of corruption.

"European transnational investments in agricultural land: drivers, dimension and geography"

Giuseppina Siciliano (Centre for Development, Environment and Policy (CeDEP), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London)

Abstract: The research investigates the role that European countries play in the international acquisitions of agricultural land. The drivers of European investments, both outside and within European borders, are analysed looking at energy and agricultural policies, water and land scarcity, and the main scope, i.e biofuel, food or industrial use, of such investments in the main target countries. Results reveal that European land investments in agriculture are mostly driven by EU policies instead of scarcity of land and/or water resources. Results also reveal that most of the countries targeted by EU land investments are developing countries with very low levels of development and abundance of water and land resources.

Venue

Room Tafuri, Palazzo Badoer

San Polo 2468

IUAV University of Venice

 Programme

 Seminar abstract

The seminar is part of the series “Water, energy, land and food security. The challenge of large-scale land acquisitions” that will run from October 2014 to January 2015. 

Organized by The School of Doctorate of the University of Venice IUAV and the Department of Design and Planning in Complex Environment in collaboration with Venice International University. 

With the endorsement of: INEA, National Institute of Agricultural Economics, Comitato Expo Venezia, Enel Foundation

Participation is free of charge. Please register here.

For further information follow this link
Contacts and info: martaantonelli84@gmail.com and margheri@iuav.it

December 10, 2014
2.00 pm

International Seminar
“Data availability and transparency in global land acquisitions”

"The Land Matrix – Patterns and Challenges of Tracking Large-Scale Land Acquisitions"

Martin Ostermeier (GIGA, Hamburg)

Abstract: Large-scale land acquisitions (LSLA) are notoriously non-transparent. The Land Matrix is a global and independent land monitoring initiative that promotes transparency and accountability in decisions over land and investment. The first part of this seminar will introduce the Land Matrix database and highlight general patterns and recent trends around LSLA. The second part discusses challenges of gathering data and tracking land acquisitions.

"Large-Scale Land Acquisitions in Africa: Exploring Actors, Roles and Responsibilities"

Stefania Bracco (University of Siena)

Abstract: Adding additional sources and information on the concluded deals collected by the Land Matrix Global Observatory dataset, we will provide a detailed assessment of the large-scale land acquisitions in Africa, in terms of investors (private, financial, public sector, multinational corporations, etc.), purpose of the deal and investors’ behaviour. It will show economic, environmental and social benefits and costs of large-scale land acquisitions, and explain how external environmental and social negative spillovers create space for responsible investment initiatives to internalize these costs in a corporate strategy. Adopting unsustainable strategies, investors encounter potential costs in terms of conflict with local communities and/or NGOs, reputational and credit risk and financial losses. Hence, in many cases they have incentive to adopt sustainability criteria and responsible strategies. We will review the corporate social responsibility’s initiatives and standards that the actors involved in land acquisitions in Africa declare to join and follow. The analysis of requirements and criteria set by various initiatives helps to identify which role corporate social responsibility may play in making large-scale land acquisitions in Africa more beneficial, or at least less harmful, for sustainable development.  The evidence provided on what the investors are currently doing to ensure fair acquisitions is showing that the goal of responsible land investments in Africa is still far to be reached, despite some steps in the right direction.

Venue

Room Tafuri, Palazzo Badoer

San Polo 2468

IUAV University of Venice

 Programme

 Seminar abstract

The seminar is part of the series “Water, energy, land and food security. The challenge of large-scale land acquisitions” that will run from October 2014 to January 2015. 

Organized by The School of Doctorate of the University of Venice IUAV and the Department of Design and Planning in Complex Environment in collaboration with Venice International University. 

With the endorsement of: INEA, National Institute of Agricultural Economics, Comitato Expo Venezia, Enel Foundation

Participation is free of charge. Please register here.

For further information follow this link
Contacts and info: martaantonelli84@gmail.com and margheri@iuav.it