Mansholt lecture
On Tuesday 17 November 2026, the Mansholt Lecture 2026 will take place, entitled ‘Made in Europe: Agriculture powering the bioeconomy’, organised by Wageningen University & Research in Brussels.
Mansholt Lecture 2026: ‘Made in Europe: Agriculture powering the bioeconomy’
Where and how should European industrial and agricultural policy link?
This year’s Mansholt Lecture addresses a central strategic question for Europe: 'how can the full utilization of EU policies open up opportunities to strengthen agriculture’s contribution to the bioeconomy?' In the context of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the preparation of the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), it examines whether the current policy architecture is capable of delivering the transition it sets out to achieve.
More information will be shared after the summer break.
Watch the lecture
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Previous editions of the Mansholt Lectures
Mansholt Lecture 2024
The societal debate on agriculture, food and nature is subject to polarisation, leading to unbridgeable points of view. To find joint solutions, a group of Wageningen researchers identified key dilemmas at the heart of these tensions.
Mansholt Lecture 2024
The societal debate on agriculture, food and nature is subject to polarisation, leading to unbridgeable points of view. To find joint solutions, a group of Wageningen researchers identified key dilemmas at the heart of these tensions.
Mansholt Lecture 2023
Climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest challenges for the 21st century. The world is already 1.2 °C warmer and the impact of climate change such as heat waves, wild fires, floods and drought are being experienced around the globe. Also Europe is vulnerable for the impacts of climate change.
Mansholt Lecture 2022
The sixth edition of the Mansholt Lecture was about nature positive futures: food systems as a major catalyst for change.
Mansholt Lecture 2021
The fifth edition of the Mansholt lecture discussed the options and challenges for stakeholders in the transition towards a sustainable digital innovation ecosystem.“We don’t need more apps. We need a system”. This short quote of a farmer reflects the high degree of fragmentation and discontinuity in innovation processes we observe.
Mansholt Lecture 2019
The fourth edition of the Mansholt lecture focusses on the future of proteins, reflecting on the challenges and discussing policy recommendations. As part of the transition to a fully biobased economy, WUR calls for a new focus on production and consumption.
About Sicco Mansholt
Sicco Mansholt was a farmer who entered politics after the war. Mansholt and his colleagues in Europe initiated the modernisation of European agriculture with an emphasis on increasing productivity, farmers’ incomes, and food supply, with stable and affordable prices for producers and consumers.
With the increasing production, land and resources become limiting; residuals of crop and livestock production become problematic waste; emissions related to production become a burden for the quality of soil, water and air; health issues related to production intensification become a major concern.
Do you have a question about this event?
Contact Rens Koele for more information.