On December 2nd, the ELSA lab at Wageningen University & Research hosts the annual ELSA event where various parties (such as software developers, hardware suppliers, researchers, policy makers, and supply chain partners) will present, learn, and discuss AI in agri-food. The focus of this event is on potential trade-offs within responsible entrepreneurship, for example "How can we use AI innovations for sustainability while also attaining business goals?". 

Programme outline: 

• 09:30-10.00 Coffee & registration
• 10:00-10.15 Welcome and programme (Leen Zevenbergen)
• 10:15-10.45 How to identify Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSA) and when to involve stakeholders? (Mireille van Hilten MSc, WUR)
• 10:45-11:30 Sustainable entrepeneurship and social responsibility in food systems (Leen Zevenbergen)
• 11:30-12:00 Corporate social responsibility for sustainable AI (Prof. dr. Vincent Blok, dr. Hao Wang, WUR)
• 12:00-13:00 Lunch 
• 13:00-13:45 Parallel workshop sessions (more details provided below)
  • The legal landscape of AI: exploring the AI Act, possible sectoral implications & enforcement (Dr. Can Atik, LLM, Idse Val ML (WUR), Elena Spolidoro (LVVN))
  • Profit or planet? Exploring the economic-sustainability trade-off for AI enterprises (Olivia Azhari, Prof. dr. Vincent Blok, drs. ing. Marc Jeroen Boogaardt, WUR)
• 13:45-14:20 Panel discussion: Balancing sustainability and business goals (Leen Zevenbergen, other panel members TBA)
• 14:20-14.30 Closing words (Leen Zevenbergen)
• 14.30-15.30 Drinks, juice and bites

The programme is open to everyone who is interested in AI in the sustainable food chain, including farmers, industry parties, researchers, technology developers and policy makers. The chairman of this event is sustainable entrepreneur Leen Zevenbergen. In 1985 he founded Bolesian, the first AI company in the Netherlands. Since then, he has founded 21 companies worldwide with a strong focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. He is also the founder of B For Good Leaders and B Lab Europe. The non-profit behind the European B Corp community.

Event details:

Date: Monday, December 2nd, 2024

Time: 09:30 – 15:30

Location: Wageningen (Omnia, building 105, Hoge Steeg 2)

Additional information & registration: https://www.wur.nl/en/activity/pursuing-sustainability-in-food-systems-through-ai-innovation.htm