Meteorological risks as drivers of environmental innovation in agro-ecosystem management

The research hypothesis of the project MERINOVA (sponsored by BELSPO, Science for Sustainable Development Programme) is that meteorological risks act as drivers of environmental innovation in agro-ecosystem management. The major objectives of the project are to characterise extreme meteorological events, assess the impact on Belgian agro-ecosystems, characterise their vulnerability and resilience to these events, and explore innovative adaptation options to agricultural risk management (merinova.vito.be).
The project comprises of four major parts that reflect the chain of risks:
„h Hazard: Assessing the likely frequency and magnitude of extreme meteorological events by means of probability density functions;
„h Impact: Analysing the potential bio-physical and socio-economic impact of extreme weather events on agro-ecosystems in Belgium using process-based modelling techniques commensurate with the regional scale;
„h Vulnerability: Identifying the most vulnerable agro-ecosystems using fuzzy multi-criteria and spatial analysis;
„h Risk Management: Uncovering innovative risk management and adaptation options using actor-network theory and fuzzy cognitive mapping techniques;
During this event the main results of the project, and their implications, will be presented by the research team. The event will finish with a debate and a reception during which the discussion can continue in a more informal setting.