The first Stakeholder Network Meeting of the EU Horizon 2020-funded ONTOX project was held on 13-14 March 2023, in Brussels, Belgium. The discussion centred around identifying specific challenges, barriers and drivers in relation to the implementation of non-animal new approach methodologies (NAMs) and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), in order to help address the issues and rank them according to their associated level of difficulty. ONTOX aims to advance the assessment of chemical risk to humans, without the use of animal testing, by developing non-animal NAMs and PRA in line with 21st century toxicity testing principles. Stakeholder groups (regulatory authorities, companies, academia, non-governmental organisations) were identified and invited to participate in a meeting and a survey, by which their current position in relation to the implementation of NAMs and PRA was ascertained, as well as specific challenges and drivers highlighted. The survey analysis revealed areas of agreement and disagreement among stakeholders on topics such as capacity building, sustainability, regulatory acceptance, validation of adverse outcome pathways, acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) in risk assessment, and guaranteeing consumer safety. The stakeholder network meeting resulted in the identification of barriers, drivers and specific challenges that need to be addressed. Breakout groups discussed topics such as hazard versus risk assessment, future reliance on AI and machine learning, regulatory requirements for industry and sustainability of the ONTOX Hub platform. The outputs from these discussions provided insights for overcoming barriers and leveraging drivers for implementing NAMs and PRA. It was concluded that there is a continued need for stakeholder engagement, including the organisation of a 'hackathon' to tackle challenges, to ensure the successful implementation of NAMs and PRA in chemical risk assessment.
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Diverse partijen, zowel marktpartijen als kennisinstellingen, gaan in 2020 samenwerken in een pilot om te toetsen in hoeverre zij de plant kardoen (familie van de artisjok distel) in haar volle potentieel kunnen gebruiken voor diverse commerciële doeleinden, zoals bloemen, voedsel, composiet en een lamp. Er wordt in deze pilot onderzoek gedaan naar: - Gebruik van reststromen als bodemverbeteraar - Teelt van kardoen - Verwerking van kardoen
Hoe zou de wereld er uitzien als de samenwerking tussen school en Veilig Thuis perfect zou zijn? In het bijzonder voor kinderen die het zwaar te verduren hebben door verwaarlozing, misbruik of mishandeling?Doel In dit onderzoek gaan we na wat de belemmerende en bevorderende factoren bij leerkrachten in het primair onderwijs zijn in hun aanpak van kindermishandeling (denk aan signaleren, melden en het toepassen van de verplichte Meldcode huiselijk geweld en kindermishandeling). Ook onderzoeken we het resultaat van een korte interventie waarbij een Veilig Thuis medewerker een gesprek heeft met de leerkracht over diens knelpunten bij deze aanpak. Daarbij gaan we na of deze aanpak de duur van wel gemelde kindermishandeling kan verkorten. Resultaten Inzicht in de verbeterpunten in de samenwerking tussen Veilig Thuis en primair onderwijs bij het signaleren en melden van (vermoedens van) kindermishandeling. Aanbevelingen aan beleidsmakers, jeugdprofessionals en opleidingen. Publicatie in vakblad voor professionals in het primair onderwijs. Publicatie in een wetenschappelijk tijdschrift Looptijd 01 september 2020 - 01 mei 2022 Aanpak Een medewerker van Veilig Thuis spreekt met de leerkracht op school over de knelpunten die deze leerkracht (of school) ervaart. De bevindingen worden in elk van de betreffende regio’s besproken met de belanghebbende ketenpartners. Ook wordt een bovenregionale expertmeeting gehouden waarin naast de resultaten ook de economische aspecten van deze samenwerking tegen het licht gehouden worden.
The HAS professorship Future Food Systems is performing applied research with students and external partners to transform our food system towards a more sustainable state. In this research it is not only a question of what is needed to achieve this, but also how and with whom. The governance of our food system needs rethinking to get the transformative momentum going in a democratic and constructive manner. Building on the professorship’s research agenda and involvement in the transdisciplinary NWA research project, the postdoc will explore collective ownership and inclusive participation as two key governance concepts for food system transformation. This will be done in a participatory manner, by learning from and with innovative bottom-up initiatives and practitioners from the field. By doing so, the postdoc will gain valuable practical insights that can aid to new approaches and (policy) interventions which foster a sustainable and just food system in the Netherlands and beyond. A strong connection between research and education is created via the active research involvement of students from different study programs, supervised by the postdoc (Dr. B. van Helvoirt). The acquired knowledge is embedded in education by the postdoc by incorporating it into HAS study program curricula and courses. In addition, it will contribute to the further professional development of qualitative research skills among HAS students and staff. Through scientific, policy and popular publications, participation in (inter)national conferences and meetings with experts and practitioners, the exposure and network of the postdoc and HAS in the field of food systems and governance will be expanded. This will allow for the setting up of a continuous research effort on this topic within the professorship via follow-up research with knowledge institutes, civic society groups and partners from the professional field.
