Mariano Iossa

    Coordinator of the LiveSeeding Project, FiBL - EU

    Coordinator of LiveSeeding, an EU-funded project on organic seed and plant breeding led by FiBL Europe in Brussels. With over 20 years of experience in food policies and international development, he specializes in the right to food, trade policy, participatory democracy, and urban sustainability. Mariano has advised UN agencies like FAO and WFP, emphasizing a people-centered, rights-based approach to policymaking. He has also authored numerous reports and teaches in a joint European Master’s program from the University of Louvain and CCIB. Previously, he held senior positions in NGOs such as ActionAid and Concern Universal, focusing on food and trade, and has lived and worked in Africa and Southeast Asia. Early in his career he worked on citizen’s participation in urban sustainability. Mariano holds a Master’s in Environment and Development from the University of Sussex and an MA in Political Science.

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    All Sessions by Mariano Iossa

    • Day 1: 29 April 2025


    • 09:30  - 10:00

      Moderator: María Carrascosa García, LiveSeeding Project manager, Red de Municipios por la Agroecología.

      Speakers:

      • Alba Barnusell Ortuño – Mayor of Granollers.
      • Enrique Pueyo – Mayor of Aínsa and President of the Red de Municipios por la Agroecología.
      • Mariano Iossa – Coordinator of the LiveSeeding Project, FiBL - EU.
      Where
      Roca Umbert, Sala NAUB1

    • 11:30  - 13:00
      S1.1. Public policies and triggers for enhancing cultivated diversity in local agri-food systems in Catalonia

      This sub-session will explore policies that are being implemented at the autonomous region, provincial, and local levels and the demands at other levels to strengthen and expand them.

      Moderator: Jordi Puig, Coordinator of Espigall.

      Speakers:

      • Cristina Massot Berna – General Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food, Government of Catalonia Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food.
      • Xesco Gomar Martín – Delegate President, Department of Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure, Barcelona Provincial Council.
      • Francesc Arolas – Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Transparency and Good Governance, Human Resources, Citizen Services, Environment and Green Spaces, Public Health, and Consumer Affairs with the Granollers City Council.

      S1.2. Connecting legal, policy, and funding instruments at EU and national level to foster territorial development.

      This sub-session will look into a multilevel discussion on policy and funding initiatives to revitalise territories through innovation and entrepreneurship and the importance of the human right to adequate food as an enabling base for consistency and greater impact.

      Moderator: Mariano Iossa, Coordinator of the LiveSeeding Project, FiBL - EU.

      Speakers:

      • Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. TBC.
      • European Commission. TBC.
      • Juan Echanove – FAO Right to Food Unit Coordinator.
      • Simone Sasso – Economist and Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
      Where
      Roca Umbert, Sala NAUB1

    • Day 2: 30 April 2025


    • 12:00  - 12:45

      Moderator: Mariano Iossa, Coordinator of the LiveSeeding Project, FiBL - EU, and Mariateresa Lazzaro, Senior Scientist in Plant Breeding for Organic Agriculture at FiBL - Switzerland and Scientific Co-Coordinator of the LiveSeeding Project.

      Speakers:

      • Manuela Refolio – Deputy Councillor for Economic Development and Employment with the Rivas Vaciamadrid City Council and Vice President of the Red de Municipios por la Agroecología.
      • Francesco Cagnola – Project Officer for Food Policy at the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Secretariat.
      • Judith Fehér – Board member of the European Coordination Let’s Liberate Diversity!.
      • Francesc Arolas – Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Transparency and Good Governance, Human Resources, Citizen Services, Environment and Green Spaces, Public Health, and Consumer Affairs with the Granollers City Council.
      Where
      Roca Umbert, Sala NAUB1



    ORGANIZED BY

    FUNDED BY

    IN COLLABORATION WITH

    Fostering Cultivated Biodiversity
    Through Local Food Policies

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    Mariano Iossa