ELSA Labs

The world transitions towards more circular and Sustainable Food Systems (SFS). Artificial Intelligence is a driving force in this transition. Therefore, we build a laboratory that studies its Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects (ELSA).

Challenges and opportunities

How can we safeguard animal welfare with AI? How can food production emissions be monitored fairly with AI? How can artificial insight in consumptions patterns lead to a circular food economy? And how can we protect the privacy and ownership of all this data; data that is commercially interesting, but also vital for building a healthier society, and a sustainable industry?

ELSA Hub for SFS

In our laboratory, we develop, test, and apply a methodology for (re)designing AI making it responsible and trustworthy. We work closely together with various commercial and non-commercial stakeholders and societal representatives. Our ambition is to develop into an Expertise Hub for responsible and trustworthy AI, tailored to the Sustainable Food Systemsof the future.

We are always open for new partners to contribute cases, to extent the knowledge base on ELSA challenges and opportunities in new emerging problem areas, and to analyse best practices. Interested?

News

ELSA event: Pursuing sustainability in food systems through AI innovation

On December 2nd, the ELSA lab AI for Sustainable Food Systems (AI4SFS) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) hosts the annual ELSA event where innovative software developers and 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?”

What?              Event about responsible entrepreneurship and AI in the food system
When?             December 2nd, 2024, 09.30 – 14.30 (drinks afterwards)
Where?            Wageningen Campus, Omnia building

For who? Interested parties and stakeholders in AI in the food system: including software and hardware developers, financiers, policymakers, researchers, and chain partners.

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.

For more information, take a look at the full programme and sign up before November 25th!