Institute for Advanced Studies Luxembourg
Luxembourg
fellow
Dr. Vivian VALENCIA
Home institution
Bishop’s University
Country of origin (home institution)
Canada
Discipline(s)
Health Sciences
Theme(s)
Agriculture & Food
Fellowship dates
›
Research Project
Resilience and Foresight for Regenerative and Adaptive Food Systems
The proposed Distinguished visit by Dr. Vivian Valencia to the University of Luxembourg will play a pivotal role in advancing the interdisciplinary integration of resilience science within the SPICES² project—an initiative focused on promoting policy coherence and sustainable food system transformation across Luxembourg, Quebec, and Mexico. Over the course of eight weeks, Dr. Valencia will collaborate with PIs Dr. Rachel Reckinger and Dr. Harlan Koff, along with postdoctoral and doctoral researchers and local stakeholders, to apply and refine the ABCD resilience framework (Agency, Buffering, Connectivity, Diversity) as a diagnostic and planning tool for climate adaptation within food systems.
This visit will be instrumental in embedding resilience thinking into ongoing participatory visioning processes and policy analyses within the Luxembourg case study, testing the operational relevance of the ABCD framework for identifying systemic strengths and vulnerabilities. Dr. Valencia will co-facilitate transdisciplinary foresight workshops, deliver public lectures, lead training for early-career researchers and lecture in master’s courses. Her presence will also catalyze a comparative analysis across national contexts, enabling knowledge exchange and the adaptation of the framework to Mexico and Quebec.
In addition to empirical and methodological contributions, the visit will serve as a launchpad for high-impact scholarly output and strategic consortium development. Dr. Valencia will co-author a policy brief and a scientific article, and engage in preparatory work for a Horizon Europe proposal, positioning the University of Luxembourg at the forefront of resilience-informed, policy-relevant food systems research. Her expertise in agroecology, sustainable food systems, and global sustainability governance—honed through collaborations with institutions such as FAO, Wageningen University, the World Economic Forum, and CGIAR—ensures that the visit will meaningfully contribute to both academic excellence and societal impact.
Biography
Dr. Vivian Valencia is a researcher specializing in agroecology, sustainable food systems, and climate action. Formerly an Assistant Professor at Wageningen University & Research, she is currently the Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action at Bishop’s University. Her work focuses on food system transformation, biodiversity, and the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Columbia University, a Master’s degree in Environmental Health from Johns Hopkins University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and French from University of Florida.