Food for Thought Festival: Scientists discuss the biodiversity crisis and possible solutions
dr. Jože Bavcon/Botanični vrt UL
Date of publication:
From 12 to 15 May 2025, the University of Ljubljana (UL) will host the second edition of the Food for Thought Festival, a series of events dedicated to addressing current societal challenges related to sustainability. The overarching theme of this year's festival is the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity. The festival features a variety of free events, ranging from panel discussions to workshops for students, employees, and the general public. Its aim is to raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis and the importance of strengthening biodiversity, both in urban environments and more broadly. Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the healthy functioning of ecosystems and contributes, among other benefits, to human well-being and, through ecosystem services, to ensuring food security and diversity.
About the festival
This year, the festival is scheduled for May, coinciding with the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, World Bee Day, Slovenian Forest Week, and European Natura 2000 Day. Special emphasis will be placed on the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on 22 May, which this year focuses on linking biodiversity measures with the Sustainable Development Goals. On this date, the UL will also connect with the RaznoŽivo biodiversity festival, organised by the Municipality of Ljubljana.
Through these initiatives, the Food for Thought Festival continues to build connections with the broader community and supports the objectives of the new UL Sustainability Strategy 2025–2030, which highlights the need to raise awareness of the importance of promoting biodiversity. The festival offers a platform to spotlight this critical topic and to engage in discussions from diverse research perspectives.
At the festival events, you will have the opportunity to:
- listen to expert discussions on reconciling biodiversity and agriculture, as well as on spatial planning measures to enhance biodiversity,
- gain or deepen your knowledge of vegetable gardening, gene banks, and Slovenian cereals,
- visit an exhibition at the UL Gallery featuring works by students of the UL ALUO, inspired by the popular science book What is Life? by the Nobel Prize winner Paul Nurse,
- learn about tactile illustration at an exhibition in front of the Rector's Office,
- engage your senses while walking among the honey-bearing plants in the UL Botanical Garden, and
- try your hand at botanical illustration.
All events are open to the public and free of charge, but registration is required.
The event is part of the NOO ULTRA project – University of Ljubljana for sustainable development, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
