Growing agroecology in Nicaragua : Towards a multi-scale perspective on agroecological transitions

Abstract

Preface and acknowledgementsThis PhD is much more than just a thesis and much more than the sum of its parts (a sentiment I assume many doctoral researchers share). My PhD journey has been amazing and unexpected, a wild ride and an incredibly steep learning curve, and has changed my life for the better in both the professional and personal senses. It has been very challenging and also extraordinarily fun. Although I cherish the experiences and memories made with many people whom I met over the course of my research -e.g. farmers and research assistants I was lucky enough to work with -several individuals have played especially important roles in the journey that led to the experience of researching and writing this dissertation.Tanya Kerssen, through working together at a restaurant, our friendship grew and you were the first person who got me interested in agriculture and food systems -who knew that was my passion! A special thank you for opening my eyes to ethical issues and problems of justice and equity in food production and consumption.Katrin Winkler, by taking a chance on me in supporting my admittance to the University of Hohenheim's MSc program in 'Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production', you paved the way for my being able to do a PhD. Without you, none of this would have been possible -thank you for believing in me back then! Onno Giller, I am everlastingly grateful that you were my colleague and friend during the first times at KTI, in Wageningen, and in Nicaragua -thank you for showing me the ropes both inside and outside of WUR! Marijn Poortvliet, thank you for your inspiration for, and your long-lasting support through, the many revisions and iterations of the interminable gender chapter! Thanks for opening my eyes to, and helping me wade my way through, new (to me) questions of social psychology and quantitative data analyses.Wendy Godek, I cannot thank you enough for your mentorship, your friendship, your advice, and our many hours of intense conversation on topics both professional and personal. I'm really excited for our future collaborations. Thank you for continuing to inpire me! Laurens Klerkx, you brought me on board at KTI after mentoring me in the final round of the Erasmus Mundus PhD competition. You were the best first supervisor I can imagine -always supportive, always reachable, always with an idea when I had a question about my research, but also always critical, challenging me to solidify my argumentation, read more, think more intensely or connectively about issues, and really straightforward. I have passed on two bits of your wonderfully idiosyncratic advice to many others: "No one cares about your PhD but you" and "Kill your darlings" (in reference to paper-writing). This and much other advice, challenge, and inspiration from you have helped me to become a solid and very happy scientist. Thank you! Mi amor Diego Gutierrez Sanchez, gracias totales a vos por tu amistad, por enseñarme la vida salvaje en Managua, por nuestros viajes juntos cruzando Nicaragua y, cla...