These activities were led by the Society of Transformative Conversations, an initiative driven by the visionary work of A. T. Larsson guest researcher Prof. Keri Facer and Prof. Åsa Berggren, supported by the SLU Future Food platform.
Facilitators training for new conversations
The first activity was a training opportunity for facilitators, with a focus on interdisciplinary and exploratory conversations: Train the Trainers. The goal was to equip researchers with tools and techniques for fostering deep, impactful conversations – essential for shaping sustainable food futures.
Participants arrived with diverse motivations:
“I want to support groups of farmers and researchers in ways that truly meet their needs.”
“I seek tools to navigate complex coordination roles and spark future innovations.”
The program offered participants a platform to reflect, connect, and grow, transforming their approach to dialogue in research and beyond.
Tendril Talk: the Land Futures Salon
In October, the Land Futures Salon was launched, bringing together fifty participants from over twenty-five organizations for a different sort of conversation about land. The event was designed to foster safe, meaningful exchanges, offering a space for ideas to flourish and perspectives to deepen.
Feedback from attendees highlighted the event’s impact:
“It was very rewarding, enabling many good conversations on crucial issues.”
“It’s amazing to feel welcome and safe in such a curious and open environment.”
The Salon’s design emphasized creating multiple pathways into dialogue, slowing down conversations to enable depth and attentiveness, and building skills for reflecting on the quality of discussions. Participants left with new insights, connections, and a renewed sense of purpose. Many expressed a desire to bring these methods into their own contexts, from academic settings to NGOs.
Paving the way for transformative conversations
Reflecting on the Society’s activities so far, several key learnings emerged. Actively seeking and supporting diverse perspectives enriched the dialogue. The events underscored the rarity and importance of deep conversations in both academia and public life. Moreover, the way gatherings are hosted plays a crucial role in fostering depth and authenticity.
– Today, there is limited opportunity for deep and open-ended conversations in most areas of life – yet these are precisely what we need to address pressing societal challenges, said Prof. Keri Facer.
The enthusiasm for these activities demonstrated a strong demand for meaningful conversation:
“There is a real thirst for connection, and I’m inspired to create similar spaces in my own work, noted one participant.”
Building on this momentum, the Society of Transformative Conversations has outlined ambitious plans for 2025. These include additional Train the Trainers sessions in the spring and autumn, mingles to expand the community, and experimental workshops exploring speculative fiction and difficult conversations. Continued development of the learning community, website, and communications is also planned.
The overarching intention of the Society is to create a transdisciplinary community of scholars, activists, policymakers, and practitioners. By fostering new dialogues around the futures of food and land, the Society aims to challenge polarization, nurture innovative ideas, and spark collaborations across disciplines and sectors.
– Through initiatives like these, SLU is paving the way for transformative conversations that hold the potential to reimagine and reshape our shared future, says Prof. Åsa Berggren.
