Visiting Annemiek Canjels at the Province of Limburg for a Foodlinks pairing experiment

In December 2011, Femke Hoekstra, PhD student and Foodlinks research assistant at Wageningen University was paired with Annemiek Canjels, senior advisor on EU public affairs with the Province of Limburg. Pairing is one of the knowledge brokerage tools identified in Foodlinks as being potentially helpful in linking researchers and policymakers. The basic idea of pairing is to link up and experience an ‘ordinary’ work day of your pairing partner in order to improve mutual understanding and collaboration.

Last week I visited Annemiek Canjels for a pairing experiment as part of our involvement in Foodlinks. I was particularly interested to learn more on the daily realities of a policy maker and to find out more about the importance of science in policy making. Before visiting Annemiek I had no clear idea on what her work as senior advisor on EU public affairs actually entails therefore I asked her to send me some documents in advance so I could “prepare” myself a bit for my visit. She shared with me a variety of websites which made me wonder even more about her job (see list below). 

Guest lecture by Annemiek Canjels at Maastricht University

I attended a lecture she was asked to give at Maastricht University on local food systems and went along with her to a meeting of her Rural Area department. This was the first time for her to give a University lecture and it was interesting for me to see how she ‘framed’ the issue of local food systems. The attending students (European studies) who had no specific lectures on food issues before were quite informed and ready for some action (“the time for labelling is over, we need radical change!”). Annemiek and I could both appreciate the sincerity of their remarks.

The meeting of her department was also interesting as they discussed the new Law on Nature and some internal developments related to the changing role of the Province. It made me realise that working for the Province means working within (and perhaps across?)boundaries (literally and those set by the EU and the State).

"Collectors item"; a bunch of name tags in Annemiek's car

Annemiek does not have many ‘ordinary’ days it seems and although I still not fully understand what her work is all about what I learned is that her work mainly focusses on lobby work around the CAP reform and the promotion of GreenPort Holland which tries to connect horticultural parties in the Netherlands to promote their work internationally and attract new business opportunities. Annemiek: “My work is about connecting my region to global challenges and opportunities and to influence EU policy and funds in a way that they support both the prosperity of her region and the EU 2020 objectives; on the short and on the long run. I have to move with care and loyalty between political and social priorities: the truth always has multiple layers”.

To summarise, it was a nice first impression of the world of policy making and I hope to go with her on another occasion to find out more on evidence based decision making. And of course in return she will be visiting us in Wageningen! 

Annemiek: “It was most refreshing to have a young researcher reflect on my activities. I enjoyed the first day of pairing very much and I am looking forward to observe Femke “on the job””.

Anyone else up for a pairing experiment?

List of websites relevant to Annemiek’s work:

- www.limburg.nl   &  http://www.limburg.nl/Beleid/Platteland_in_Uitvoering
- www.greenporthollandinternational.com & www.greenportholland.nl
- www.purple-eu.org
- http://www.toekomstglb.nl

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