Planetary Health Dialogues: Commodification

This year, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health launched a series of Planetary Health Dialogues in collaboration with the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development.

During these sessions, two experts from different disciplines shed light on key themes related to Planetary Health. Through these dialogues, we aim to deepen our shared understanding of the field and its challenges while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. These sessions combine intellectual exploration with experimental sensory experiences.

In the first Planetary Health Dialogue we focused on the Common Good, explored from the perspectives of the microbiological world and the world of law. The theme of this dialogue will be Commodification.

Commodification: What Do We Mean by It?

Commodification refers to the process by which something that originally existed outside the market—such as nature, health, knowledge, or well-being—is transformed into an economic good that can be bought, sold, or traded. This raises critical questions about ethics, sustainability, and societal impact.

Within Planetary Health, commodification plays a central role in discussions about the future of health, natural resources, and public services.

During this session, Theunis Piersma and another, yet to be determined, expert on another perspective on the topic will share their insights:

• Theunis Piersma, a migratory bird ecologist at GELIFES and NIOZ, will discuss how godwits, connected to agricultural landscapes, can offer guidance for a more sustainable world.

How can we safeguard the value of health and nature in a world where market forces are becoming increasingly dominant? What does this mean for policy, legislation, and social justice?

Be inspired by a unique interdisciplinary perspective!