The accommodation of the participants makes an important contribution to the impact of a conference. We sincerely hope that you will consider your type of accommodation in terms of sustainability, as well.

Eco Labelled hotels:

• Garden Hotel (central, €)
• Le Magic Hall (atypical, €)
• Best Western Hotel Isidore (€€)
• Le Château Apigne (stylish, €€€)

Rural stays

Gite La Touche Thebault

Youth hostel

The European Youth Hostel network actively encourages sustainable behaviours for travel and accommodation. Rennes’s Youth Hostel

You like walking? These hotels are close to the campus and do not require public transport to reach the venue

• Séjour et affaires Villa Camilla (in front of the venue)
• Odalys City Rennes Lorgeril (Rennes)-1.03km from the venue and nicely close to the city center
• B&B Hotel Ouest Villejean (900 m from the venue)
• AppartCity Rennes Ouest (800 m from the venue)

You can find accommodation recommendations for international participants on the following pages

• Centre des congrès de Rennes
• Cité International Paul Ricoeur 

Next to the transport sector and industries, our food system has a large contribution in global warming. Moreover, the current food supply chain accounts for 26% of the global greenhouse gas emissions (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Not only does our food system affect the rising of the earth’s temperature, it also contributes to biodiversity losses and takes part in the cycle of phosphorus and nitrogen losses to the environment (Willet et al., 2018). Consequently, we will make an effort to provide sustainable food at the conference. 

Scientific research has been able to show the destructive impact of our food production system on the planet. Picture 2 and 3 show the fact that animal-based products have a higher greenhouse gas emission footprint compared to plant-based products (Sandström et al., 2018). Flexitarian diets alone could reduce greenhouse gas emission by 56% (Springmann et al., 2018). For example, daily GHG emissions for vegans would be only 2.94 kg CO2 eq, compared to 3.85kg for vegetarians and 5.93 kg CO2 eq for meat eaters (Scarborough et al., 2014). In order to keep within the planetary boundaries, there is a clear need to change the global diet to a plant-based one, while implementing new technologies and management and keeping food waste minimal (Springmann et al., 2018). As stated in Europe’s Farm 2 Fork strategy: “It is clear that the transition will not happen without a shift in people’s diets.” (EU, 2020, p. 3). Beside the environmental benefits of a more plant-based diet, many human health benefits are proven as well. Food products such as fruits and vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, seeds and nuts are thought to form the basis for a healthy diet while processed products and red meat should be consumed as less as possible (VIGZ, 2022b). For this reason the default option for catering at the congress will be vegetarian, with vegan options. In addition to this, the food offered should be local, organic and seasonal as far as possible. 

Also, costs of food products are not reflecting their true negative impacts on the society and the environment (Hendriks et al., n.d.). A product’s price does not reflect its true price, which includes the economic and sustainability costs of its production and consumption. At the moment, these sustainability costs are mostly paid by primary producers only and thus not by every actor in the food chain (WUR, 2019). Therefore, at the conference, where possible, fair trade labelled food products are served. In this way, costs and revenues are divided fair and equally along the food supply chain (WUR, 2019)

To conclude, some of our main criteria for the catering on the congress will be: local, organic, seasonal, plant based and fairtrade. Before the congress, we will use an online survey to collect data on dietary specifications, allergies and food choices, having provided information on the environmental impact of dietary choices. In the following part dealing with tourism and culture, a list of restaurants is given where you can enjoy delicious food in Rennes that applies to such criteria, as well.

Picture 3: Global median greenhouse gas emissions of food products (Poore & Nemecek, 2018).
 

This part is still a work in progress. Later, information will follow on the venue’s facilities, the digital goodie bag and the sustainable culture we want to establish during the congress, itself. Also, at the moment, we are negotiating childcare facilities in the neighbourhood of the congress and we will keep you up to date on this. 

In order to promote the sustainability of the congress, we apply a strict waste reduction policy whose success depends on your involvement. We invite you to select what you can bring :

• Your personal cup or mug for the coffee breaks (cups will not be provided)
• Your water bottle (no plastic bottles provided. Rennes tap water is of good quality)
•  A plastic badge holder (any size): sure that you have one somewhere from a former event! On arrival to ESRS2023 you will be provided a cardboard badge with your names and the QRcode to the program, without any plastic holder.
• The printed congress programme if you wish, as well as an application to read the QR codes on your smartphone: the paper version of the programme will not be provided on site. QR codes will be available at the congress venues to download the programme and all practical information.
• Your favourite notebooks and pencils for your notes (not provided on site)
• This precious notebook, or a plain-coloured cardboard folder or similar material, which you can decorate during the congress with a large and beautiful souvenir stamp provided by the organisers (sustainable 'goodies' that will replace one more useless canvas bag!)

Venue

Of course, the location of the congress is also an important consideration in the field of sustainability. 

The Agro Institute is connected to the urban heating network of Rennes, which contributes to the transition towards zero carbon emissions. The Rennes network is one of the 70 French heating networks labelled eco-heating networks in 2017 by the Amorce association out of more than 530 networks listed in France. This label means in particular that it uses at least 50% renewable or recovered energy. It contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the territory and therefore to better air quality.

Also, trimming the local bocage hedgerows in Rennes produces waste wood, which is then burned and is used as biofuel for the heating network. In total, this kind of biofuel supplies the urban heating networks up to some 15%. 

Electricity at the campus is purchased as part of a public contract signed by the State Purchasing Department. This market provides in particular that the electricity is of 100% renewable origin.

The Institut Agro is also involved in the City Council’s policy for trees plantations, with over 30 000 trees to be planted in Rennes from now to 2026.