The Nutrition and Food Systems Platform Takes Center Stage at the BÉNÉFIQ 2025 International Conference
The first interdisciplinary doctoral program for the second cohort of the Feed-Protect-Care FOODS PhD Platform began on October 29 atLaval University (Quebec City), featuring a top-notch curriculum supported by the Canadian institution. This program is funded by the University of Montpellier as part of the UM France 2030 – IDEES ANR.
After three days of interdisciplinary seminars and thematic visits focused on the links between nutrition, inequality, and sustainable food systems, the “ doctoral researchers ” presented the results of their field-based doctoral program at the BÉNÉFIQ 2025 international conference, organized by the Institute for Functional Foods (INAF) at Laval University on November 5 and 6.
The best scientific presentations were recognized at the closing ceremony. Four female doctoral students from the platform stood out by winning “Audience Choice” awards:
- Popular science infographic: Julieth Pilar Urizon (University of Utrecht) and Meike Simonsma (Wageningen University).
- Standard scientific poster: Laura Parro (University of Barcelona) and Ana Maria Quiroga Arcila (Laval University).
She presented a poster on the innovative approach of the FOODS platform at theUM, titled “The Feed-Protect-Care Framework: A Context-Sensitive Approach to Advancing Agroecological Food System Transformation, ” which was the result of a collaborative effort by the first doctoral cohort.
