In Cape Town, young international researchers examine food systems
Last September, a field school organized by the Collaborative Doctoral Platform "Nutrition and Food Systems" (FOODS) took place in Cape Town, South Africa. This was an opportunity for the two cohorts of the program to meet, present their work, and complete their training with informative field visits.
After the University of Montpellier and then the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture at the University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP) in Brazil, it was South Africa's turn to welcome doctoral researchers from the UM-UP collaborative doctoral platform dedicated to food systems and nutrition, under the scientific supervision of Karen Lambert-Cordillac, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy (attached to the PhyMdEx laboratory) at the University of Montpellier.
Held from September 8 to 17 at the University of Cape Town, in partnership with the University of Pretoria and the University of Western Cape, this field school marked the end of the program for the first cohort, who presented their group work, while doctoral researchers the second cohort introduced their thesis topics.
During this week in the field, visits to Cape Town's fresh produce market and Paradise Market allowed doctoral researchers learn more about the organization of food systems in South Africa. They also gained a better understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of the area. A visit to Steenbras Dam and its filtration treatment plant gave them an insight into the water conveyance and filtration system that serves the Cape Town metropolitan area.
A crucial role in addressing global challenges
At the close of the symposium on September 12, François Pierrot, Vice President for International Relations at the University of Montpellier , emphasized "the crucial role of the next generations of researchers in solving today's global challenges." Led by UM and the University of Pretoria, these meetings between young scientists from around the world aim to create a network of transdisciplinary international cooperation engaged in research on nutrition and food systems. Each cohort of the collaborative doctoral platform participates in two training courses, in conjunction with the platform's 16 partner universities, as well as in the production of collaborative scientific work.
Next stop: Laval University in Quebec, Canada, where the next field school will be held from October 29 to November 6, 2025.