A collaborative platform for doctoral students from around the world
To contribute to efforts to feed, care for, and protect people and the planet, two world-class institutions, the University of Montpellier and the University of Pretoria (South Africa), have joined forces in a global collaborative doctoral training platform project called "Feed, Protect, Care." The platform was officially launched during Africa Week on May 23, 2023, at the University of Pretoria's Future Africa Center.
To address current global challenges, as outlined in initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the University of Montpellier and the University of Pretoria are focusing on improving the training of tomorrow's scientists. With this in mind, they are launching a collaborative doctoral training platform bringing together more than fifteen other higher education institutions from 12 countries on 5 continents. Their goal is to create a global community of young researchers specializing in sustainability and offer them opportunities to internationalize their training and develop lasting networks of expertise and influence.
On May 23, an initial meeting of the steering committee chaired by Heide Hackmann (University of Pretoria) and Patrick Caron (University of Montpellier) launched this long-term transformative initiative. Through these equitable global partnerships, the University of Montpellier is contributing to a more inclusive and collaborative approach to knowledge sharing and innovation development.
Sustainable food systems
The first phase, covering the academic years 2023-2024 and 2025-2026, will focus specifically on establishing sustainable food systems at the local and global levels. In this first cohort, 30 doctoral researchers partner institutions will be able to collaborate in an interdisciplinary manner to devise and lead a transformation of food systems in favor of sustainable development. They will have the opportunity to participate in face-to-face events and will benefit from training and networking opportunities on cross-cutting issues at the science-policy-society interface. Virtual events and ongoing exchanges via a dedicated digital research environment are also planned. At the end of their doctoral studies, these students will become members of the Feed , Protect, Care alumni network. The platform may be opened up to new universities and other themes during phases II and III.
IDeES Project
At the University of Montpellier, the global doctoral platform "Feed, Protect, Care" is being implemented as part of the international component of the IDéES project, funded by France 2030 and managed by the International Support and Attractiveness Service of the Structuring Programs Department (DPS). The two UM scientific leaders of the platform are: Karen Lambert-Cordillac, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, UMR Phymedexp, and Patrick Caron, researcher at ART-DEV, VP of CGIAR and director of the MAK'IT institute.
Focusing on the themes of "feeding, caring for, and protecting," this platform fits perfectly into the scientific project of our I-SITE program of excellence.
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