Key World Initiative Nutrition - Food systems

The key world initiative Nutrition - Food Systems (FOODS) is developed at the University of Montpellier (UM) as part of the UM2030 project, winner of the Call for Projects " Integration and Development of IdEx and ISITE" (IDéES). The initiative is the result of a bilateral collaboration between UM and University of Pretoria (UP), and enables the transition to multilateral collaborations by bringing together strategic partners of both institutions. FOODS takes the form of a Global Collaborative Platform for doctoral training, and constitutes a virtual global infrastructure for international cooperation.

The actors

The Nutrition - Food Systems initiative was co-constructed with the University of Pretoria in May 2022. On the UM side, the initiative is supported scientifically by Karen Lambert-Cordillac, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Montpellier, and Patrick Caron, CIRAD, Project Manager for the University. On the University of Pretoria side, the referent is Frans Swanepoel of the Future Africa Centre. The initiative takes the form of a global collaborative platform for doctoral training, bringing together doctoral students from the two institutions' strategic partners.

The Platform is managed at the UM by Nathalie Modjeska, in the International and Attractiveness Support Department of the Structuring Programs Division.

Governance

The Platform is managed by the International Steering Committee (ISC), which includes a representative from each of the member institutions.
The ISC is co-chaired by a representative from the South and a representative from the North. Currently, Frans Swanepoel (UP) and Margreet de Lange (Utrecht University) hold these responsibilities.
The ISC decides on and oversees the implementation of the Platform's strategic orientations and global activities.
It meets virtually at least once a year, and in person at least once every 18 months.

17 Partners

Europe

University of Montpellier (UM)
University of Barcelona (UB)
University of Leeds
University of York (UY)
Utrecht University (UU)
Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

Asia

Graduate School of China Academy of Agriculture Sciences (GSCAAS)
China Agriculture University (CAU)

North America

Michigan State University (MSU)
University Laval of Quebec
University of Arizona
University of California Davis (UC Davis)

South America

University of Sao Paulo (USP)

Africa

University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (UCAD)
University of Nairobi (UONBI)
University of Pretoria (UP)
University of the Western Cape (UWC)

Objectives

The platform aims to :

Build a global community of future leaders in the science of sustainable development through emerging projects
Increase the impact of sustainable development science through inter- and trans-disciplinary research and the development of expertise at the science-policy-society interface.
Facilitate longer-term research opportunities and career development prospects for young researchers
Advancing open science and education practices through the development of new equitable global partnerships
Promote the creation of an international network of scientists working on the topics covered.

Program

The Nutrition - Food Systems PhD Platform aims to bring together a cohort of doctoral students at least once a year for field schools and/or training courses on themes chosen by the ISC.
Each cohort is made up of 2 doctoral students from each partner institution. These young researchers, from a variety of research fields and disciplines, are expected to attend at least 2 Platform training courses.

FOODS aims to foster interdisciplinarity and interculturality through the diversity of the doctoral students it brings together.

PhD students work in groups and exchange ideas to strengthen their bonds and form an international network of future leaders in the science of sustainable development in the fields of nutrition and food systems.

The Platform offers :

Opportunities for doctoral students to publish documents and create communication materials
A global virtual infrastructure to facilitate discussion and document sharing
International visibility of research themes
The opportunity to take part in international events
A networking opportunity for young researchers

The first cohort comprises 33 students of 18 nationalities from 10 different countries. These PhD students were welcomed to Montpellier from March 12 to 20, 2024 for the first field school on "Obstacles to the transformation of food systems: the enhancement of diversity and intercultural perceptions".

At the invitation of the University of São Paulo, the^2nd Field School of the "Nutrition - Food Systems" PhD Collaborative Platform supported under the IDEES-UM2030 project was held from November 4 to 8, 2024 on the ESALQ campus in Piracicaba, Brazil. An intensive week of presentations, meetings, visits, exchanges and reflections enabled PhD students from the first cohort to carry out a comparative study between Montpellier and Piracicaba on "Obstacles to the transformation of food systems: valuing diversity and intercultural perceptions". The week was also used to prepare publications for the next session, scheduled for May 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa.