Key World Initiative Nutrition - Food systems

The international key initiative Nutrition - Food Systems (FOODS) is being developed at the University 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 the UM and the University of Pretoria (UP), and enables the transition to multilateral collaborations by bringing together the strategic partners of both institutions. FOODS takes the form of a global collaborative platform for doctoral training, and provides a virtual infrastructure for international cooperation.

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 doctoral platform aims to bring together a cohort of doctoral students at least once a year for field schools and/or training courses on topics chosen by the International Steering Committee (ISC). It aims to foster interdisciplinarity and interculturality through the diversity of the PhD students it brings together.

Each cohort is made up of 2 PhD students from each partner institution. These young researchers, from a variety of research fields and disciplines, are expected to take at least 2 Platform courses.

PhD students work in groups and exchange ideas to strengthen their ties 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 exchange platform 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 COHORTES

The Nutrition - Food Systems PhD Platform aims to bring together a cohort of PhD students at least once a year for field schools and/or training courses on selected topics. Ultimately, it aims to build a global community of future leaders in sustainable development science through the emergence of international collaborative projects.

COHORT 2024-2025

Ariane B. Barrette, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Expertise: Marine biology, oceanography, ecotoxicology, local foods
Clara Colonna, University of Utrecht, Netherlands. Expertise: Agricultural and food law and policy, Post-growth theories, Lobbying
Alemu Bezie Debay, Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands. Expertise: Land use and land cover classification and change analysis (remote sensing and GIS), Research on socio-ecological systems, Serious games and participatory methods for the co-design of land use scenarios.
Marie Madeleine Adjigueleu Dieme, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. Expertise: Food and human nutrition, Biological analysis, Field data collection and management, Use of stable isotopes in nutrition, Deficiency malnutrition
Julia Finestone, University of California Davis, USA. Expertise: Infant nutrition, Gut health, Microbiology
Bereket Tsehaye Haile, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Expertise: Project management; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Remote sensing, Facilitation, Monitoring and evaluation
Housna HASSANI, France and Comoros. Expertise: Global health, School food environment
Saliou Diombo KEBE, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. Expertise: Public health, Nutrition, Food assessment, Nutrition-related diseases, Physical activity, Food quality assessment, Prevention and management of acute malnutrition, Nutritional education and promotion, Community-based approaches to nutrition and health.
S'celo Ezra Madondo, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Expertise: Social development, Food security: reducing food loss and waste (FWL) and taking advantage of FWL opportunities, Smallholder farmer and youth development, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and cooperative development.
Ankitha Manohar, University of Leeds, England. Expertise: Marine science and conservation, Mixed methods Research , Land use planning, Remote sensing, Machine learning, Marine mariculture and aquaculture, Livelihood development, Food sovereignty, Marine governance
Talitha Neesham-McTiernan, University of Arizona, USA. Expertise: Water-energy-food Nexus, Agrivoltaics, Thermal stress, Geospatial information systems, Dryland agriculture
Tchiyiwe Thandiwe Moyo, University of York, England. Expertise: Human nutrition, Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), Climate-smart agriculture (CSA), Farmer Field School (FFS), Extension models,  Policy engagement and multi-sectoral coordination, Food security and resilience programs, Data analysis and modeling, Participatory action, Research and community, Facilitation
Greici Joana Parisoto, University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Expertise: Agricultural and agrifood economics, Climate analysis and agricultural systems, Food security and market systems, Sustainable rural development, Quantitative and mixed methods in agriculture, Geospatial analysis and data analysis (Python, GEE), Project and research management, Agricultural innovation and sustainability.
Bruna Paviani, University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Expertise: Food chemistry, Food processing, Bioactive compounds, Functional ingredients, LC-MS
Fadhila Bacha, Institut Agro Montpellier, France. Expertise: Collective certification, Value chain governance, Territorial development, Local food systems, Data science, Sustainability, Agricultural economics
Thais Gabriela Veras Gama, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Agricultural economics, Climate change, Productivity and efficiency analysis, Adaptation to climate change and migration
Ana María Quiroga Arcila, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Expertise: Beekeeping, Stingless bees, Bumblebees, Diversity, Landscape analysis, Blueberry pollination, Conservation, Soil health, Coffee plantations, Mushroom production, Agroecology

cOHORTE 2025-2026

Information to come

Testimonials

Hear how the platform has made a difference to Ana Maria Quiroga-Arcila, a PhD student in plant biology at ULaval, Quebec, and a participant in the first cohort activities.

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 scientifically supported by Karen Lambert-Cordillac, University Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Montpellier. 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.

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)

Governance

The Platform is managed by the International Steering Committee (ISC), which includes a representative from each member institution.

The IAPC is co-chaired by a representative of the South and a representative of the North. Currently, Frans Swanepoel (UP) and Margreet de Lange (Utrecht University) hold these responsibilities.

The ICC decides on and oversees the implementation of the Platform's strategic orientations and overall activities.

It meets virtually at least once a year and in person at least once every 18 months.

The Platform is managed at the UM by Nathalie Modjeska, with the help of Elsa Denis, within the Service d'appui à l'international et à l'attractivité des programmes structurants of the Direction des Programmes Structurants.