Key World Initiative Nutrition - Food systems

The key international initiative Nutrition – Food Systems (FOODS) is being developed at the University as part of the UM2030 project, a winner of the “Integration and Development of IdEx and ISITE” (IDéES) Call for Projects. The initiative is the result of a bilateral collaboration between UM and the University of Pretoria (UP) and facilitates the transition to multilateral collaborations by bringing together strategic partners from both institutions. FOODS takes the form of a global collaborative platform for doctoral training and serves as a virtual infrastructure for international cooperation.

Objectives

The platform aims to:

Building a global community of future leaders in sustainable development science through the launch of new projects
Enhancing the impact of sustainable development science through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and the development of expertise at the science-policy-society interface
To facilitate long-term research opportunities and career development prospects for young researchers
Advancing open science and open education practices through the development of new, equitable global partnerships
Promote the establishment of an international network of scientists focused on the topics addressed

Program

The Nutrition – Food Systems doctoral platform aims to bring together a group of doctoral students at least once a year for fieldwork and/or training sessions on topics selected by the International Steering Committee (ISC). It seeks to promote interdisciplinarity and intercultural exchange through the diversity of the doctoral students it brings together.

Each cohort consists of two doctoral students from each partner institution. These young researchers, who come from a variety of research fields and disciplines, are expected to complete at least two of the Platform’s training courses.

Doctoral students work in groups and engage in discussions to strengthen their bonds and build an international network of future leaders in the field of sustainable development science, specifically in the areas of nutrition and food systems.

The platform offers:

Opportunities for doctoral students to publish documents and create communication materials
A global platform for facilitating discussion and document sharing
International visibility for the research topic
The opportunity to participate in international events
A networking opportunity for young researchers

THE COHORTS

The Nutrition and Food Systems Doctoral Platform aims to bring together a cohort of doctoral students at least once a year for fieldwork and/or training sessions on selected topics. Ultimately, it seeks to build a global community of future leaders in sustainable development science through the development of international collaborative projects.

CLASS OF 2024–2025

Profiles of the 2024–2025 Cohort – PDF 858 KB Download

Ariane B. Barrette, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Expertise: Marine biology, Oceanography, Ecotoxicology, Local food
Clara Colonna, Utrecht University, 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 socio-ecological systems, serious games, and participatory methods for the co-design of land use scenarios.
Marie Madeleine Adjigueleu Dieme, Cheikh Anta Diop University of 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, United States. Expertise: Child 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 the Comoros. Expertise: Global health, School food environment
Saliou Diombo KEBE, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal. Expertise: Public health, Nutrition, Dietary assessment, Nutrition-related diseases, Physical activity, Dietary quality assessment, Prevention and management of acute malnutrition, Nutrition education and promotion, Community-based approaches to nutrition and health
S’celo Ezra Madondo, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Areas of expertise: Social development; Food security: reducing food loss and waste (FLW) and capitalizing on opportunities presented by FLW; Development of smallholder farmers and youth; Development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives.
Ankitha Manohar, University of Leeds, England. Expertise: Marine science and conservation, Research , land-use planning, remote sensing, machine learning, marine mariculture and aquaculture, livelihood development, food sovereignty, marine governance
Talitha Neesham-McTiernan, University of Arizona, United States. Expertise: Water-energy-food nexus, Agrivoltaics, Heat stress, Geospatial information systems, Agriculture in arid regions
Tchiyiwe Thandiwe Moyo, University of York, England. Expertise: Human nutrition, Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA), Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), Farm Extension (FFS), Extension models,  Policy engagement and multisectoral coordination, Food security and resilience programs, Data analysis and modeling, Participatory action, Research community, Facilitation
Greici Joana Parisoto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Agricultural and agri-food economics, Climate analysis and agricultural systems, Food security and market systems, Sustainable rural development, Quantitative and mixed-methods approaches in agriculture, Geospatial analysis and data analysis (Python, GEE), Project and research management, Agricultural innovation and sustainability
Bruna Paviani, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Food chemistry, Food processing, Bioactive compounds, Functional ingredients, LC-MS
Fadhila Bacha, Institut Agro Montpellier, France. Expertise: Collective certification, Value chain governance, Regional development, Local food systems, Data science, Sustainability, Agricultural economics
Thais Gabriela Veras Gama, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Agricultural economics, Climate change, Productivity and efficiency analysis, Climate change adaptation and migration
Ana María Quiroga Arcila, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Expertise: Beekeeping, Stingless bees, Bumblebees, Biodiversity, Landscape analysis, Blueberry pollination, Conservation, Soil health, Coffee plantations, Mushroom production, Agroecology

Class of 2025–2026

Portraits of the 2025–2026 Cohort – PDF 1 MB
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Disha Bansal, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada. Expertise: Urban renewal and social resistance, Redevelopment of traditional retail markets, Access to public spaces and social justice, Decolonial research practices.
Jamie Bride, University of Montpellier, France. Expertise: Omega-3, Click chemistry, Confocal imaging, Cytometry, Inflammation, Arrhythmias
Minghao (Marco) Ning, Dalian University of Technology, China. Expertise: Consumer behavior in agricultural economics, Behavioral preferences regarding food and agriculture, Sustainable agricultural practices
Caroline N’Gomange Maro, University of Arizona, United States. Expertise: Horticulture, Plant Breeding, Plant Microbiology, Microbiology
Virginie Drolet-Labelle, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada. Expertise: Nutrition, Public Health, Sustainability, Sugary Beverages
Julieth Uriza, Utrecht University, Netherlands. Expertise: Nutrition, Food Science, Public Policy, Epidemiology, Regulatory Affairs
Meike Siemonsma, Wageningen University, Netherlands. Expertise: Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Food Research , Advanced Data Analysis
Guilherme Portugal, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Applied economics, Food externalities, Microeconomic modeling, Sustainable food markets, Mobility theories, Public policy
Byambabayar Ganbold (Bibby), Wageningen University, Netherlands. Expertise: Remote sensing, Soil, Physical geography, Climate change
Housna Hassani. Expertise: School Meals, Environment
Agung Jauhari, Utrecht University, Netherlands. Expertise: GIS, Cartography, Spatial Analysis
Noxolo Kabane, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Expertise: Research policy development in urban development, Policies and programs, Planning to address child malnutrition in the Eastern Cape Province, Project management, Strategy development
Sikhumbule Kagiso Joni, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Expertise: Food environment , Indigenous foods
Arshpreet Kaur Khattra, Michigan State University, United States. Expertise: Food microbiology and food safety, predictive microbial modeling and risk assessment, AI and machine learning for environmental data analysis, low-moisture foods (LMF) and dry sanitation technologies
Jing Li, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. Expertise: Plant protection, Insect ecology, Ecological chemistry, Integrated pest management (IPM)
Fiorella Loli, University of California, Davis, United States. Expertise: Food systems, Livelihoods, Andean agriculture
Kamilia Mahloul, Sorbonne University, France. Expertise : Molecular and cellular biology, Nanobiotechnology, Histology, Bioinformatics and data analysis, Scientific communication and critical thinking
Mamphasha Expertise Phina Mdaka, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Expertise: Sustainable layer farming practices in South Africa; Integration of poultry farming with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Role of egg production in public health, food security, and the prevention of chronic diseases
Zheng Miao, University of California, Davis, United States. Aquaculture, Agriculture, Machine Learning, Computer Vision
Leon Noble, University of Leeks, England. Expertise: Aquaculture, Agriculture, Machine Learning, Computer Vision
Vincent Ogweno, Michigan State University, United States. Expertise: Geo-AI, remote sensing, agricultural climatology, political ecology, agricultural land mapping, frost risk detection, environmental governance, demographic studies
Laura Parro Lorente, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. Expertise: Nutrition, Food Science, Analytical Chemistry, Chromatographic Techniques, Cell Culture, Nutritional Assessment of Patients, Data and Questionnaire Management
Krishna Poudel, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Expertise: Soil health and quality, Carbon and nitrogen cycles, Food and nutritional quality, Organic and mineral matter, Fertilization, Greenhouse gas reduction, Crop drought tolerance, Stress
Ms. Mpho Ratshilnindela, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Expertise: Veterinary parasitology and infectious diseases, Molecular techniques: DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing (NGS and Sanger sequencing), Sequence analysis, Epidemiological investigation and statistical data analysis, Risk factor assessment using structured questionnaires
Andrea Rizo Barroso, University of Barcelona, Spain. Expertise: Urban food environments, Food security, Gender inequalities, Right to food
Noah Schlager, School of Geography, University of Arizona, United States. Expertise: Indigenous food systems, food sovereignty, agroecology and agrobiodiversity, history of conservation science, farmer support networks, indigenous seeds, conservation
Bruno Lopes Silva, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Expertise: Applied economics, Business, Economic development, Policy, Food and nutrition security, Food systems.
Sarah E. Veale, University of York, England. Expertise: Social inequalities, Maternal and child nutrition, Sustainable food systems, Plant-based diets, Research and co-design, Food insecurity and ultra-processed foods, Climate and health, Public engagement and science, Communication
Laura Wilmot, Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Expertise: Food law (food sovereignty, food security, and food self-sufficiency), Indigenous law (self-determination), International law (implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

Testimonials

Hear how the platform has made a difference in the journey of Ana Maria Quiroga-Arcila, a doctoral student in plant biology at ULaval in Quebec City and a participant in the first cohort’s activities.

The actors

The Nutrition – Food Systems initiative was developed in collaboration with the University of Pretoria beginning in May 2022. On the UM side, the initiative is led scientifically by Karen Lambert-Cordillac, University Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Montpellier. On the University of Pretoria side, the lead is Frans Swanepoel of the Future Africa Center. The initiative takes the form of a global collaborative doctoral training platform bringing together doctoral students from the strategic partners of both institutions.

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 the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS)
China Agricultural University (CAU)

North America

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

South America

University of São Paulo (USP)

Africa

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

Governance

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

The CPI 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 positions.

The CPI decides on and oversees the implementation of the Platform’s strategic directions 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 UM by Nathalie Modjeska, with the assistance of Elsa Denis, within the Office for International Support and the Attractiveness of Core Programs under the Core Programs Division