Water-Food Nexus: the Future of Water and Food Security

Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Water and Food Security is a comprehensive course primarily for professionals. It investigates the interrelation of food production and water resources, underlining the importance of circularity principles and sustainable practices.

Key highlights include:

• A deep dive into the symbiotic relationship between food production and water management.
• Real-world applications of sustainable and circular strategies across diverse fields.
• Empowerment of participants to implement learned practices in their respective areas.

The curriculum, spread across eight dynamic modules, delivers comprehensive insights into sustainable food production and water management.

Key components of the course include:

• Understanding of circularity concepts, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation strategies.
• Exposure to innovative water conservation technologies and entrepreneurial thinking for sustainable systems.
• Opportunities for networking and interaction with experts during Berlin Science Week.

This course has about 14 hours online and 8 hours onsite, along 3 months time window.

The “Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Water and Food Security” offers you several advantages, including:

1. Interdisciplinary Learning: The course merges key concepts from environmental science, agriculture, water management, system thinking, and communication. This ensures a multifaceted understanding of sustainable food production and water management.
2. Practical Application: You will benefit from real-world applications and practical solutions to ensure that the knowledge gained can be immediately used in your daily professional activities.
3. Advanced Skills: You will gain technical competencies allowing you to perform activities; you will acquire capabilities related to circularity, system thinking, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, and communication. These skills are crucial not only in food and water security but also in your professional context.
4. Networking Opportunities: You will network with professionals in the Water-Food Nexus systems, exchange ideas, and foster partnerships to expand your opportunities for collaborative joint initiatives. The course includes an event at the Berlin Science Week, providing the opportunity to meet the cohort in person.
5. System Thinking Mindset: The course encourages a system thinking approach in sustainable food and water systems, equipping learners to create innovative and sustainable solutions in their work.
6. Expert Guidance: You will be taught by experienced professionals, ensuring high-quality instruction and a deep understanding of the current issues and solutions in sustainable food production and water management.
7. Certification: You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course, serving as a testament to the advanced skills and knowledge gained.

The “Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Water and Food Security” course primarily targets professionals but also embraces students.

1. Professionals: The course is particularly beneficial for professionals in the fields related to environmental sciences, agriculture, water management, sustainability consulting, policy making, and any roles related to the implementation or management of sustainable practices. This could include individuals working in:

• Public sector roles in agriculture, water management or environmental sustainability departments; the public sector also includes professionals active in High Educational Institutions and Vocational Education and Training.
• Private sector roles within agricultural or environmental technology firms, food and beverage companies, water utilities, etc.
• Non-profit organizations or NGOs working on environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, or related fields
• Consulting roles in sustainability or environmental sectors

2. Students (current Master or PhD): Students focusing on environmental science, agriculture, water resources management, sustainability, or related fields are also welcome. They would find the course beneficial as it would provide practical insights and real-world examples that can enrich their academic understanding and research. Moreover, it could be a foundation for their future professional endeavours in these sectors.

In summary, the course caters to anyone interested in understanding the water-food nexus, sustainable agriculture, water management, and circularity concepts, irrespective of whether they are working professionals or advanced degree students. It’s designed to provide value to a wide range of individuals who are keen on contributing towards a sustainable future concerning food and water security.

The “Water-Food Nexus” course equips you with advanced knowledge in sustainable food and water management, expanding your career horizons in existing sectors or new sustainability-focused roles. Furthermore, networking opportunities at events like Berlin Science Week can spur collaborative opportunities, driving your careers forward in the sustainability field.

Our programme, divided into eight engaging modules, guides learners through the multifaceted world of sustainable food production and water management. Each module unfolds a different aspect of this vast field – from circularity concepts to sustainable agricultural practices, water management and conservation strategies, and innovative water conservation technologies. The course also delves into entrepreneurial thinking for sustainable systems and public and private financing avenues for circularity. The journey includes an onsite event providing a platform for learners to interact with experts and network with peers.

Community Building Let’s start our journey on Water-Food Nexus by building a community of learners connecting with before working together. People who complement, challenge, and support one another make fantastic teams. In the Community Building training, your values will be the chemistry and glue to form a game-changer community on the Water-Food Nexus, sharing the same values and making informed choices about how to innovate.
Online – September 3rd 2024, 15:30 – 18:30 Central European Time (CET)

Module 1. Introduction to the Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Food and Water Security
In this synchronous module, we’ll start with an ice-breaker and then explore the relationship between food production and water management. You will then discuss real-world circularity examples in small groups. The session will culminate with a hands-on case study analysis, identifying system strengths and weaknesses.
Online – September 10th 2024, 16:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 2: System Thinking for Sustainable Food and Water Systems
In this module, you will delve into system thinking for sustainable food and water systems through system mapping in group discussions and stakeholder role-playing exercises. These activities allow learners to share innovative ideas, discuss challenges, and propose solutions. An interactive presentation by guest speakers experienced in food systems will enrich the learning process. The module concludes with a reflection session where learners identify actionable steps to promote sustainability in their agricultural practices.
Online – September 17th 2024, 14:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 3: Sustainable Innovations in Food and Water Management through Desing Thinking
In this module, you will delve into design thinking principles, embracing both divergent and convergent thinking, to craft successful products, processes or services for the market. Through an interactive workshop, you will experience, in teamwork, a dynamic blend of creativity and analytical processes. This process will encourage the learners to propose sustainable solutions. The outcomes of this module will be showcased during the on-site event at the conclusion of the course (details provided later).
Online – September 24th 2024, 14:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 4: Agricultural Water Management, Conservation, Recycling, and Reuse for Circularity of Food and Water
This module focuses on water efficiency, conservation, recycling, and reuse in agriculture. It underscores the importance of innovative technologies and sustainable practices within a circular economy framework. Practical water management and reuse aspects are covered, including case studies, potential implementation strategies, and challenges. Participants will design group context-specific solutions to improve water management and agricultural conservation.
Online – October 1st 2024, 16:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 5. Sustainable Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions for Water Quality Protection
This module focuses on understanding the role of sustainable practices and nature-based solutions in preserving water quality in agriculture. The group activities will include a discussion and the joint creation of a nature-based solutions plan focused on water quality in agriculture. The joint creation will be presented at the final event on-site (see later).
Online – October 8th 2024, 15:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 6. Showcasing of Technologies for Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Quality Protection in Agriculture
The module will showcase the innovative technologies that enhance water conservation, efficiency, and quality protection in agriculture through a series of presentations by premium and standard sponsors. The learners discuss their experiences and challenges with these technologies in small groups. Finally, they participate in a group activity where they design a technological solution for a specific water management challenge in agriculture.
Online – October 15th 2024, 16:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 7. Public and Private Financing for Circularity of Food and Water
This module will explore public and private financing’s role in circularity within the agriculture-water nexus. It covers various funding mechanisms, investment strategies, and partnership models. The synchronous part includes group discussions on potential funding mechanisms and collaboration strategies. An interactive presentation and Q&A session with experienced guest speakers provide real-world insights into sustainable financing and investment strategies in this nexus.
Online – October 22nd 2024, 16:30 – 18:30 CET

Module 8: Final Event – Future of Water Food Security
The final module is a one-day event offering an interactive and immersive experience. It is also a stand-alone event open for professionals, researchers, and students who did not take the course. It features expert panel discussions, project presentations, networking opportunities, and sponsor showcases. This event is a platform for learners, experts, practitioners, and sponsors to engage in discussions, share insights, and foster connections in the agriculture and water management sectors.
On-site and Online – October 29th 2024, full day; location tbc

Beyond subject-specific skills, the course aims to nurture transferable skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and entrepreneurial thinking. Active participation is encouraged through varied assessment methods, emphasising homework completion, group projects, and engagement at the event (physically or virtually).
Water-Food Nexus programme foreseen participation fee.

Student* – 200 Euro
Professional* – 300 Euro

Student: with a current Master or PhD.
Professional: employee of a private or public organisation, higher education institution, consultant, agricultural manager, agronomist, food technologist, policy-making roles etc.

The fee does not include the cost of your travel expenses for the on-site event.