RIS Inspire - Sustainable Food Production and Consumption

The main learning objective of the programme is to provide participants with an insight into the most important challenges for increasing the sustainability of the food system and access to healthier diets with an approach to digital innovation. The taught contents will be applied in a project-based learning approach focused on different food system topics: Sustainability Agriculture, Alternative Proteins and Circular Food Systems.

By the end of the programme, students will have gained greater knowledge and awareness of the challenges related to the sustainability of food systems and will be able to develop concrete strategies and solutions to address them with an entrepreneurial spirit and the most effective deep technologies.

The course is open to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students interested in food and nutrition.

This course is open only for RIS Countries. Find more about the EIT RIS Countries here.

The Summer School programme is structured with a student-centered vision and a project-based approach that will encourage you to use the tools provided by highly qualified experts to co-develop your own innovative and entrepreneurial idea for healthier living through food.

Teaching contents will be supported by academics from the University of Bologna, University of Turin, Aarhus University, and highly qualified professionals on entrepreneurship in the food system. In addition, agribusiness experts related to sustainable food production and consumption will be invited to discuss and give important inputs to students.

This Summer School will provide participants with knowledge and awareness of the challenges of sustainability and healthy nutrition. In addition, the network that will be created through the teamwork approach will strengthen a smart ecosystem for young innovators with highly multidisciplinary backgrounds.

The programme will facilitate an open innovation ecosystem, allowing participants to operate in a broader spatial context and become skilled individuals in developing, managing and sharing innovative solutions focused on sustainable food systems.

Through this learning opportunity, entrepreneurship and innovation will be catalysed with a focus on the potential of start-ups and entrepreneurial talent, supporting young people to become active players in regional and national developments, especially in relation to the transition to sustainable food systems in RIS areas.

The three-week course will give you insight into sustainable food production and consumption with a focus on Deep Tech innovations. The course will be taught by academics and food industry experts in a blended synchronous and asynchronous (online and offline) approach, and it will enable you and your team to develop and co-design a creative and innovative idea to promote healthier and more sustainable lives through food.

In the first week (September 16, 2024 – September 20, 2024), you will be given an overview of the 3 main topics that will be covered by the programme: Sustainable Agriculture, Alternative Proteins and Circular Food Systems.

In the second week (September 23, 2024 – September 27, 2024), you will be presented with case studies where extensive research was conducted on the topics covered. The case studies will improve your understanding of the challenges to be faced and the opportunities to be seized. They also will be a useful tool for effectively planning your entrepreneurial projects.

In the third week (September 30, 2024 – October 04, 2024), you will have the opportunity to be inspired by a series of talks that will focus on innovation, creativity, business and the future. These “Inspirational talks” will be conducted by entrepreneurs and experts in the food sector.

You will work in interdisciplinary teams with the support of mentors during the 3 weeks.