Course information
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.
Level: Professional
Start date: 17 Oct 2023
End date: 12 Dec 2023Course duration: About 14 hours online 8 hours onsite along 3 months time window
Location: Online and onsite (Berlin)
Language: English
Price: Under Participation fees
- Certificate of completion
The “Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Water and Food Security” offers you several advantages, including:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
What will you learn?
The course achieves the following levels across the competency framework
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- Food systems: Master: It provides foundational understanding, practical application, mastery of complex facets of food systems, and inspires systemic change.
- Data management: N/A: While the course involves some elements of data analysis, it doesn’t explicitly focus on “Data Management” as outlined in the EIT Food Competency Framework.
- Technology management: Practice: It introduces learners to emerging technologies and their applications in sustainable agriculture and water management, but it does not provide opportunities for direct, hands-on management of these technologies or inspire innovative use.
- Entrepreneurship: Practice: The course introduces foundational knowledge, providing practice opportunities, and fostering deep engagement with entrepreneurial thinking in sustainable agriculture.
- Problem solving: Master: The course introduces learners to problem spaces, provides opportunities to practice and master problem-solving techniques.
- Critical thinking: Master: Learners analyse complex problems and make decisions about potential solutions.
- Leadership: Practice: Leadership is addressed through foundational knowledge and group tasks requiring collaboration and planning.
- Communication: Practice: The course offers learners opportunities to discuss, explain, and present complex ideas.
Structure & Modules
Our programme, divided into eight engaging modules, guides learners through the multifaceted world of sustainable food production and water management.
Module 1. Introduction to the Water-Food Nexus: The Future of Food and Water Security
The first module will start with an ice-breaker and then explore the relationship between food production and water management. Learners 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 – October 17th 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 Central European Time (CET)
Module 2. 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.
Online – October 24th 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Module 3. Agricultural Water Management and Conservation for Circularity of Food and Water
This module delves into the crucial aspects of water efficiency and agricultural conservation, underscoring the significance of sustainable practices and innovative technologies within a circular economy framework.
Online – October 31st 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Module 4. Event – Future of Circularity in Agriculture and Water Management
This module is a one-day event taking place during Berlin Science Week. This interactive and immersive event can be attended either physically or virtually. The event features expert panel discussions, project presentations, networking opportunities, and sponsor showcases. Learners, experts, practitioners, and sponsors come together to engage in discussions, share insights, and foster connections in the agriculture and water management sectors.
Onsite and Online – November 9th 2023, all day – Berlin
Module 5. Water Recycling and Reuse in Agriculture for Circularity of Food and Water
This module delves into the concept of water recycling and reuse in agriculture, elaborating on various recovery methods and their socio-economic and environmental benefits.
Online – November 21st 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Module 6. Showcasing of Technologies for Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Quality Protection in Agriculture
The module will engage learners with innovative technologies that enhance water conservation, efficiency, and quality protection in agriculture through a series of presentations by premium and standard sponsors. The learners will discuss their experiences and challenges with these technologies and participate in a group activity where they will design a technological solution for a specific water management challenge in agriculture.
Online – November 28th 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Module 7. System Thinking for Sustainable Food and Water Systems
In this module, learners delve into system thinking for sustainable food and water systems through brainstorming sessions, group discussions, case study analysis, and role-playing exercises. These activities allow learners to share innovative ideas, discuss challenges, and propose solutions. An interactive presentation by experts in sustainable business models 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 – December 5th 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Module 8. Public and Private Financing for Circularity of Food and Water
The self-study lecture explores financing in the agriculture-water nexus, covering funding mechanisms, investment strategies, and partnerships. The live session includes group discussions, an interactive presentation, and a Q&A with experienced guest speakers, sharing real-world insights on sustainable financing.
Online – December 12 2023, 16:30 – 18:30 CET
Participation Fees
Full course fee – deadline 13th Oct. 2023
Student* – 500 Euro
Professional* – 950 Euro
Early Bird Discount – for application before 6th Oct. 2023
Student* – 250 Euro
Professional* – 500 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.
**All prices exclude applicable
Career Opportunities
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.
Programme Leaders
Programme Manager Education at EIT Food HQ
mario.roccaro@eitfood.eu
mario.roccaro@eitfood.eu
Founder of Our Future Water
robert@ourfuturewater.com
robert@ourfuturewater.com
In collaboration with
