Climate change, soil degradation, hunger, obesity and lifestyle-related diseases: our food system is facing multiple challenges. Although different players – from government to corporate – have recognized these challenges, and increased their efforts to design a fitting response, business as usual is still the norm. This calls for an entirely different approach: an approach directed to food system transformation that taps into the root causes of the challenges we face and designs new ways of thinking, acting and organizing.

But how do you analyse what the challenges are in your area of interest? How do you identify opportunities and transition pathways? And how do you convert this analysis into a product, business, intervention or advice that truly contributes to a sustainable and just society? The minor Food Systems in Transition provides you with theories and tools to grow your expertise for transformative changemaking.

What will you learn?

This minor will offer the student a comprehensive overview of food system transitions in the world and the Netherlands in particular. After completing this minor students will have gained a deeper understanding of the complexity of our food system and identified meaningful opportunities for transformative change.

In this minor the student will develop:

• An overview of the transition processes that take place in food systems and the business opportunities these create.
• An understanding of the future demands of the urban food system and the consumers living in the city-region in terms of food products and related services.
• An awareness of the multiple crises unfolding in the food system today and how various stakeholders are responding to these in terms of policy-making, entrepreneurship and movement-building.

This minor is open for everyone with an interest in food, Dutch or international. We welcome students with various backgrounds. We especially encourage students who are considering to apply for the Master Food Systems Innovation at Aeres University of Applied Sciences Almere to follow this Minor. It is the perfect entry programme to start your journey to become a food systems changemaker!

Materials (articles, videos, websites) will be provided by the lecturers for each class. We recommend to order a copy of the following book:

Naam:      Meadows, D.H. (2008) Thinking in Systems. A primer.

Uitgever:  Chelsea Green Publishing Co

ISBN:       9781603580557

Mondays in weeks 36-4

Code: AFST01
Name: Food systems in transition
EC: 5
Mode of exam: Written exam
Period: 1

Code: AFST06
Name: Feeding the city
EC: 5
Mode of exam: Written exam
Period: 2

Code: AFST07
Name: Case study analysis food systems in transition
EC: 5
Mode of exam: Assignment (report and presentation)
Period: 1 & 2

Apply now!

So, what do you think? Can you see yourself playing your part in the food system transition? Apply now, and explore its complex dynamics and exciting opportunities together with an international group of students from various disciplines. Throughout the minor a number of field visits will be organized to local farms and food initiatives. We also hope to attend a relevant research conference or stakeholder event together. We may ask the students for a small contribution to cover the costs for these excursions.

If you have any questions about this programme, do not hesitate to contact Sara Smaal (s.smaal@aeres.nl)”