Upcoming Event

2025 Food Systems Innovation event

Details

30th of September, 2025

09:30 – 17:00

Omnia

To create a world without hunger, in which everyone has access to sustainable, healthy, safe and affordable food we need to transform our food systems. On 30 September, Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands Food Partnership and partners join forces to bring together bright and motivated minds from all over the world to inspire you on how to develop creative pathways and solutions to address these challenges.

Programme outline

09:45 – 12:15	Exploring the Future of Farming and Food
12:15 – 14:00	Networking market, including posters and information market
14:00 – 15:30	Award ceremony of the Food Systems Innovation Challenge
15:30 – 16:30	Networking Drinks

Morning programme – Exploring the Future of Farming and Food

Join the students of the WUR course ‘Exploring the Future of Farming and Food’ (FSE21306) in an interactive morning with the student teams participating in the Food Systems Innovation Challenge.

Guided by experts of the Global Network of Lighthouse Farms and (guest) lecturers, the students will critically explore the diversity of solutions being offered to secure a sustainable and future-proof food system.

‘Leaning into the complexity of our global food system, and diving into unfolding debates by asking new questions and searching for diverse perspectives.’

Afternoon programme – Award ceremony of the Food Systems Innovation Challenge

In the Food System Innovation Challenge, 24 teams from 13 different universities in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Suriname, Uganda and Vietnam have been selected to implement their innovative solutions in the food system through their project. What are their ideas? Who will become the overall winner? Which teams will sweep up a part of the total amount of 14.000,- euros in Prize Money? And how do ideas developed in the Challenge contribute to creating a better future for our planet?

The Award ceremony will commence with an opening by Carolien Kroese, Rector Magnificus of Wageningen University & Research and Ivo Demmers, Executive Director of the Netherlands Food Partnership.

Join the afternoon programme to find answers to those questions and weigh in on the food systems of the future!

Jury

Sabin Lamichhane	Head of Local Action, World Food Forum/FAO
Jacobine Mannak	Sustainability Director
Edson Mpyisi Rurangwa	Chief Financial Economist and ENABLE Youth at African Development Bank
Celeste Macilwaine	Head of Innovation Lab/ Youth Food Lab, World Food Forum/FAO
Fernando Russo	CEO of Meraki Impact
John Reich	Scientific Program Director of FFAR
Jurriaan Middelhof	Ambassador of The Netherlands for Youth, Education and Employment
Maaike Groot	Global Head of Communications, Public and Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability at East-West Seed
Jean Muthamia-Mwenda	Global Lead, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship at SNV
Patrick Okori (TBC)	Executive Secretary of RUFORUM

The challenge is organised by the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) and WUR Student Challenges in close collaboration with the participating universities. In the morning the teams will have closed pitch sessions with the jury.

Livestream

The livestream of both plenary sessions (10.00-12.00 and 14.00-15.30) will appear at https://wur.yuja.com/ in a tab called EVENTS. Make sure you are logged out, click on the tab EVENTS, and click on the recording you would like to watch. Note that livestreams will only appear in the tab once the streaming session has begun. Before and after a streamed session the livestream will not appear in the tab.

The teams in the Food Systems Innovation Challenge
Food Systems Innovation Challenge
Global Network of Lighthouse Farms