2025 Food Systems Innovation Challenge - Nature-based Solutions edition

In the quest to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security, the concept of Nature-based solutions in food systems is emerging. Amongst the growing recognition of the Nature-based solutions potential, nations worldwide endeavour to transform their food systems for a future of abundance and equity.

The Food Systems Innovation Challenge - Nature-based Solutions edition strives to cultivate youth engagement and entrepreneurship by actively involving young individuals in national efforts concerning socially and environmentally sustainable food systems.

The students in the challenge are provided with connections to influential stakeholders, access to high-level events and (knowledge) support from universities to transform their ideas into reality.

Through the challenge, students will not only gain knowledge but also valuable hands-on experiences. The challenge facilitates meaningful connections between students working across interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary fields.

Partners

WUR (Wageningen University & Research) and NFP (Netherlands Food Partnership) jointly organize this challenge with a strong focus on building a partnership with universities from the global south and stronger connections to food systems transformation pathways in the different countries. The challenge aims to build a partnership with universities in the global south to support youth engagement and entrepreneurship in food systems transitions.

The challenge is supported by FFAR (Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research).

The Global Network of Lighthouse Farms is connected to the challenge as Knowledge Partner.

Participating universities

  • Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
  • Esalq-USP, Brazil
  • Kathmandu University, Nepal
  • Lukenya University, Kenya
  • Makerere University, Uganda
  • University of Abuja, Nigeria
  • University of Brawijaya, Indonesia
  • University of Ghana, Ghana
  • Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
  • Wollo University, Ethiopia

Team formation

  • The teams consist of 4 to 8 students
  • It’s recommended to form a team of students with different disciplinary backgrounds
  • Students can form mixed teams, meaning they can come from different universities (including universities that are not on the list of participating universities in this challenge)
  • However, at least 2 of the team members should be from the participating university
  • At least 2 of the team members should be on site during the challenge period (April-October)
  • Recent graduates are welcome to join the Challenge, though the graduation should not be earlier than academic year 2023/2024. With a maximum of 1 recent graduate per team
  • We strive to complement each team with one or two students from Wageningen University & Research. They will work remotely together with the team and will be on top of the 4 to 8 students

The assignment

In this challenge, we ask student teams from the participating universities to work on a nature-based solution within the food system on a local level, addressing climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and biodiversity restoration, and thereby improving the quality of life. We challenge them to design a project plan and to implement it during the challenge period from May to October 2025. The projects should be feasible, sustainable, scalable, and have impact.

Registration

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