Design of sustainable food systems

30 June - 7 July 2024
University of Tuscia

Introduction

The 4th edition of the international summer school on “Design of sustainable food systems” (DS-FOOD) arises from the growing attention that the issue of sustainability of food systems has gained at the international level. The Farm-to-Fork strategy launched by the European Union in 2020 brings agri-food issues to the heart of the European Green Deal, pushing for a transition of food systems towards a condition of sustainability that can lead to environmental, social, and economic benefits. This European approach aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 12: sustainable production and consumption).

The multidisciplinary knowledge of these issues by students enrolled in courses dealing with the agri-food sector is essential to allow them to work towards this transition starting from now and in the next future. The objective of the summer school is to provide participants with a theoretical overview and a basic toolbox to design and assess sustainability in agri-food systems, in an international environment.

The summer school is organised by University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy), in partnership with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala, Sweden), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Wien, Austria), Harokopio University of Athens (Greece), Münster University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (Romania). The physical mobility of the summer school will take place at the UNITUS Alpine Studies Centre, located in the small village of Pieve Tesino, in the Dolomites of Trentino, Italy, from 30th June to 7th July 2024.

The summer school is based on an interactive programme of lectures, seminars, field visits and workgroups to explore key issues linkes to the sustainability of food systems.
Major thematic topics reflect the four-pillar approach of the Farm-to-Fork EU strategy, thus combining sustainability of primary production, food processing and distribution, sustainable consumption styles and prevention of food waste.

Venue

Alpine Studies Centre of Pieve Tesino, Italy,

Participants

20

Previous Knowledge

The summer school is targeted to bachelor and master students enrolled in university courses dealing with agricultural and environmental sciences, food technology, food chain management, sustainability, and circular economy. Application of students with different backgrounds, PhD students and other participants will be considered upon availability of places.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be considered to evaluate applications:

• English language proficiency;
• Coherence of the university background of the applicant with the topics of the summer school;
• Academic performance as shown by the transcript of records;
• Gender balance;
• Balance among nationalities;
• Priority to students enrolled in bachelor or master courses at University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala, Sweden), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Wien, Austria), Harokopio University of Athens (Greece), Münster University of Applied Sci-ences (Germany), and National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (Romania) in the academic year 2023/2024.

Application

Applicants must compile the online application form available at this link and upload in the same form the following documents in PDF file format:

1. English language certificate or a self-certification (template for self-certification available at this link);
2. Transcript of records with exams and grades.
3. Motivational letter written in English (min 500 words, max 1,000 words);
4. Front-back copy of a valid identity document and visa to enter Italy (for nationalities for which the visa is required).

Selected applicants will be notified via email by 13th May 2024. Notification emails will be sent from the account of the summer school foodsummerschool@unitus.it. Selected applicants are required to reply via email to confirm their participation by 20th May 2024.

Participants required to pay the registration fee must complete the payment via bank transfer and send proof of the payment to foodsummerschool@unitus.it by 27th May 2024. The details of the bank transfer will be sent to the concerned applicants via email. In case selected applicants do not confirm or do not pay the registration fee within the deadline, other applicants on the waiting list will be contacted for replacement. Selected applicants are supposed to follow all the activities foreseen in the program of the summer school, including both the virtual component and the 8 days of physi-cal mobility. Participation to individual modules of the summer school is not possible.

Course Schedule

Virtual Component:
Wednesday, 25th June 2024 (morning)

Physical Mobility:
30th June - 7th July 2024

Please find the detailed program here.

Course Language

English

Key Information

The summer school is a Blended Intensive Program, co-funded by Erasmus+, which includes a virtual component (1 day) and physical mobility (8 days) at the premises of the Alpine Studies Centre.

The virtual component of the summer school will be hosted on Zoom. Selected applicants will receive the link to join the virtual component via email.

Participation fee

Thanks to the funding provided by the Internationalization Program of the University of Tuscia, the registration is free of charge for the students enrolled in degree courses at the six promoting Universities (University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria; Harokopio University of Athens, Greece; Münster University of Applied Sciences, Germany; National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania). The registration fee is € 250 for other participants.

The fee includes:

• All lectures and seminars;
• Course materials;
• Field visits on 3rd and 6th July 2024;
• Accommodation in multiple-bed rooms at the Alpine Studies Centre from the 30th of June (arrival) to the 7th of July (departure) 2024 (7 nights);
• Dinners at the local restaurant from the 30th June to the 6th July (7 dinners), with a fixed and mandatory contribution of 6€ per day per student, to be paid locally; the organising team reserves the right to remove this compulsory contribution in case of availability of additional funding in support of the summer school.

Travel expenses to reach Pieve Tesino, small entrance fees to the companies and tourist sights (to be paid locally), and costs of breakfast and lunches are not included in the registration fee. Students enrolled in the five non-Italian promoting universities (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria; Harokopio University of Athens, Greece; Münster University of Applied Sciences, Germany; National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania) can apply to the international offices of their home university to obtain a mobility contribution through Erasmus+ funds.

Application deadline

15th April 2024

Contact

foodsummerschool@unitus.it