What does the food system of the future look like? And what role can young professionals play in it? The Food Impactmakers program gives MBO students the opportunity not only to research those questions, but also to translate them directly into action. In this substantive and practice-oriented program, students discover the food system up close and work together on solutions with impact.
Food Impactmakers was developed by Food Pioneers, in close cooperation with SOL (Food Industry Development Fund Foundation). The program brings together education and the working field and connects to current issues in the food chain.
Learning by doing, across the food chain
The food world is changing rapidly. Food Impactmakers responds to this with an interdisciplinary program that introduces students to different links in the chain: from agriculture and production to logistics, retail and entrepreneurship. Students learn to ask critical questions, give and receive feedback and work towards their own Food Challenge, in which they immediately apply the knowledge they have gained.
A key principle of the program is that real impact comes from collaboration from different perspectives. Therefore, this edition consists of a diverse group of students from the programmes Applied Biology (Aeres MBO Almere) and Biodynamic Agriculture (Warmonderhof, Aeres MBO Dronten).
Theory directly linked to practice
The program combines knowledge, skills and practical experience. Members of Food Impactmakers include:
- Visits to companies and locations in and around Flevoland and Amsterdam
- Skills training, such as asking better questions, giving feedback and future-proofing collaboration
- A creative conclusion with pitches and final products
Cooperation with SOL
Together with SOL, Food Impactmakers offers a program that is closely linked to the practice of the food world. Students experience how cooperation within the chain works and which roles reinforce each other. Within the program, SOL provides training in soft skills, such as presenting, giving feedback and collaborating effectively. Skills that students can immediately use in their studies and in their first job.
The program in brief
Day 1 – The world of agriculture
An introduction to different farming methods (conventional, organic and biodynamic), interactive activities to gain an understanding of the food system, and a farm visit to a mixed arable and poultry farm with a focus on soil health and circular agriculture.
Day 2 – The consumer: what do I know?
A supermarket safari with targeted lunch tasks, discussions with experts on health and the food environment, and a workshop on giving and receiving feedback, with a focus on the (un)healthy food environment in Almere.
Day 3 – The entrepreneur: another way forward
Field trips to Amsterdam-based entrepreneurs working on alternative supply chains and sustainable products. Students discuss social and sustainable entrepreneurship and take part in a training course on future-proof collaboration.
Day 4 – Food Challenge & certificate
The closing event consists of the presentation of the Food Challenge: a pitch and a creative final product, such as a video, recipe or artwork. The program concludes on a festive note with the presentation of certificates.
Who is Food Impactmakers interesting for?
- Educational institutions: MBO and HBO courses in green, food, hospitality, logistics, retail and marketing/communication, among others.
- Partners and businesses: organisations that want to involve students in current issues in the food chain and learn and develop together.
Food Impactmakers works on talent development, collaboration and innovation in the food chain - and thus on a future-proof food system.
