Organized by the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, in collaboration with UNRIC and UNESCO, the event took place under the slogan 'Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.' Young researchers had the opportunity to present their work and ideas to policymakers and experts.
Tom Köller, Deputy Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, emphasized during the opening that young researchers can make a significant contribution to public policy development today. Their research helps identify new challenges, critically question established assumptions, and highlight new opportunities. In turn, policymakers can help researchers better understand field needs and issues.
The exchange of knowledge and perspectives outside the academic environment fosters the emergence of new ideas and the development of fruitful collaborations. This exchange is particularly important for the Benelux cooperation, as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face common challenges in agriculture and food security. Integrating scientific research results strengthens the foundation for robust, evidence-based public policies.
The Students4Food Talks thus provided a meeting space between science and public policy, highlighting new ideas and potential collaborations for tomorrow's food systems.
