Events & Media | 13 Nov 2025
FOODCastS Episode 6: Growing changemakers for the future of food systems
What does it take to truly change the way we think about food? For a small but passionate group of students in the Netherlands, the answer lies in blending books with boots-on-the-ground experience.
5 
0In this episode, we travel to the Netherlands to discover how the Master’s Programme in Food Systems Innovation at Aeres College is reshaping food education. Developer of and teacher in the programme Marjan de Boer and students Rosa Ellens and Spriha Mittal share how systems thinking, crossover internships, and hands-on projects prepare students to become changemakers in food, sustainability, and health. Expect rich insights into the future of education, practical experiences from the classroom and beyond, and personal stories of transformation.
Not a typical academic course
The Master’s Programme in Food Systems Innovation at Aeres College is a one-year whirlwind where students breathe sustainability: from city study tours to farm visits and “crossover internships” in unfamiliar corners of the food chain.
Marjan de Boer, developer of and teacher in the programme, explains: “We don’t just teach food systems, we teach changemakers.” Instead of memorizing theories in isolation, students learn to see the entire system—from soil to supermarket shelf—and understand their own role in shaping it.
Rosa Ellens, after studying sustainability, realized how disconnected city life can be from farming. Her master’s experience pushed her to return to her rural roots, working as a food ambassador in Rotterdam to link local farmers with urban businesses. Spriha Mittal, a chef turned student, discovered that transforming food isn’t as simple as swapping ingredients; it’s about understanding the complex web of policies, traditions, and choices that shape every plate.
Sparking a systemic change
Students receive continuous feedback, mirroring the way real-world changemakers learn—through iteration, reflection, and collaboration.
It’s intense. Some students admit it feels like a programme that should last two or four years, not one. But the results are undeniable: graduates leave not just as food professionals, but as leaders ready to spark systemic change—in kitchens, classrooms, communities, and beyond.
In a world where food insecurity, climate change, and sustainability challenges grow more urgent every day, this innovative approach offers hope. It reminds us that true change starts not with isolated solutions, but with the people bold enough to see the whole system—and brave enough to change it.
🎧Ready to listen? Tune in to Episode 6 of FOODCastS here.👇
Speakers of this show
- Marjan de Boer developer of and teacher in the Master’s Programme Food Systems Innovation at Aeres UAS Almere. This master received a mark of excellence in the Dutchstudent’s guide to education.
- Rosa Ellens and Spriha Mittal, students enrolled in this Master program.
- Florentin Ndizeye is the collaborative projects manager at EUFIC and is the host of this podcast episode.
