Bologna, Italy - The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Institute for the Future and Future Food Institute have come together to launch the Food Innovation Program, a full time 10 month Master’s program starting March 2015 led by distinguished international professors, opinion leaders and entrepreneurs all at the forefront of food and innovation.
The Food Innovation Program aims to identify the critical technologies for shaping agriculture, food distribution, retail and consumption while taking into consideration food safety, social relationships and regulations. In addition, the program aims to expand and develop radical innovations in the sector, building on Seeds of Disruption: How Technology is Remaking the Future of Food, a map of the ways in which technologies can be used to close gaps in the food system developed by the Institute for the Future (Palo Alto, CA).
"Institute for the Future is thrilled to see our forecast map, Seeds of Disruption: How Technology is Remaking the Future of Food, inspire the next generation of innovators. We can't wait to see how the students' ideas, designs, and prototypes merge tradition with innovation to build a more resilient, sustainable, equitable, and delicious future of food." - Rebecca Chesney, IFTF Food Futures Lab
Food plays a multifaceted role in everyday life. However, the dynamics of the global food system have become increasingly complex and dangerously unsustainable. What will people eat in twenty years? How will food be produced in order to sustain over 9 billion people? These are just some of the urgent questions to be addressed through the process of innovation. The Food Innovation Program will offer the opportunity to challenge these urgent issues and provide students the chance to bring into light their ideas and become leaders in food innovation.
“The Future Food Institute strongly believes that only through exchanging knowledge, fostering innovation, cultivating creativity, being inspired by visionary social entrepreneurs and empowering education, we can face the challenge of nourishing people and the planet in a healthier way. The Food Innovation Program brings together young and visionary entrepreneurs, developers, experts, foodies, producers with innovative and disruptive ideas that can create positive impact on local and global levels.” - Sara Roversi, Founder, Future Food Institute
The program will be divided into a theory phase followed by a 5-month hands-on phase. The theory phase will be carried out in the new Food Innovation Space in Reggio Emilia designed specifically for the program and will incorporate the Reggio Approach. Student's will be introduced to IFTF’s research methodologies and design thinking followed by lectures and classes given by renowned instructors such as Caleb Harper (MIT CityFarm) and Claude Fischler (Interdisciplinary Institute for Contemporary Anthropology) as well as opinion leaders and successful entrepreneurs from around the world that will inspire students through exploration and discovery. The hands-on phase will allow students to take advantage of the state of the art ''Officucina", a makerspace for prototyping innovative products and services specifically created for the program. Students will also take part in Innovation Challenges posed by our partner companies and participate in various Hackathon events that will provide the chance to exchange and build out their ideas with a broader community during Expo Milano 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.
“The Food Innovation Program is a unique opportunity that integrates the skills needed to shape key players that will lead the way into the future, they are the food innovators. Naturally, Italy is the proper breeding ground to develop a project like this because here it is possible to imagine a future where culture and technology are a synthesis centered on people and their needs.” - Prof. Matteo Vignoli, Scientific Director, Food Innovation Program (UNIMORE)
Applications close January 26, 2015.
For more information, please visit the program website: http://www.foodinnovationprogram.org
