April 13-17, 2026

Call For Application: November 5, 2025 – January 15, 2026, via the VIU website

This Graduate Seminar will be led by
- University of Milano-Bicocca
- University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS) of Pavia
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR)

One of the global challenges raised by climate change and pollution in relation to human society is to ensure access to a food that is sufficient, safe, nutritious and of quality. While climate change and pollution of the environment are partially caused by food production systems themselves, the same factors have also a direct negative impact on food security and food safety. According to the second objective of 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal (“Zero Hunger”), a sustainable food production system has the following characteristics: (1) it reduces the use of pesticides and fertilisers, and their dispersion in the environment and water courses; (2) it prioritises local food production and short supply chain; (3) it minimises food waste at all stages of production and consumption; (4) it uses rationally water and energy resources.

The aim of the Interdisciplinary Seminar here presented is to create a learning environment that allows young researchers to develop and interdisciplinary method and an international outlook on the theme of sustainable food. In order to be able to propose valid scientific answers to issues related to the right to food, it is necessary to train researchers able to interact at the international level, but also with a trans-disciplinary approach. In order to identify solutions to sustainable food systems, scholars and researchers need to learn how to share and communicate knowledge from different fields, such as law, economics, social sciences, medicine, nutrition, agro-ecology and biology.

In this vein, the proposed Seminar intends to suggest interdisciplinary interactive lessons in articulation with workshop activities that, through a bottom-up approach, will underline in particular how scientific and technological transformation impact on diets, food regimes and food access in a global context and how related policies should be revised in order to tackle the common goals set in the 2030 SDGs and reaffirmed in the recent ‘2024 Pact for the Future’, under Action 3, to end hunger, eliminate food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition.
The major societal challenge of the right to sufficient and nutritious food in order to live a dignified and active life and its interrelation with scientific innovation will be addressed theoretically thanks to the contribution of scholars from different backgrounds and from different VIU member institutions, as well as from other non-member research centres and Universities, while incorporating an interactive training methodology to boost transversal skills and adopting innovative teaching.

Faculty
Dominique Barjolle, University of Lausanne 
Gloria Rita Bertoli, National Research Council of Italy 
Roberta Dameno, University of Milano-Bicocca (Scientific Coordinator)
Paolo A. Leone, National Research Council of Italy 
Giulia Mattavelli, University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS) of Pavia
Axel Marx, KU Leuven
Paola Palestini, University of Milano-Bicocca 
Carola Ricci, University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS) of Pavia (Co-Coordinator)
Laura Salamero Teixidó, University of Lleida 
Alessandra Stella, National Research Council of Italy 
Jan Wouters, KU Leuven
Andrea Zappalaglio, University of Leeds

Topics
- Food Quality, Local Systems and Ethical Matters
- Food, One Health and Biodiversity Conservation
- Food Sustainability and Waste Management
- Public Policy, Innovations and Food Systems
- Food, Armed Conflict and Human Rights

Who can apply?
This Graduate Seminar is offered to advanced Master, PhD students and junior researchers in Legal, Social, Economic and Political Sciences including International Relations; Biotechnology and Biosciences; Medical Health Sciences and Nutrition; Agricultural and Food Sciences; Agro-ecology; Food Psychology. 
Open to candidates from all the VIU Member Institutions; applications from excellent candidates from non-member institutions will be also considered and evaluated.

Fees & grant support
Full fee waiver scholarships are available for students from VIU member institutions. In addition, grant support is available to support partially or fully the costs of international travel. Accommodation is provided free of charge. The participation fee for students of non-member institutions is €1150.00 VAT included. The fee is inclusive of tuition, course materials, accommodation, lunches, social events and taxes. Students from non-member institutions are not eligible for VIU grant support. VIU Alumni are eligible for a reduced fee.

Applicants must submit the (1) application form, (2) a letter of motivation – which should include a short bio and a brief description of the candidate’s research project, (3) a curriculum vitae, and (4) a photo.

For further information please download the brochure and the program or write to: summerschools@univiu.org