King and Queen Meet Student Teams in Suriname

During their state visit to Suriname earlier in December, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima met with two student teams from Anton de Kom University of Suriname: Waste2Wonders and AçaíBoosters, both participants in the Food Systems Innovation Challenge. In a small, informal setting, the teams were invited to present their projects and exchange ideas with the King and Queen, marking a rare moment of recognition for student-led innovation addressing food system challenges.

For the students, the encounter was both exciting and meaningful. As one AçaíBoosters team member described it, “You usually only see the King and Queen on TV or read about them in history books, and then suddenly, you’re meeting them in person.”

The conversations quickly moved beyond formalities. The Queen asked probing questions about food safety, sustainability, and long-term planning, challenging the teams to think critically about how their ideas could scale responsibly. “She didn’t just ask polite questions,” the AçaíBoosters team later reflected. “She challenged us to think about our future plans.”
Waste2Wonders, whose biodegradable planting pots made from agricultural waste earned them a place in the global Top 3 of the Food Systems Innovation Challenge (the highest possible ranking), experienced a similar level of engagement. The King and Queen showed particular interest in the project’s non-plastic, circular approach. Even though the interaction was brief, the team shared that it meant a great deal to feel such genuine interest in their work.

For AçaíBoosters, one moment stood out in particular. After hearing about their yoghurt concept aimed at reducing açaí spoilage while strengthening local value chains, the King expressed enthusiasm about potentially seeing the product in Dutch supermarkets one day. Hearing this was unexpectedly motivating for the team and confirmed that they were on the right path.

While deeply personal, the visit also carried broader significance. Both teams emphasised what it meant to represent their university and student innovation in Suriname during a state visit. Being selected was a moment of pride not only for the students themselves, but for their wider academic community.

Anton de Kom University of Suriname played a central role throughout this journey, from selecting the teams to supporting them day-to-day during the six-month challenge. With guidance from mentors, workshops by Wageningen University & Research, and dedicated academic support, the students were able to turn early ideas into tangible solutions.
For the teams, meeting the King and Queen marked a milestone in their academic journey, a moment that showed how far student ideas can travel when given the right platform and support.

The Food Systems Innovation Challenge is a highly competitive international programme in which only the top two teams from each participating university advance. Students receive funding, mentorship, and access to key stakeholders to develop nature-based solutions for more sustainable food systems.

The challenge is co-organised by Wageningen University & Research (WUR Student Challenges) and the Netherlands Food Partnership, and supported by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the University Fund Wageningen. Together with partner universities worldwide, the programme continues to empower students to turn ideas into real-world impact.