A Global Generation Reimagines Food Systems

After six months of ideation, research, and collaboration, the Food Systems Innovation Challenge – Nature-based Solutions edition reached its grand finals on 30 September at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). What began as an exchange of ideas among students from universities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America culminated in one day of pitching, reflection, and celebration, all centred on reimagining how food systems can work with nature, not against it.

Rooted in global collaboration

Hosted jointly by Wageningen University & Research and the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), the challenge invited students from the Global South to design nature-based solutions that make food systems more resilient, equitable, and sustainable.

“We all know there are major challenges ahead for our food systems,” said Carolien Kroeze, Rector Magnificus of WUR. “That’s why we need young people with bright minds, to take on these challenges in a responsible way, thinking about sustainability and about the communities they serve.”

The finals opened with panel discussions on youth leadership in food system transformation. Meanwhile, in the adjacent Dragon’s Den rooms, teams pitched their projects to an international jury. The atmosphere was electric as students faced probing questions about feasibility and long-term impact.

According to Celeste Macilwaine from the World Food Forum, who served as one of the jury members, the strength of the students’ ideas lay in their relevance and reach. “Many teams focused on real gaps in their communities and developed actionable, creative solutions,” she said. “Many of the top teams even combined multiple solutions within one business model.”

From vision to impact

One such team was AGRO-FEME SEPTET from Bangladesh Agricultural University, whose innovative business model earned them a place among the top three. What began as a small university project grew into a plan to turn polluted water bodies into thriving ecosystems.

Their idea addresses two intertwined challenges in Bangladesh: eutrophication and the invasion of water hyacinth, which they cleverly transformed into part of the solution. The team designed an integrated horticulture–aquaculture system that uses water hyacinth to cultivate vegetables and filter-feeder fish, improving both water quality and local nutrition.

For the team lead, Rubya Binte Rezanur, the experience was transformative. “We always dreamed of doing something for our country,” she said after the finals. “Now we can finally bring that dream to life.” The challenge helped her overcome stage fright, develop leadership skills, and learn to navigate teamwork for the first time. “As an all-women team, we built everything ourselves (even the frames), and proved that determination beats limitations.”

The group now hopes to inspire others by establishing Bangladesh’s first Youth Sustainable Food Systems Club, offering a platform for students to collaborate on green innovations. “We’ve already connected with other universities and NGOs,” said Rubya. “There are so many young people who want to work on these issues. We just needed a space to start.”

The winners

Inspired stories like Rubya’s were at the heart of the competition. Across the board, students turned local challenges into creative, scalable solutions that impressed both the jury and the audience.

The jury awarded the top prize of €3,500 each to three teams that best demonstrated the power of nature-based innovation to create social and environmental impact.

AGRO-FEME SEPTET | Bangladesh Agricultural University (Bangladesh)

The all-women team designed an integrated horticulture–aquaculture system that uses water hyacinth to grow vegetables and filter-feeder fish. The project aims to reduce nutrient pollution, improve local nutrition, and turn derelict ponds into productive ecosystems.

Waste to Wonders | Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Suriname)

This team created biodegradable planting pots made from rice husk, cocopeat, and cow manure, offering a circular alternative to plastic trays that reduces waste while promoting sustainable farming practices.

Pumpkin Aid | Wollo University (Ethiopia)

By promoting pumpkin cultivation and developing seven pumpkin-based food products, the team tackles undernutrition, food waste, and income insecurity in Ethiopian communities.

The Top 6 teams, each receiving €1,000, also impressed the jury with their creativity and potential for scalability:

FlyCycle (University of Ghana, Ghana) – Uses Black Soldier Fly farming to convert organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser.

Memayu Ning Papat (University of Brawijaya, Indonesia)

Integrates fish, azolla, and lemongrass into rice paddies to manage pests naturally and enhance biodiversity.

Millet Mavens (University of Abuja, Nigeria)

Develops millet-based food and cosmetic products to promote nutrition and biodiversity restoration.

The Audience Award, decided by live vote, went to AquaFour from Bangladesh Agricultural University, who captivated the crowd with their one-minute pitch on a biodegradable hydrogel that conserves water and improves soil fertility.

A global community of changemakers

Beyond the prizes, the challenge fostered something even more lasting. Students, mentors, and jury members spoke of a sense of connection that crossed borders and disciplines. It built a community that reached far beyond competition, where students from Indonesia and Nepal met peers from Nigeria and Ethiopia in a once-in-a-lifetime exchange that sparked genuine innovation.

For Samuel Horta from SolarPANC, arriving in Wageningen from Brazil was a highlight in itself. “I arrived in the Netherlands just a few days ago, and it has been incredible. It feels like a dream,” he said. “I keep waking up wondering, ‘Where am I?’ Everything is so different, from the culture to the landscape and the people. It is not just a Dutch experience; it is a global one. We have met so many people from all over the world.”

That global network also led to unexpected opportunities for collaboration. “I met someone from Ghana who said he could adapt our solution in his country,” said Rubya Binte Rezanur. “Imagine that, from Bangladesh to Ghana. That is the power of this experience.”

As Celeste Macilwaine from the World Food Forum reflected, what makes this challenge truly special is the community it creates, not only among students but also among professors, mentors, and coordinators. “When you bring all the teams together, you are creating a global community of changemakers and innovators,” she said. “Moving forward, we need to build on that by strengthening this community of practice and bringing diverse perspectives together to continue catalysing change.”

Continuing the journey

This spirit of community does not end with the finals. The top six teams will continue developing their projects through Youth Food Lab, an international incubation programme led by the World Food Forum in partnership with Wageningen University & Research and International Association for Agricultural Sustainability (IAAS).

Created to nurture young innovators beyond the competition, the Youth Food Lab helps participants turn their prototypes into scalable, real-world solutions. Over the coming months, the teams will receive hands-on mentorship, take part in expert-led masterclasses, and connect with a global network of professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The programme will culminate in Rome, where selected teams will showcase their progress on an international stage during the World Food Forum.

As Celeste Macilwaine from the World Food Forum explained, the initiative was born out of a need for continuity. “We saw so many brilliant ideas emerging from challenges like this one, but they needed access to resources, networks, and continued guidance to grow,” she said. “The Youth Food Lab provides that bridge. It gives young changemakers the tools, confidence, and community to scale their impact.”

International support

The Food Systems Innovation Challenge – Nature-based Solutions edition was made possible through collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands Food Partnership, FFAR, University Fund Wageningen, the Global Network of Lighthouse Farms, the Empower Youth4Food Campaign, Nuffic South-East Asia, Welt Hunger Hilfe and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.

As the event came to a close, the atmosphere in the Omnia Auditorium in Wageningen was one of optimism and resolve. The projects may differ in scale and geography, but they share a common goal: rethinking how food, people, and the planet can thrive together.