15-26 July, Wageningen, Netherlands

This article was collaboratively prepared by participants of the Circular Food Systems Summer School 2024 cohort (listed in alphabetical order): Lizi Akhvlediani (Local Development Specialist, Georgia), Alex Akidiva (Food Systems Specialist, Kenya), and Bruna Zanatta (Farmer and Journalist, Brazil). (October, 2024)

In July 2024, while most students at Wageningen University and Research were away from its campus in the Netherlands, a group of 20 young professionals from various disciplines and regions of the world gathered for the Circular Food Systems Summer School. Organized by the Circular Food Systems (CFS) Network under the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), the initiative aimed to prepare professionals to contribute to shaping a policy and research agenda on circular food systems for the coming years.

Participants from diverse regions and backgrounds brought in a rich mix of perspectives. This intense and inspiring experience included lectures from leading researchers and experts in the CFS field, lively engagements from course facilitators, and visits to farms and companies that have adopted circular practices. Reflexivity, group activities, case clinics, and dynamic discussions were integral to the process. The 10-day program focused on key themes of circular agri-food systems, including the bio-based economy, crop-livestock integration, nutrient use efficiency, the 4R framework, carbon offsetting, waste management, and the social, economic, and political implications of a transition. The valorization of manure was also widely discussed, focusing on its export as part of the Netherlands' solution to cap nitrogen emissions.

It was fascinating to witness how closely interconnected academia and practice are, with farmers and researchers collaborating to find solutions to shared challenges. Beyond the on-campus classes, where participants were encouraged to exchange their experiences and perspectives through discussions, the program also offered multiple field visits to witness firsthand some important circularity initiatives in the Dutch food system (visits to Remeker, Kipster, Floating Farm Rotterdam, Boerderij Tussen de Hagen, and De Goed Gevulde boerderij were some of the key highlights of the program).

Theory U methodology was introduced at the outset of the summer school, guiding the group through reflective exercises and case clinics. These activities deepened participants' understanding of circularity and helped shape individual case studies, allowing each participant to explore how circular principles could be applied to challenges experienced in their localities. By the end of the program, each member of the group prepared a case study showcasing an example of a food system they were familiar with and exchanged ideas on how to make it more circular.

The diverse range of case studies highlighted the various challenges and opportunities that different regions face in adopting circular food systems. One of the most significant takeaways was the realization that circularity is not a prescriptive solution and its application must be tailored to specific local contexts.

At the end of the summer school, it was evident that connections formed during these ten days had laid the foundation for a lasting network of committed professionals ready to advance circularity worldwide. This was evidenced through intensified LinkedIn connections and communications to professional circles on the need to embrace and intensify CFS approach. The CFS Summer School proved to be an invaluable platform for discussing circularity’s benefits, challenges, and trade-offs, and we are confident that this transformative experience will continue to inspire many more professionals to contribute to knowledge sharing and transition efforts globally.