The student challenge

Denmark drew international attention in 2024 with the announcement of the Green Tripartite agreement. The first of its kind in the world, the Green Tripartite is an ambitious collaborative framework for the sustainable transformation of Danish agriculture.In this episode of FoodPod, we ask: how positive should we be about the Green Tripartite and the future of agriculture in Denmark? Will farming still be an attractive and competitive business in the years to come? In the studio are Lisbeth Henricksen, formerly executive vice president and now CEO at Seges Innovation, and Martin Scholten, European liaison advisor at Wageningen University and consulting advisor at Aarhus University.

How can we keep growing the food we need while getting the planet back in balance? That’s a question many of us are asking when we hear about nutrient runoff into fragile freshwater and marine ecosystems and the climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions from farmers’ fields.In agricultural Denmark, the farmers have certainly been feeling the heat of public opinion over such issues. In this episode of foodpod denmark, we talk to some of the leading scientists and technology providers who are working on the solutions. Read more and see the pictures on the episode page

It’s not hard to find people with opinions on food. Most of us have them – whether they’re about what makes a healthy diet or a more sustainable planet or just what tastes amazingly great.But, if you follow the news about what’s good or bad about food, it’s quite understandable if you end up confused. The amount of information – and misinformation – out there is mind-boggling.In this episode of Foodpod, we meet three people with a passion for separating facts from fiction and developing new knowledge that can lead to better food products in the future.They all have three things in common – an interest in healthy and sustainable nutrition, a desire to make a difference and a Master’s degree in Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology from Aarhus University. Are you interested in a career in food technology, nutrition and health? The Master’s degree programme in Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology will introduce you to:Food raw materials and the impact of genetics and primary productionModern processing methods and their influence on food productsFood components, functionality and propertiesOpportunities to improve health through foodGraduates are in demand Read more about the programme here.

Insects are an important part of the daily diet for millions of people. Except in the West, that is, where hundreds of years ago, they disappeared from the daily menu. Why that happened, we can only guess. But many agree that it’s time to get them back on the table. Because, as a sustainable source of protein, insects are hard to beat. Some even say they are the new superfood we can’t afford to ignore. In Denmark, a small team of entrepreneurs are doing what they can to make it happen. On the site of a former poultry farm, they have built ENORM Biofactory, where the vision is to produce tonnes of black soldier fly larvae every day. To learn more, visit us at foodpod.dk.

Have you heard how many people are moving to the cities these days? Does that make you wonder about who’s going to grow the food? In Denmark, a community of like-minded people have come together to help secure the global food supply for generations to come. Together, they have formed Growstack – an open source, foodtech project that is all about bringing farming to the cities. The Growstack team tells their visionary and innovative story in this episode of Foodpod Denmark.

Denmark has a strong international reputation for the quality of its meat and dairy products, and the technology that goes into producing it. But did you know that Denmark is also becoming a leader in plant-based foods? Many people – young millennials in particular – are now choosing to eat plant-based meals at least once a week. Concerns about the environment, health and how to feed the world’s booming population are all part of the explanation. We talk with two experts – Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl from the Danish Vegetarian Society and Henrik Lund from Natural' Foods – about the plant-based trend and how Danish innovation is making a global impact. Learn more at foodpod denmark

Dairy farmers are among the poorest members of the population in Senegal, West Africa. Most of the milk they produce is poured away – simply because they have no way to store it and no one to sell it to. That's a serious situation – and not just for the farmers. For the children of low-income Senegalese families, it means an important source of nutrition is lost. And the rate of child malnutrition is high. This is the story of the visionary young vet, Bagoré Bathily, who started a dairy to raise the standard of living for local farmers and produce affordable yoghurt for low-income families. Today, he works with Danish innovators to make each litre of milk go further and help farmers get more milk from their cows – to even greater benefit to the country's large low-income population. See photos at foodpod denmark

In recent years, new Nordic cuisine has taken the world by storm. Now Nordic drinks are drawing attention - produced by innovative entrepreneurs with an unswerving focus on Danish craftsmanship and the best, natural ingredients. Pure Shots, Cold Hand Winery and Nohrlund are three young drinks companies that are putting Denmark on the gourmet beverage map. We went to find out why their brand of premium indulgence is revolutionising the drinks market. See photos at foodpod denmark

The chicken business is booming. Today, in the US, the largest chicken producer slaughters as many as 35 million birds a week to keep up with demand. You might think that the poultry business has never had it so good. But over the past few years, consumers have started to demand chicken reared without antibiotics. Worried that antibiotic-free farming will harm the birds and lower profits, US poultry farmers are turning to Danish innovation for a solution. To see pictures, visit foodpod.dk!

The battle for talented young people is on in the business world. So, how can food companies come across as the most exciting career option? Through a student challenge, of course. At regular events in Denmark, teams of international students come together and compete to find the best solutions to food industry challenges. The contests open up a world of exciting career possibilities in the food sector. We hear from a former contest participant about how the challenge put her on the young talent map – and her ambition to make a difference. To see pictures, visit foodpod.dk!