376: How you could help fix the global food system

<div>"We have a growing population, lots of changes in the climate, lots of greenhouse gas emissions which are jeopardising our food production, and we are at risk of not being able to feed the world."<br> <br> Natalia Falagán, Lecturer in Food Science and Technology, <a href="https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/">Cranfield University</a>, succinctly sets out some of the major issues the world is facing, and why students are queuing up to enrol on her courses.<br> <br> Enthusiasm for the subject is key, she says, and students "will get that enthusiasm and passion back from the lecturers".<br> <br> In this episode of the Career Conversations podcast series, made in partnership with Cranfield University, we delve into the detail of what the courses cover and how they can set students on the path to a rewarding career.<br> <br> Cranfield's <a href="https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/future-food-sustainability">Masters in Future Food Sustainability</a> is described as taking a whole system approach to solving some of the biggest challenges facing the global food system.<br> <br> Natalia says usually food people look at food, energy people look at energy, and water people look at water. "That's not going to take us anywhere," she says. "We need co-operation."<br> <br> That co-operative approach presents itself in a number of different ways. One of the key elements of the course is the opportunity to work alongside industry.<br> <br> Students work with Cranfield's industry partners to ensure they get real world experience and a real sense of what is actually happening on the ground.<br> <br> Another key element is the group project, where students work alongside others on different Masters courses at Cranfield to solve a problem posed by an industry partner or academic. <br> <br> Natalia says this helps students develop crucial soft skills, as well as broadening their knowledge base.<br> <br> Kate Jones studied on the course in 2021-22, leaving behind her job and salary.<br> <br> Despite the risk, she says she felt con