
Group photo of the winter camp participants and faculty. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
From Jan 5 to 10, the Sustainable Resource Management and Food Systems Research Alliance (SuReFood Alliance) held a capacity-building winter camp at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU). The event brought together young scholars and graduate students from around the world to explore the frontiers of sustainable agriculture and consumer science.
Professor Li Gucheng, dean of the College of Economics and Management at HZAU, opened the camp. Li highlighted how integrating food production, supply chains, value chains, and consumer behavior within a holistic analytical framework is essential for improving policy-making, business strategies, and academic research in the future.
The curriculum bridged theoretical insights with practical application. Associate Professor Paul Ingenbleek from Wageningen University explored consumer behavior and value chain theories, providing deep insights into animal welfare and sustainable consumption. Complementing this, Associate Professor Lin Li from Nanjing Agricultural University analyzed the unique preferences of Chinese consumers and the transformation of domestic agrifood market systems.
Innovation remained a focal point as HZAU's Associate Professor Li Fan introduced a "sustainability motivation consistency" framework. This research addresses the gap between climate anxiety and actual environmental action among youth, suggesting ways to turn their need for independence into a catalyst for sustainable choices.
The camp culminated in student presentations covering diverse topics, including preferences for "imperfect" agri-produce, the economics of integrated rice-shrimp farming, and the ethical impact of AI on consumption.
The program concluded on Jan 10 with a certification ceremony. The winter camp served as a high-level interdisciplinary platform, equipping the next generation of scholars to tackle the global challenges of food system transformation.