• IFSTAL is addressing the challenges of enhancing systems thinking and skills across the food sector.
  • IFSTAL was created to fill a skills gap, improving graduates’ professional capability in critical and innovative food system thinking, and help them to be more effective in the workplace.
  • IFSTAL has engaged over 1400 students across five HEIs in its first four years. We have strong connections with the workplace with IFSTAL network members working in a range of sectors including production, logistics, food retail, research, NGOs and government.
  • Students who engage with IFSTAL enter the workforce better equipped to tackle food system challenges.

Yorick Bruins

MSc Food Policy, City, University of London, now working at Agriterra

“The IFSTAL experience has helped me to perform better as a consultant for Agriterra. First, IFSTAL has broadened my view on the complexity of the food system, which has aided in understanding the complex nature of my daily work and the interrelations it has with other fields of study. This has included better mapping of value chains, mapping trade-offs, trying to include different layers of interests etc. Second, I try to use the experience I gained in communicating complexity: a difficult but valuable trait to possess when dealing with a variety of stakeholders.”

Kate Jarvis

MBA, University of Oxford, now working in commodity trading

“Through IFSTAL, I have engaged in conversations about food and agribusiness, and learned about the application of a systems approach to food. This experience has been a fantastic complement to the learning opportunities provided in the MBA, and has enabled me to dive deeper into some of the issues that shape the food industry. As a result, I have a renewed commitment to my career in food and agribusiness.”

Skye Oudemans

MSc Food Security, University of Warwick, now working at Food & Drink Federation

“IFSTAL helped me learn about the British food system – the frameworks and actors involved – which is very important in my role, where we interact with a range of stakeholders on a regular basis. An understanding of DEFRA, PHE and the FSA, for example, has been very important in the context of Brexit, the Childhood Obesity Strategy, and the Regulating our Future initiative. I’ve been learning hugely on the job to be sure, but IFSTAL gave me a framework and some experience to work with.”