Integrated Food Studies

The MSc programme in Integrated Food Studies enables you to tackle problems related to the production and consumption of food, such as obesity, climate change and food security.The programme is offered in English.Your area of study will be the production, processing, distribution and consumption of food products from the perspectives of the natural, health and social sciences. How are our food systems formed by social structures and stakeholders such as politicians, consumers and industry? You learn to analyse the challenges and propose ways in which food systems can be designed to promote better public health, have a lower environmental impact, ensure food for the planet’s growing population, and more.The MSc programme in Integrated Food Studies focuses on how we can tailor our food systems to tackle the problems that are currently associated with food production. For example, you can examine how private or public meal services can be designed to avoid food waste and promote health; the factors behind our high consumption of meat; or the necessary conditions for a development towards a more plant-based diet.The degree programme’s starting point is that these and similar issues are complex and are best studied through a combination of different academic disciplines. Therefore, the programme not only incorporates the natural and health sciences, but also food design and social science.The programme is based on three main fields: Public Health Nutrition – here, the focus is on the links between food consumption, physical activity, nutrition and health.Food systems, Everyday Life and Innovation – here, you will gain an understanding of how the overall structures and political processes as well as human behaviour are involved in shaping the systems that determine the production and consumption of food.Food Design – in this area, we seek to understand, for example, the situations in which we consume or buy food – such as municipal meal services, hospital food or everyday grocery shopping – and seek new creative solutions.As a graduate, you will be able to:Handle complex issues within the food sector that require interdisciplinary work.Apply relevant theories and research methods to analyse current issues within the food sector.Based on analyses of specific areas, propose innovative ways to change food systems, production, distribution and organisation of private or public meal services.CareerAs a graduate, you will have access to a wide range of jobs in the food sector and related fields:In the private part of the food sector – including the food industry and retail trade – you will be able to work with management, strategic planning and innovative design, or manage change projects in food-related organisations and companiesIn the public sector – state, regional and municipal organisations – you can work with strategic development and consultancy as well as with preparing and implementing policies in the food area.You will be able to work with strategic development and implementation of public and private meal services. For example, this could involve developing municipal meal services for elderly people to reduce food waste and improve health.You will also have the option of working for international companies or organisations that help design or manage food systems, for example EU and UN organisations or international NGOs.Finally, you can choose to set up your own business and take advantage of the broad academic knowledge of nutrition, food design, consumption and policy development that the degree programme has given you.