FFI & FAO "Food and Climate Shapers Boot Camps"

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and Future Food Institute have launched, following their 2019 Joint Declaration, international training Boot Camps to address and mitigate the climate crisis through the regeneration of agri-food systems. The ambition of these programs is to train a new class of Climate Shapers, key figures in the food chain and in generating positive climate impacts by changing the way we produce food, process it, market it, and consume it.

Purpose of the learning experience

Humans have caused major climate changes to happen already, and we have set in motion more changes still. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, global warming would continue to happen for at least several more decades: there is a time lag between what we do and when we feel it.

But it may not be too late to avoid or limit some of the worst effects of climate change. Responding to it will involve a two-tier approach. Both “Mitigation” – reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; and “adaptation” – learning to live with, and adapt to, climate change that has already been set in motion, will be needed in the next decade and we need to be prepared.

Who is involved?

Future Food is looking for individuals with a strong passion for advancing the global movement for the Sustainable Development Goals in the most regenerative, impactful and innovative way possible; individuals with a project, an idea, or a personal challenge to share and bring to life, to transform inspiration into action.

Future Food for Climate Change Summer Schools involve a multidisciplinary curated group of “thinkers” and “doers”, young experts coming from all over the globe, inspired and motivated to take action in the real world to combat climate change and its impacts. The diverse pool of competences in the team (like engineering, food technology, chemistry, economics, design, entrepreneurship, gastronomic sciences, food studies, political science, health, philosophy, international cooperation, food sciences, architecture, management and marketing etc..) is going to be one of the key ingredients. 

The programs are organized at inspiring locations and include visits to relevant startups, spin-offs, or innovative projects. Every program is hosted by generous and forward-thinking communities, very committed to being part of the SDGs solution. Last but not least, there are interactive workshops and integration of the Climate Shapers with local communities, using design and prosperity thinking approaches. The Climate Shapers are required to prepare themselves. For every boot camp, there is a pre-course program to follow based on e-learning material that has been developed by the FAO.

In presence editions

Since 2019, we have been developing an advanced learning program including hands-on experience supported by a series of e-learning courses, to equip the professionals of today’s food system with a resilient and coopetitive mindset that is required to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Six in-presence editions have been realized:

• FFI/FAO - OCEANS - ICELAND http://bit.ly/33lbK5i
• FFI/FAO - CITIES - NEW YORK http://bit.ly/2YU7paD
• FFI/FAO - FARMS - TOKYO https://bit.ly/2ZjaKQz
• FFI/FAO - KITCHENS - POLLICA/MEDITERRANEAN 2020  https://bit.ly/2Y88SIo 
• FFI/FAO - OCEANS - MARETTIMO https://bit.ly/3Lwzcn0
• FFI/FAO - MEDITERRANEAN REGENERATION - POLLICA 2021 https://bit.ly/3gOpiik

Digital editions

The initial in-person experience shifted to a digital format in 2020 to continue amidst the ongoing pandemic. Besides the main learning journey based on ecosystemic and prosperity thinking, the Climate Shapers can follow four tracks: Climate-Smart Cities, Farms, Kitchens, and Oceans. The 4-week, part-time ‘hybrid’ learning program is filled with critical thinking exercises and live conversations with industry experts, where continents, time zones, and age are not barriers and digital tools are the enablers of glocal community activation. Measuring our impact is also part of our mission. For this purpose, we are using the 3D Impact assessment tool. Developed by Tim Strasser from the Maastricht University, this tool is helpful to get a better understanding of how a network is doing in terms of achieving a transformative impact, and the conditions for doing so. It focuses on various aspects that are essential conditions for the network to achieve a long-term transformative impact. The multi layer approach of this tool represents a valuable instrument to measure the impact of all the synergies created during and by the boot camp. We have witnessed the distinct value that comes with integrating intergenerational citizens, from various backgrounds. We have also witnessed the benefits of creating cross-cultural communication to generate unique experiences, conversations, debates, workshops and new-age solutions. It has become apparent that distinctive ideation exists at the intersection of these multicultural minds, provided that the correct educational guidance, mentorship, and exposure to new ecosystems and models are in place. With this in mind, we mapped our desired outcomes for the Boot Camps into 5 core impact areas: 1. Sense of agency. 2. Belongingness. 3. Food system solutions. 4. Embracing complexity. 5. Cross-pollination of expertise.