Become a FutureFoodMaker with EIT Food
We are recruiting motivated young people aged 18-24 - our FutureFoodMakers - to give them the chance to have their voice heard by the food sector about what they want from the future of their food system.
Our food system plays a critical role in some of the biggest challenges the world is facing, from reducing climate change, pollution and waste, to tackling malnutrition, health inequality and obesity. Access to healthy and affordable food is essential to overcome the big food challenge – but this is out of reach for many.
As a FutureFoodMaker, you will have the opportunity to learn about the food system and the innovations at the forefront of positive change and kickstart your career in food. As part of the role you will get the chance to talk to and meet a wide range of people from across the sector, such as experts at EIT Food, food sector entrepreneurs and food industry professionals such as farmers, producers and manufacturers. You will also present your ideas about how to shape the future of the food system and call for change in this crucial Decade of Action.
To be eligible for the role of a FutureFoodMaker, you must be 18-24 years old, an EU or British citizen currently living in Europe and able to travel within the EU, and available to attend an online event on 30 November.
If you would like to help promote this opportunity for 18-24 year olds, please find some copy and visuals here:
The FutureFoodMaker mission
Despite its huge power and influence, the food sector in 2021 leaves many young people unable to access healthy and affordable food. Now is the time to support the next generation who will be most affected by lack of action, and ensure their voices are heard - and acted on.
Our research found that young people are keenly interested and knowledgeable about healthy eating. However, they lack support to eat healthily and want better advice on the link between what they eat and their mental health. It also revealed that access to healthy food and affordability are key barriers to overcome for young people as well as transparency, evidence-based information and support from food brands and governments.
Read more about our research here
With a mission to give young people their voice for the future, we are launching a campaign, ‘Our Food, Our Food System’, which will be led by young people aged 18-24 years old, targeting the food sector and calling for radical change to tackle access to healthy, sustainable and affordable food across the industry. We want to give young people - our FutureFoodMakers - the chance to tell the sector what they want from the future of their food and the future of their food system.
The FutureFoodMaker journey
The FutureFoodMakers will embody the role of a sustainable food activist; gaining access to the food sector to drive positive change and help design a food system they understand and feel connected to. They will work collaboratively to deliver and launch a Menu for Change in November 2021 that outlines a set of clear actions the sector needs to address in this critical period.
The FutureFoodMaker role
Collaboratively, the FutureFoodMakers will work together to produce a manifesto that will guide and influence future decision makers – including policy makers, food manufacturers, retailers and food sector stakeholders – on the future of the European food sector. This manifesto, known as the Menu for Change, will be presented to the food industry at the ‘Future of Food’ conference on 30 November 2021.
To be eligible for the role of a FutureFoodMaker, you must be 18-24 years old, an EU or British citizen currently living in Europe and able to travel within the EU, and available to attend the Future of Food event on 30 November.
Opportunities as a FutureFoodMaker
As a FutureFoodMaker you will gain access to the industry and have unique opportunities to work with teams across EIT Food. This is also an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to have a career in food and show off their skills and passion as a sustainable food activist.
As well as supporting the development of the Menu for Change, you will gain a range of new experiences and career development opportunities such as:
- The chance to pitch content for the FoodUnfolded website, such as an opinion piece, news story or podcast, giving you exposure and an opportunity to make new connections. You would be offered support and guidance on any content creation by the FoodUnfolded editorial team
- The chance to develop content on EIT Food’s core channels, for example, a LinkedIn post, podcast interview or a Twitter thread. You will be offered support and guidance on any content creation from a member of EIT Food’s digital communications team
- Attending stakeholder events, such as the Nordic Council Zero Waste Week event
- Meetings with EIT Food staff, entrepreneurs or partners who are already changing the food system
- 1-2-1 Q&A sessions with a member of the EIT Food Community. In some regions, you may also have the opportunity to have this session in person, for example, discovering a day in the life of our Agricultural Manager in Spain as part of the EIT Food Regenerative Agriculture Revolution Project
- Collaboration with other FutureFoodMakers to share activities and learnings as you draft the Menu for Change
- Picking one of our flexible online courses (MOOCs) to attend such as Food and Nutrition: The Truth Behind Food Headlines (2 hours per week, over 3 weeks) or Revolutionising the Food Chain with Technology (4 hours per week, over 5 weeks).
Time needed as FutureFoodMaker
FutureFoodMakers will need approximately four days per month over two months to develop the Menu for Change but this time is flexible and can be outside usual office hours. Activities such as courses can be attended at a time to suit you and the opportunity to participate in EIT Food activities in exchange can continue beyond the scope of the campaign.
It is anticipated that all meetings and attendance at events will be online unless otherwise specified. If you are invited to travel to a meeting or activity to attend in person, all travel expenses will be covered.
To be eligible for this role, you must also be available to attend this event online on 30 November 2021.
Recruiting our FutureFoodMakers
FutureFoodMaker applicants are invited to submit a personal statement via this form. The personal statement can be written (up to 500 words) or a short video explaining:
- Why you think you are the right person to apply for this role
- Any relevant interests and experience you have
- One idea about a change you want to see from the food sector.
Timings for applications
Stage one of the application process will run for six weeks from Tuesday 27 July to Tuesday 7 September 2021.
The candidates will then be shortlisted between Wednesday 8 and Friday 10 September.
In stage two of the application process, 25 shortlisted candidates will be invited to provide a 3-5 minute video presentation about what they want to see from the future food system and submit this by Friday 17 September. You will be invited to deliver your presentation via a recording, using a platform such as Loom or Prezi, giving you an easy, creative way to tell your story.
The presentations will be shared with a judging panel. The judging panel will be made up of representatives from across the EIT Food community, youth social enterprises and the food sector.
The panel will have until Friday 24 September to select their chosen FutureFoodMakers, who will start their roles on Monday 4 October.
Apply now to be a FutureFoodMaker
To be eligible for the role of a FutureFoodMaker, you must be 18-24 years old, an EU or British citizen currently living in Europe and able to travel within the EU, and available to attend the Future of Food event on 30 November.
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