By Nicole Brini

"It is no secret that university students who study abroad develop a unique confidence.”

 

 

What kind of student is attracted to international agrifood programmes today?

A brave one!

It is no secret that university students who study abroad develop a unique confidence. Every day I meet students that have travelled from all over the world to study at a tertiary level in their second or third language. They often have no family or friends here when they arrive and they navigate all sorts of challenges from finding familiar foods to different styles of education.

Studying abroad is a great way to build an international network, improve your adaptability, experience a new culture and develop an international perspective with real-world experience. As students develop expertise in global agrifood production and supply chains, they also develop resilience and adaptability that equip them for their future careers.

 

Why do double degrees appear particularly relevant in agrifood education compared to other disciplines?

From paddock to people, agrifood production is a true multidisciplinary science. Graduates need an understanding of environmental science, agriculture, chemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, nutrition, food processing and new product development. It doesn’t end there. An understanding of international agrifood trade also requires an understanding of many complex concepts from studies that require high level of business, management and / or financial acumen and how emerging technologies can be used to extend product shelf life to facilitate successful international value chains.

Challenges for the future supply of food are inherently global: environmental change, development of new technologies, population growth and future food security to name a few. Graduates from double degrees in agrifood have the ability to take a ‘birds eye view’ of food production and the dynamic geopolitical environment in which international agrifood trade occurs.

 

Are double degrees shaping a new generation of “global food leaders” with hybrid competences?

The agrifood sector is essential to human wellbeing because it provides both sustenance and employment. In 2025, the Food and Agricultural Organisation estimated that the agrifood sector employed around 40% of all people employed worldwide. The importance and complexity of the global agrifood systems within constantly changing technological, geopolitical and climatic environments warrant more students taking double or dual agrifood and business degrees.

Tomorrow’s global food leaders need to stay abreast of emerging and future challenges that occur at the nexus of science, business management and sustainability. If we are to guarantee food security for the future, we need top graduates with a commitment to building a better future. If you have the opportunity to study internationally or have the aptitude to navigate science and business studies perhaps an international double degree is for you.