University Day for Sustainable Development 2022

On July 6, 2022, the University of Hohenheim welcomed 120 participants to the very first University Day for Sustainable Development in the beautiful castle of Hohenheim. The event gathered stakeholders from Baden-Württemberg's universities to engage in an interdisciplinary exchange on international development policy. As a leading university of agricultural sciences, we placed a special focus on SDG 2: Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture with reference to Africa. 

A broad and manifold program with inputs on sustainable development underlined the academic perspectives within the current swelling discourses on food security and sustainable agriculture and highlighted the potentials for sustainable development in the different fields of higher education.  

Prof. Dr. Caroline Ruiner started off the program of the University Day of Sustainable Development and presented the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the University of Hohenheim. 

Following Prof. Dr. Ruiner, Ministerial Director Dr. Hans J. Reiter and State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet provided valuable insights into the policies of the State of Baden Würtemberg. 

The keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Awudu Abdulai from Kiel University, presented the policy priorities for overcoming food insecurity and environmental degradation in Africa. At the end of his presentation, the Head of the Institute of Food Economics and Consumption Studies made clear that several adjustments need to be addressed, such as improving climate resilience across food systems, investing in physical infrastructure, and intervening along food supply chains to lower the cost of nutritious foods and reduce food loss and waste. 

The panel discussion that followed addressed challenges in achieving the SDGs and the role of universities. 

Besides these valuable inputs, the participants of the University Day for Sustainable Development were involved in an interactive forum discussion where they had the opportunity to contribute and discuss their ideas regarding the role of universities in sustainable development. 

The outcomes of the last session highlighted inclusiveness as one of the most important factors for unlocking sustainable development in all areas of the university, from education to science to the campus itself.  

After such a long time of online events, the face-to-face meeting of various actors in the field of international cooperation offered a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary networking, with the Market of Possibilities providing a platform to establish new contacts.  

At the end of the day, the participants had a lot of new food for thought and were able to expand their network within the sustainable development community in Baden Württemberg. 

We would like to thank all participants and the organising team. We are already looking forward to the next University Day for Sustainable Development 2023.