DSM Brighter Living Foundation | One Young World Scholarship 2023

Unsustainable methods of food production and consumption are putting humanity on the brink of exceeding what our planet can physically provide. Climate change is accelerating an already volatile situation; add to this a growing global population, and it is clear we need to rethink our current food systems to ensure healthy diets for all within planetary boundaries.

Through our science-based solutions, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, DSM is helping the food value chain take better care of our planet by producing and consuming more sustainably. ‘Health for Planet’ is one of three focus areas for DSM and the company has made two major commitments in this domain:

• Enable double-digit on-farm livestock emission reduction by 2030
• Reaching 150 million people with nutritious, sustainable plant-based protein foods by 2030

Candidates applying for the scholarship through this focus area should be actively making an impact to decrease the environmental footprint of local and global agri-food systems. Candidates might demonstrate this impact by:

• Shaping opinions: advocating for systemic change, by making the case for greater education around the environmental impact of food systems so that consumers, governments, and companies can make more sustainable food choices.
• Walking the talk: reducing emissions related to human and animal food production or working with partners in supporting farmers to do so, or helping to reduce food loss and waste. This could include creating more transparency of environmental impacts through consumer information, it could relate to gas emissions, land use, biodiversity and water use. It can also include digital tools throughout the value chain on the farm or along the value chain.
• Producing locally: sustainably producing local produce or nutritional products to serve local communities.

Mass industrialization of food has provided an abundance for many, but not for all. Meanwhile, poor food composition, accessibility to nutritious foods, and changing lifestyles are leading to undernutrition, hidden hunger, and diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. These issues are further compounded by climate change, conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Good nutrition is essential for good health. ‘Health for People’ is one of three focus areas for DSM and the company has made two major food systems commitments in this domain:

• ‘Enable to close the micronutrient gap of 800 million vulnerable people by 2030’
• ‘Supporting the immunity of half a billion people by 2030’

The food security and livelihoods crisis has been amplified by COVID-19 health risk, is a major health concern and reason for further spurring investment in Nutrition. Immune health has never been more topical as now during the COVID-19 response period. Strong evidence shows that good nutrition is fundamental for a healthy immune system.

Candidates applying for the scholarship through this focus area should be actively working to increase the availability of high-quality affordable and aspirational nutritious foods in low and middle-income countries.

• Shaping opinions: raising awareness of the importance of a balanced and nutritional diet, so that consumers, governments, and companies can make healthier food choices. This may include, but not extensively, scaling up large scale fortification of staples (rice, corn, wheat) and foods with vitamins and minerals.
• Building brands: developing responsible and nutritious brands which are aspirational, affordable and accessible for the most vulnerable who need them most, (especially those with low income, at base of pyramid (BoP).
• Producing locally: sustainably producing local produce or nutritional products to serve local communities.

‘Healthy livelihoods’ in this context means the ability for farmers and other food workers to meet basic needs such as food, shelter and education for their families, with the support of steady, livable incomes (1). Sufficient incomes are a prerequisite for providing for healthy diets, education and shelter for farmers and are a topic of interest by governments and financial donors as steady supply chains are needed for resilient supply chains. Unfortunately, many people working in the food supply chains, including farmers, traders, and factory workers, are unable to afford or have access to healthy food which also imposes supply chain risks:

• Inequality: Of the nearly one billion farmers in the world, more than 492 million live in extreme poverty.
• In most developing countries, smallholder farmers make up around 90% of food production and agriculture and employ up to two-thirds of the population.
• Farmers and other workers along the food supply chain need fair, steady incomes that will support their basic needs.

We work with our partners to help farmers and other food workers achieve steady incomes and access essential training and education. ‘Healthy Livelihoods’ is one of three focus areas for DSM and the company has made a major commitment in this domain:

‘Together with our partners, supporting the livelihoods of 500,000 smallholder farmers across value chains by 2030’.

Candidates applying for the scholarship through this focus area should be actively making an impact to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Candidates might demonstrate this impact by:

• Shaping opinions: advocating for systemic change, by making the case for greater education around the social impact of food systems so that consumers, governments, and companies can make fairer food choices.
• Walking the talk: through just sourcing principles and partnerships, strive for equality and aim to ensure sustainable value chains that contribute to local development and provide appropriate incomes for workers and farmers.
• Improving small holder farmers value chain: developing/implementing programs to eliminate post-harvest losses for small holder farmers and improve quality of their produce.

(1) UN 2021, WBCSD 2021