Brighter Living Scholarship 2024

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. We need to rethink our current production systems for food and beauty products.

Also, the perfumery and beauty industry faces sustainability challenges across its value chain, notably in plastic packaging waste, water-intensive manufacturing processes and ingredients sourcing. These matters underscore the industry's need for joint efforts to mitigate environmental impact and promote more eco-friendly practices.

Through our science-based solutions, partnerships, and advocacy efforts, dsm-firmenich is helping the food and beauty value chains to take better care of our planet by producing and consuming more sustainably.

To this end dsm-firmenich is setting science-based greenhouse gas emission targets for its own operations, supply chain and value chains. Also, climate action, avoiding emissions and biodiversity protection are important drivers in our partnerships and innovations.

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 or beauty products production 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 food and animal feed or beauty products production or working with partners in supporting farmers to do so or helping to reduce loss and waste. This could include creating more transparency of environmental impacts through consumer information, it could relate to greenhouse gas emissions, land use, biodiversity, and water use. It can also include digital tools throughout the value chain or on the farm.
• 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 and conflicts. Good nutrition is essential for good health.

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 diets, 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.

The social pillar is a third important element of dsm-firmenich sustainability ambition areas Equity, a living income, and a fair distribution of wealth in the value chains are important components. Sufficient incomes are a prerequisite 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 as well as in beauty products, including farmers, traders, and factory workers, do not obtain a living wage or living income. In some value chains, workers may be exposed to unsafe environments in farming or mining.

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 and equitable livelihoods so that consumers, governments, and companies can make fairer 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.