Education Abroad
Global Food Systems and Health
The Global Food Systems and Health Study Abroad is designed for majors with a food and/or health focus: food science, dietetics, nutritional sciences, food law, agribusiness management, environmental economics and management, food industry management, hospitality business, biosystems engineering, and pre-health professional majors.
The 2023 Global Food Systems and Health Study abroad program takes place from May 11 - June 3. Students will visit Madrid and Valencia in Spain and Florence and Parma in Italy. Applications close January 15, 2023.
As a participant in the Global Food Systems and Health program, you will become familiar with up-to-date U.S. and European Union legislation and explore how international organizations play a role in promoting food, food systems and health. You will observe how multinational corporations function within their regulatory environment; interact with local food producers; government policy advisors, and university professors; and engage in local food cultures to develop a global perspective on regulation of the food systems and health.
You will learn:
- The major European Union food regulations and how they compare with U.S. regulations
- Food production, food processing and branding
- How geography influences food production, processing, marketing and branding
- Commercial and artisan food production technology in Spain and Italy
- How dietary patterns, influenced by geography and culture, influence chronic disease risk
You will meet and interact with:
- University professors
- Government officials
- Scientists
- Industry leaders
- Local food producers
- Local health professionals
You will develop:
- An understanding of the complexity of regulating a global food market
- An understanding of how geography influences food, food production, regional food labeling and marketing
- An appreciation for how dietary patterns, influenced by geography and culture, influence chronic disease risk
- An appreciation of the history and culture of the countries visited
- A portfolio of professional contacts and reference materials
- Professional and interpersonal skills
Translate your study abroad experiences into a competitive advantage in the workplace!
Highlights of the 2023 itinerary include:
- Madrid: Discussions with local food producers and industry leaders; observe local food production systems, market visits with tastings, International organizations in food production, regulation and health; cooking class.
- Valencia: Field trips to historic food market, local food production, local artisan cheese production. Lemon, orange and olive tree farms and production. Wine production.
- Florence: Visits to markets, restaurants and artisan food producers to explore the farm to-table supply chain and agritourismo. Lectures from local professors, technical visits to producers of regional and traditional foods. Pasta making class. Overnight visit to Parma for balsamic, artisan cheese and prosciutto production
Plus, free time to explore the historical, cultural and gastronomic treasures of Spain and Italy.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine the most exciting educational experience of your college career with visits to places most people only dream about!
For more information, visit the MSU Education abroad website. To learn about study abroad scholarships and financial aid offered to students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, click here.
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