MDS takes part in global sustainable business challenge
A global higher-education initiative, the Sustainable Business Challenge, selected the food and fresh produce supply chain as its focus for this year’s challenge. Over 125 students from across the world took part in the award-winning competition, which kicked off in March, to develop an idea for a responsible, innovative enterprise that would support the food and fresh produce industry to become more sustainable.
This was the first year the challenge was aligned to a specific sector, with previous challenges set more broadly around a specific business or location, such as the Province of Groningen, UK Civil Service and Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
MDS was selected to represent the industry and judge the challenge. Previous industries included the public sector and employer representatives included, the UK Civil Service and the Province of Gronigen.
COO Sapphira Waterson, who was part of the final judging panel, commented:
“It was fantastic to see students from across the world come together to learn more about the fresh produce supply chain and develop creative solutions to some of the real world challenges the industry needs to address.”
The challenge was delivered in collaboration with six academic institutions across the globe:
- Groningen University, Netherlands
- University of Bath, UK
- Newcastle University, UK
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Liverpool, UK
125 students were selected by their universities to participate in the challenge, none of whom had prior experience of the industry.
MDS was selected to represent the industry and judge the challenge. Previous industries included the public sector and employer representatives included, the UK Civil Service and the Province of Gronigen.
Paul Cullingham, part of the Employer Connections Team at the University of Liverpool, explained:
“Every year, we have a lead employer partner from a different industry who sets the challenge and helps provide the students with valuable context into the challenge theme. This year we chose MDS and the fresh produce sector because of the huge amount of press coverage surrounding the industry as a result of Brexit and the pandemic. ”
Working in cross-university teams, the students were placed into groups of 3 – 6 and over the course of five days created a business proposal and pitch deck over Microsoft Teams with the support from business advisors.
Teams developed innovative solutions, which they presented via a digital pitch to a panel of business professionals, including representatives from MDS Members, international crop protection company Syngenta and major retailer, Morrisons.
The Winners
Sarah Battersby (Newcastle), Eleanor Shoebridge (Liverpool) and Mariana dos Santos Soares Pinto (Vrije) were the challenge winners. The judges selected their community food waste cookery school concept because of its proposed impacts on both food waste and community within a local area. The team said:
“Green Plate would offer weekly cooking classes to educate people on how to cook with food waste and surplus ingredients. We aimed to reinstall a greater appreciation for food and increase awareness of the impacts of food waste on the environment while also tackling issues of loneliness. We now have a greater appreciation for the logistics behind the supply chain and a greater awareness of the challenges suppliers face in delivering quality produce to retailers. It made us realise how costly it is to create and build a business with real estimates.”
Runners Up
Itumeleng Hlongwane (Cape Town), Hannah Bailon (Vrije), Nicholas Morgan (Newcastle), and Riyaben Odedara (Bath) were awarded as runners up for their pet food idea to reduce the 30% of food wasted every year. This team explained:
“We developed a solution to reduce food waste sent to landfill sites to decompose, which can also form hazardous methane gas. The business would use misshapen and surplus food to produce pet food and treats. The challenge made us realise the high potential for the food industry to participate in the circular economy to create more sustainable solutions.”
MDS Chair, Christine Tacon, will offer career coaching sessions to the winning group as well as CV and interview prep sessions to the second-place team.
“Having someone independent, not in your school or business and not a friend, but who knows you and looks at your career from the outside is so important. They encourage you, nudge you and point out the obvious when you are not happy or not fulfilling your potential. I was pleased that the prize was to expose undergraduates to mentoring so they could experience the value that can add, even if just one session.”
Runners Up
- Jessica Henderson – Newcastle University
- Disha Kumar – University of Bath
- Kudzai Mumbengegwi – University of Cape Town
- Oscar Molenkamp – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Lois Sands – University of Liverpool
- Flo Rousseau – Newcastle University
- Shimeon Botes – University of Cape Town
- Rabiah Kahol – University of Bath
- Tobias Koran – Newcastle University
- Katarzyna Kapuścińska – Groningen University
- Tristian Ziegerink – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Jasper Andringa – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Frances Hayton – University of Cape Town
- Lorna Birstow- Newcastle University
- Paula Rmairez – Groningnen University
- Fammie Azeez – University of Bath
- Maria Ayala – University of Liverpool
MDS is looking forward to building on its career outreach campaigns with the launch of the new Operations and Development programme and Leadership and Management programme earlier this year, which will also offer opportunities to non-graduates and career changers.
