Joint Postgraduate School:
Food Transitions 2050
RESEARCHERS - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR PROJECT FUNDING
APPLY NOW
The Joint Postgraduate School Food Transitions 2050 is a strategic three-way partnership between Lincoln University, the University of Canterbury and the Bioeconomy Science Institute.
Originally set up between five research organisations located in the Canterbury region: AgResearch, Lincoln University, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and the University of Canterbury, our research aims to support the transition of our regional, national and international food systems to a future, more sustainable, state.
Our Partners:
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Paora (Paul) Tapsell (Ngāti Whakaue and Raukawa) to the role of Director of Food Transitions 2050.
NEWS
Do you have a project idea?
We are pleased to announce the 2026 call for proposals for PhD projects is now OPEN
This programme is an opportunity to seed new collaborations or project ideas, with the intention being that teams will seek further external funding in the future. Our research aims to support the transition of our regional, national and international food systems to a future, more sustainable, state. Projects can focus on any component of this challenge, using any disciplinary research approaches (e.g. science, social science, kaupapa Māori, humanities).
So if you have an idea, please review out our Proposal Call page and APPLY
Introducing our new Director of Food Transitions 2050
A Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, his work bridges social science and Mātauranga Māori, focusing on practical, innovative ways to strengthen climate resilience, food sovereignty, and community wellbeing across Aotearoa and
the wider Pacific. He is also the inaugural Director of the Institute of Kāika Climate Resilience (KICR) based at Lincoln University.
Professor Tapsell is an internationally respected scholar, curator, and community leader with over three decades of experience across universities, museums, government, and not-for-profit sectors.
As the Director of the Joint Postgraduate School Food Transitions 2050, Professor Tapsell provides strategic leadership guided by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a deep commitment to empowering communities through collaboration. Over the next three years, his focus will include:
Aligning institutional direction and partnerships to advance the School’s research and impact.
Representing FT2050 across universities, mana whenua, research partners, and the PhD community.
Strengthening BSI collaborations through annual planning to refine research priorities.
Supporting subtheme leads and supervisors to grow a connected, thriving PhD cohort.
Expanding funding and partnership opportunities across research, industry, and investment sectors.
Ensuring Ngāi Tahu representation and leadership through the KICR Taumata Advisory Committee.
Overview
Food Transitions 2050 is a postgraduate school focusing on food sustainability. The result of a multilateral partnership, the initiative is dedicated to supporting the transition of our regional, national and international food systems – the first for postgraduate research in Aotearoa New Zealand. The school’s core purpose is to support the transition to more future-focused, sustainable food systems and preparation by the year 2050.
At the heart of the initiative is a virtual community of practice of PhD students and their supervisory teams conducting research in a set of PhD projects linked by the overarching theme of Food Transitions 2050.
How it works
PhD students in the initiative are enrolled at one of the two university partners, and students and their supervisory teams operate under the requirements for PhD research enrolment at their home university. The intention is that the PhD student experience is as consistent as possible across the School.
“The school’s core purpose is to support the transition to more future-focused, sustainable food systems and preparation.”
Applications for projects are now OPEN
Applications for projects by supervisory teams open in September each year. Prospective candidates will be able to apply for PhD positions within these projects from mid-November.