Joint Postgraduate School:
Food Transitions 2050
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 Students:
Our Research:
Our Future:
NEWS
June Workshop - ADRDS visit
Many of our FT2050 students are from overseas, and have not had the opportunity to visit a New Zealand farm. This month we visited Lincoln University's Ashley Dene Research Development Station to gain first-hand insight into New Zealand dairy farming and cutting-edge agricultural research.
Alongside a tour of the dairy shed and surrounding pastures, students learned about the Integral Health Farm long-term trial, led by Professor Pablo Gregorini. The project explores how changes to pasture composition and productive landscape design can be used to improve environmental, economic, social, and cultural outcomes. A key feature of the research is the integration of Mātauraka Māori from the outset, helping to support, sustain, and enhance te taiao. The result is a farming system that promotes healthier and happier livestock, healthier ecosystems, and milk and meat with added health benefits, while creating value for both people and the environment.
Graduation Celebrations
April and May see the latest graduands gain their doctorates from their respective universities. Congratulations to
🎓 Caitlin Hyde
🎓 Hamish Trlin
🎓 Le Wang
🎓 Mark MacDougall
🎓 Michelle Barry
We would also like to acknowledge and thank their supervisory teams and families for their support and guidance throughout this momentous achievement.
For more photos of our Graduation Celebration, and to see what each student was studying, see 2026 Graduation
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 currently closed.
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 early December.