The START organisation
The Centre for Sustainable Agrifood Systems (START) is a science-driven, multidisciplinary research platform that fosters fundamental collaboration within the field of sustainable agrifood systems. Bringing together researchers from universities across Denmark, START represents a strong European research network and knowledge hub.
START operates through a distributed governance model led by the START Steering Committee, with a rotating chair that changes annually. Its core activities are carried out within the START Research Hubs, which are driven by dedicated Academic Hub Coordinators from various universities and disciplines. These coordinators contribute expertise, insights, and experience within their respective focus areas.
The START secretariat is coordinated by Aarhus University and supported by a joint administrative team representing the participating universities, ensuring efficient collaboration across the network.
START is founded by the united Danish Universities and represents
- Aarhus University (AU)
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
- University of Copenhagen (KU)
- Aalborg University (AAU)
- Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
- IT University of Copenhagen (ITU)
- Roskilde University (RUC)
- University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Meet the START Steering Committee
Andreas de Neergaard
START Chair 2026, Vice-dean for Education, KU
Jens Ejbye Schmidt
Head of the Department for Green Technologies, SDU
Andrea Carugati
Head of Department of Digitalization, CBS
Eskild Holm Nielsen
Dean, AU
Brian Vinter
Vice-dean for Research, AU
Ole Hertel
Vice-dean for Outreach, AU
Tine Rask Licht
Director of Institute, DTU National Food Institute
Michael Toft Overgaard
Vice-dean for Research and Innovation, AAU
Peter Kjær
Head of Department of People and Technology, RUC
Morten Hjelholt
Professor, Head of Research, ITU
Meet the START Hub Supporters and the Administrative Team
Ivelina Aleksandrova Bronke
Project Administrator
Email: ivbr@food.dtu.dk
Phone: +45 93 51 15 32
- Future Agrifood Systems
- 2GETHER
Susanne Kjelstrup
Head of TEK Innovation, Senior Adviser
Email: sukj@tek.sdu.dk
Phone: +45 65 50 71 41
- BioLand
- People & Practices
- Collaborative Landscapes
Jacob Thyrsted Johansen
Special Consultant, Project Developer and Fundraiser
Email: thyrsted@food.au.dk
Phone: +45 22 21 08 22
- Collaborative Landscapes
- Health
- DIGITAL
Christian Kvorning Lassen
Project Manager and Advisor, Fundraiser
Email: chrkl@food.au.dk
Phone: +45 20 92 85 20
- Circularity of Nutrients
- Genetic Adaptation
