16 - 21 August 2026 | Copenhagen | Application deadline: 24 June 2026

Working with biological solutions: From design to consumer acceptance

Agrifood systems have significant potential to contribute to climate action, biodiversity protection, resource efficiency and healthy diets within planetary boundaries. Unlocking this potential requires new biological solutions - also known as biosolutions - such as microorganisms, enzymes, and nature‑based processes. Biosolutions can improve primary production, reduce chemical inputs, create value from side-streams and support sustainable food innovation.

The biosolutions sector has immense potential to create jobs, accelerate the green transition, and drive innovation. START’s PhD Summer School offers a distinctive opportunity to work hands-on with the full development of a biosolution - from early design and production to regulation, commercialisation, and consumer acceptance. Participants gain rare insight into the entire value chain, and how sustainable agrifood solutions are developed in practice.

Read more about biosolution cases in agriculture here.

Content

The summer school will include lectures from specialists across the entire value chain from both academia, organisations and industry, 1-day excursion to state-of-the-art and pilot test facilities, working in cross-disciplinary groups on a case and presentation of the case challenge.

Topics such as the following will be covered:

Biosolutions in sustainable agrifood systems

Interdisciplinary collaboration in agrifood research

Design, production and processing phase of a new sustainable product

New Genomic Technologies (NGT)

Precision fermentation and downstream processing

Regulation, commercialization and consumer acceptance

Click here to see the full course description.

Why this couse?

Experience the entire biosolutions pathway in practice

Through visits to state-of-the-art and pilot test facilities, participants gain insight into how biosolutions are tested and developed beyond the lab. This course offers an opportunity for PhD students to explore biosolutions as a possible future career path – and as a rapidly growing field within research.

Engage with experts across the value chain

Lectures and interactions with specialists from academia, industry, and organisations provide multiple perspectives on biosolution development.

Work interdisciplinarily in practice

Participants collaborate across scientific, regulatory, and societal perspectives—mirroring real-world development processes.

How to apply

To apply you need to submit an application. As part of your application, please submit a CV and a short motivation letter (maximum one page), answering:

What are your expectations for the summer school?
How does interdisciplinary work relate to your research?
Briefly share your current research interests.

Participants are themselves responsible for visa applications (if applicable) and travel insurance. For visa requirements, visit New to Denmark.

You apply by submitting your application using the following link: https://eventsignup.ku.dk/startsummerschool

Are you ready to expand your practical knowledge about biosolutions? Read more about the course below

Target group and research area

The summer school is aimed at PhD students working with research related to:

Sustainable agrifood systems
Agriculture and plant science
Food science and biotechnology
Circular bioeconomy and upcycling
Consumer behavior, regulation and innovation
Food culture
Other related interdisciplinary fields

The Summer School aims to enroll 35 students across Danish and international universities.

Research area

Interdisciplinary sustainable agrifood systems. The course builds on a range of disciplines: natural science to describe the design, production and processing of agrifood products; consumer behavior and food marketing to describe how people perceive, choose, and accept food products; law and social science to describe regulatory and political options for novel foods.

Teaching and learning methods

The summer school uses research-based and challenge-driven learning. The programme includes:

Lectures by researchers, industry experts and organisations
Interdisciplinary discussions
Case-based group work
Facility visits related to production, processing and consumer research
A full-day excursion to Danish agrifood biosolution and pilot-test facilities
Final group presentations with feedback from lecturers and experts

Lecturers will include invited international speakers, researchers from the START network, and experts from industry and organisations.

Learning outcomes: Knowledge, skills and competences

Knowledge about:

Upon completing the course, the student will have gained knowledge of:

The role of biosolutions in the sustainable transition of agrifood systems, including microorganisms, enzymes and nature-based processes
Design, production, and processing of new sustainable food products across the value chain
Basics of New Genomic Technologies (NGT)
Regulatory frameworks and commercialization pathways for novel foods
Consumer behavior and market acceptance of sustainable biosolutions
Interdisciplinary approaches to complex challenges in agrifood systems

Skills:

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

Formulate and analyze challenges and solutions related to the development and commercialization of sustainable novel foods
Work effectively in interdisciplinary groups integrating perspectives from natural sciences, social sciences, law, and consumer science
Critically evaluate biosolutions along the entire agrifood value chain – from primary production to consumer acceptance
Communicate and present complex, interdisciplinary findings to a diverse academic and industry audience

Competences:

Upon completion of the course, the students will have developed competencies to:
Apply interdisciplinary thinking to identify and address real-world challenges in sustainable agrifood systems
Navigate the intersection of science, regulation, industry, and consumer perspectives when developing biosolution-based products
Contribute constructively to collaborative problem-solving processes in an international and interdisciplinary research environment

Type of assessment

Active participation in all sessions, including discussion with teachers, preparation of the case and presentation of case solution, and participation in the 1-day excursion. Students who complete the course will receive a diploma.

Literature

A list of literature will be provided to the students at least 2 weeks before the course starts.

Course fee

The course is free of charge for PhD students. Accommodation, most meals (except dinner), and social activities are also included. If you are from a non-Danish university, you may apply for reimbursement of travel expenses up to DKK 5,000 (including VAT), approximately €670.

Selection policy

When the deadline has passed, the selection committee will carefully review all applications. Emphasis will be placed on diversity in expertise, background and motivations towards the programme of the summer school and within the agrifood research area.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.

Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000
Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000
Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000