I have only good memories
Nina Buchmann and Michael Siegrist look back on their time as Chair of the World Food System Center. From it founding with 25 members and subsequent growth, both reflect on the relevance of the food system research.
An interview with Nina Buchmann, Founding Chair of the World Food System Center (September 2011- June 2017)
Q: As the Founding Chair, you helped to form the Center and search for first Executive Director. Looking back, why was 2011 so timely in terms of ETH starting such an initiative?
A: The first discussions started about the Center started in 2009. In the following years, soaring food prices in many regions of the world, demonstrations and even riots in low- and middle-income countries, severe droughts reducing harvests of staple food, summits about food insecurity at UN level coincided with discussions within the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (D-AGRL) how to best address in research and teaching the relevant aspects of the world food system, the vision of the D-AGRL at the time. The world recognized that food security was not a given, but needed comprehensive research, in participation with stakeholders, with a clear systems approach. And ETH Zurich wanted to be part of this with its two new departments, the D-USYS (Environmental Systems Science) and the D-HEST (Health Sciences and Technology).
Q: What excited you most in the first years of the Center?
A: Already at the very beginning of the Center, at the constituent general assembly in June 2011, we had 25 members. These were groups from Eawag and professorships from five ETH Zurich departments! This was very exciting and the interest grew continuously, from colleagues and students alike. The concept of a system, a world food system with many interactions instead of linear value chains, was an attractive one and drew a lot of attention.
“The concept of a system, a world food system with many interactions instead of linear value chains, was an attractive one and drew a lot of attention.”Nina Buchmann
Q: You often join discussion panels wearing your “hat” of the Founding Chair of the Center; why do you think discussing the Center in these settings is so important?
A: I think this clearly shows the interest and the relevance of the food system for many different stakeholders and in different contexts, be it in relation to climate change, to resource use or to suggestions on how to eat sustainably. These discussions allow us to inform and engage with the many actors of the world food system, including industry, NGOs, producers and consumers.
Q: What are your hopes for the Center and its members?
A: I hope that we can come closer to the vision we developed with the WFSC, namely a healthy world through sustainable food systems, in particular under severe climate change.
An interview with Michael Siegrist, Former Chair of World Food System Center (July 2017-December 2020)
Q: You started as Chair in 2017, what was a driving goal for you during your time leading the Center?
A: The Center was very good positioned and in a very good state when I took over. My main aim was, therefore, consolidation: Renewal of the accreditation of the Center and to ensure the financial stability of the Center in the future.
Q: You guided the Center through its second accreditation in 2020, what did you learn in this process?
A: I learned how much the Center is valued by the ETH School Board. The support by Vice President of Research at the time, Prof. Detlef Günther, and his staff during this process was just great!
“I hope that [..] the Center facilitates cooperations between the researchers at ETH working on diverse food related topics.”Michael Siegrist
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your time as Chair?
A: I have only good memories. The interactions with all the people from the Center are the most lasting ones. I very much liked to work together with Martijn and all the people from the Center. We had a lot of interesting and good discussions.
Q: What are your hopes for the Center and its members?
A: I am convinced that food related topics will become even more important in the future. I hope that ETH Zurich will also in the future play a major role in Food Science and Agricultural Science, and that the Center facilitates cooperations between the researchers at ETH working on diverse food related topics.
Voices of the World Food System Center
In this series, voices of the members groups of the Center come to life in interviews. Professors, researchers, and staff all get to a chance to share their stories and hopes for the future of the Center. Read all the interviews on the Center's Jubilee Website.