Transformation of agricultural and food systems and protection of biodiversity – Alumni Seminar 2025
How can agricultural and food systems be designed to ensure food security while protecting biodiversity? This question was addressed by 27 international alumni from 17 countries at the DAAD Alumni Training Seminar 2025, organized by the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems at TH Köln.
Over a period of three months—both online and on-site in Cologne and Bonn—the alumni, who graduated from 15 different universities, worked together on approaches for sustainable transformation. They contributed their diverse professional experience in agriculture, nutrition, biodiversity, NGOs, the public sector, research, and the private sector.
New paths to transformation
Participants worked with various methods for analyzing and designing transformation processes and applied them directly to their own work topics. The online seminar introduced transformative decision-making and offered expert input on the transformation of agricultural and food systems. During the in-person phase, workshops on system-thinking, the persona method, and a session on food value webs deepened the approaches developed.
In an input session, participants gained in-depth insights into agricultural and food systems, biodiversity conservation, and transformation-oriented stakeholder processes. Projects from Brazil, Mozambique, Colombia, and Germany were presented, including REPLÂNTICA, AI4SusCo, and Co-Site, as well as insights from IFOAM – Organics International.
Experiencing transformation – field trips as a window into practice
During field trips, alumni gained specific insights into sustainable transformation: from community-supported agriculture at Solawi Gemüsekoop in Cologne to the circular economy at Metabolon in the Bergisches Land region to the cocoa value chain at the Chocolate Museum in Cologne.
From the online phase to the tropical day, participants further developed their projects and presented them as posters. A rapid-fire workshop trained them to present their results concisely in 30 seconds. Alumni networking gave rise to new project ideas and collaborations, while the Alumni Report to Students format offered valuable insights into study and career paths as well as reintegration.
Overview of participants – figures and background information
(Image: Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems | TH Köln)
Knowledge transfer and networking – Tropentag Bonn
The alumni participated in Tropentag 2025 on the topic of “Reconciling Land System Changes with Planetary Health” together with two other groups. During the welcome address by the DAAD, they presented their seminar results and nine posters in the workshop on “Food Value Webs.” A total of 20 alumni used the Tropentag for professional exchange, presentations, and networking – thus making a visible impact on the international stage.
Awards
Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlüter and the DAAD highlighted the strong presence of alumni and students from the faculty. In addition to the posters presented by seminar participants, seven other papers were presented – a visible sign of the faculty's breadth of expertise and commitment.
From the perspective of TH Köln, two particular successes marked the Tropical Day:
- Alumnus Gabriel Alejandro Villanueva Zapata (MSc. ENREM) received the Hans Hartwig Ruthenberg Graduate Award 2025 for his outstanding master's thesis “Sustainability of Agroforestry Coffee Cultivation in the Cerro de Kuskawás Natural Reserve, Nicaragua” in the field of food security.
- Van Hiep Tran, a participant in the alumni seminar, won the poster competition for the entire Tropical Day.
Overview of the Alumni Seminar Events
| Format / Event | Title / Content | Facilitators / Contributors | Location / Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online seminar | Transformative Decision Making | Dr. Sudeh Dehnavi (EnRoot) | Online |
| Online seminar – expert input | Transformation of agri-food systems & biodiversity conservation | Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlüter (TH Köln/ITT) | Online |
| Workshop (on-site) | Systems Thinking in Transformation | Prof. Johannes Hamhaber (TH Köln/ITT) | Cologne |
| Workshop (on-site) | Persona method | Dr. Irmgard Jordan (Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT) | Cologne |
| Input session | Food Value Webs | Dr. Irmgard Jordan | Cologne |
| Input session – project presentations | REPLÂNTICA project (Brazil) | Dr. Claudia Raedig (TH Köln/ITT) | On-site |
| Input session – project presentations | Case studies in Mozambique | Dr. Irmgard Jordan & Mariam Abbas | On-site |
| Input session – project presentations | AI4SusCo project (Colombia) | Juan Mercado (TH Köln/ITT) | On-site |
| Input session – project presentations | Co-Site project (Leverkusen) | Ines Königswinter (TH Köln/ITT) | On-site |
| Input session – project presentations | Organic agriculture – input | Lena Ahlf (IFOAM – Organics International) | On-site |
| Field trip | Solawi vegetable cooperative – community-supported agriculture | Vegetable cooperative team | Cologne |
| Field trip | Circular economy & local stakeholders | Dr. Himanshu Himanshu | Metabolon, Bergisches Land |
| Field trip | Cocoa value chain | Chocolate Museum Cologne – team | Cologne |
| Project development | Rapid-fire workshop (30-second pitch) | — | On-site |
| Networking format | Alumni report to students | Various alumni | Cologne |
| DAAD welcome event (Tropentag) | Presentation of seminar results | Alumni from all three groups | Bonn |
| Workshop (Tropentag) | How to strengthen food value webs for a sustainable agroecological transition | Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlüter, Dr. Irmgard Jordan, Dr. Céline Termote | Tropentag Bonn |
| Poster presentations | 9 posters on project results | Participants of the alumni group | Tropentag Bonn |
| Scientific exchange | Poster sessions, presentations, discussions | 20 alumni | Tropentag Bonn |
Impact and diversity
The alumni training promoted specialist knowledge, methodological skills, networking, and international visibility. With 164 applications, 27 participants from 17 countries, 52% women, and alumni from 15 German universities, including ten graduates from ITT/TH Köln, the program reflected the global diversity that is crucial for transformative processes.
Future prospects
The seminar continues to have an impact beyond the tropical day: in the subsequent online monitoring phase, the alumni transfer their ideas into their professional contexts. This leads to new collaborations and perspectives – and the transformation continues in a sustainable manner.
Impressions
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"The Alumni SDG Seminar at TH Köln deepened my understanding into decision-making process and system thinking for sustainable transformation of agricultural and food systems. Tropentag 2025 was an opportunity to update knowledge and networking. Cultural exchange and research experiences from international peers enriched my perspective. This experience strengthened my capacity to integrate innovative strategies for systemic transformation in future projects." Johanna Aristizabal Galvis | Colombia (Image: Johanna Aristizabal Galvis)
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Agricultural biodiversity became a culinary delight at breakfast at TH Köln: alumni brought agricultural specialties from all over the world (Image: Valentina Pedrotti)
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After the online phase, the 25 Germany alumni from 17 different countries were finally able to meet in person at TH Köln in September to exchange ideas and get to know each other. (Image: Nguyen Viet)
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During the excursion to Metabolon at TH Köln in the Bergisches Land region, alumni gained practical insights into the circular economy – from waste management and resource utilization to the involvement of local stakeholders in regional projects. (Image: Nguyen Viet)
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The seminar does not end with the awarding of certificates, but rather marks the beginning of a new phase: alumni put their ideas into practice and establish new partnerships. (Image: Nguyen Viet)
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“The Alumni SDG Seminar was an inspiring journey of knowledge exchange and cultural diversity. It offered valuable insights into Germany’s experience in renewable energy and green agriculture, emphasizing pathways for energy and agriculture transitions, while opening a window for future international collaborations and projects that advance global sustainable development." Sanaa al-Zyoud | Jordania (Image: Mohammed Alkhatib)
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“The International Germany Alumni Training Seminar & Tropentag 2025 at TH Köln was a transformative journey. I shared my experiences, learned from global peers, and joined rich discussions on circular economy, biodiversity, and food security. The program broadened my perspective and strengthened my commitment to advancing climate-resilient, inclusive food systems.” Rajendra Dhakal | Nepal (Image: Nguyen Viet)
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"The Alumni SDG Seminar 2025 provided us with an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new faces within the alumni community. Our memories and experiences from studying and researching in Germany were strengthened through seminar sessions and heartfelt, vivid conversations we shared. In just two weeks, traveling from Köln to Bonn, our network expanded with fellow alumni who are working across different fields but share the common goal of sustainable development. This event also served as a bridge between knowledge and practice, enabling us to exchange professional experiences, explore collaboration opportunities, and gain renewed motivation for potential national and regional projects in the future.” Nguyen Duc Viet | Vietnam (Image: Nguyen Duc Viet)
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“The 2025 Alumni SDG Seminar in University of TH-Koeln was an exciting event that provided new perspectives on food system transformation, biodiversity, urban agriculture, and the circular economy. I really enjoyed the rapid-fire presentations exercises, which taught me how to communicate scientific information to diverse audiences concisely. Networking with fellow young professionals and experts around the world, alongside fun moments at the Tropentag dinner, made it an unforgettable event.” Abdu Mohamed Aumer | Ethiopia (Image: Abdu Mohamed Aumer)
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“The SDG Alumni Seminar was a fantastic success! The best part was seeing how our different fields came together, blending different backgrounds into a unified spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing. It was a truly transformative experience. I met new colleagues and made great connections. I am happy and ready to apply these key lessons to create a positive impact right here in my community” Fuh Geogette – Cameroon (Image: Fuh Geogette)
December 2025