Reflections from the first Food Policy Interns cohort at the Centre for Food Policy and Foresight

Food Policy Interns, L to R: Kirsten Bailey, Eunice Lamptey, Sarah Cletheroe and Benjamin Lee.

This year, the Centre for Food Policy and Foresight launched a Food Policy Internship. Four University of Nottingham students, passionate about driving food systems, were given the opportunity to obtain policy engagement experience and drive change through development of policy outputs. Working across two blocks, each intern worked with University of Nottingham researchers to develop actionable policy recommendations and insights.

In July, our interns presented their projects to members of our food systems community, showcasing their efforts and dedication to their projects, as well as the insights gained from the student-academic interactions that took place throughout the programme.

Investing in the future of food by preparing students to influence policy debates and change

The future of our food system requires bold, informed and collaborative actions, and young people are central to driving this change. Our Food Policy Internship Programme is a gateway for students to gain relevant knowledge, skills and confidence to critically engage with food system challenges while being mentored by our UK leading food and agricultural researchers.

We offered our interns a rare opportunity to apply a system-wide thinking to unique food system challenges and develop tangible policy outputs that will help policy makers tackle these issues. By equipping them with the skills necessary to lead on and contribute to shaping food policy through evidence-based research, they can navigate and impact food policy debates at all levels. Our interns also recognised the empowerment the programme gives them, as Eunice Lamptey reflected: “I am hopeful about the future of food, particularly regarding what students and young people can accomplish by tackling ongoing issues.”

Our summer showcase demonstrated how student perspectives and preparedness to address food policy challenges can help build more equitable, sustainable and resilient food systems.

Connecting academic research with student-led actions

Over six months, our interns brought fresh thinking, passion and curiosity to their projects, working across disciplines alongside academic supervisors to explore a wide range of topics.

Their projects ranged from food access and poverty to school nutrition policies, media framing of farmers and farmer communities and public engagement strategies.

Each intern was paired with academics and projects aligned to their interests, making for an experience which was both meaningful and practical for future engagements.

“Working with Professor Rachel Gomes gave me a clear understanding of how this work connects to real-world issues, and how it links to the job I’m about to start,” said Kirsten Bailey, Food Policy Intern 2025.

These interdisciplinary projects and close collaboration with academic mentors offered interns the opportunity to explore the ways in which research can be disseminated to inform policies and real-world practices.

By guiding and encouraging students to think about food systemically, they have been able to contribute meaningfully to building healthier, fairer, and more sustainable food systems, and developing skills that will be carried forward to future endeavours.

When asked how they approached new challenges and complex topics during the internship, Kirsten Bailey, said: "My first project focused on communicating the challenges of BTV-3 to farmers. I aimed to develop fair and equitable solutions while considering economic viability and local contexts. Balancing this ‘triple bottom line’ to create practical recommendations was challenging but rewarding.”

Through the internship, the students have demonstrated a deep commitment to understanding how research connects to real-world policy, and what issues cross-sector collaborations can address. We asked Sarah Cletheroe to describe her experience: “The internship exceeded my expectations in the knowledge I would gain, due to the research opportunities that occurred when exploring the multidimensional nature of the food system.”

Looking forward and growing the Food Policy Internship Programme

With our first cohort of interns, we have produced eight policy briefs which will be available shortly on our channels. Their reflections and presentations at our showcase also demonstrate the value of hands-on experience in bridging the gap between policy and research, and the critical role such opportunities play in shaping future food policy leaders.

Professor Paul Wilson, Director Centre for Food Policy and Foresight said: “Looking ahead, sustaining and expanding this internship requires continued investment and support from the food community. Supporting future cohorts will ensure more students can develop the skills needed to drive innovative, equitable, and sustainable food policies.”

Funders, partners, and stakeholders can help us build on this success and empower the next generation of food policy champions. If you'd like to chat about the programme, please email bb-food-systems@nottingham.ac.uk.