BAU Correspondent:
Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have brought glory to the nation by securing top honors at the Food Systems Innovation Challenge 2025, an international competition jointly organized by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP).
The second edition of the challenge, held under the theme “Nature-based Solutions”, aimed to inspire young innovators to harness natural ecosystems in tackling biodiversity loss, climate change adaptation, and food security.
Running from April to September, the six-month-long competition engaged 24 student teams from 12 countries across four continents. Each team received funding to implement their projects locally, with the final stage hosted in the Netherlands.
The Grand Finale took place on September 30 at the Omnia Building of WUR, where finalists presented their implemented projects through pitching rounds, Q&A sessions with an international jury, and final showcases before invited guests.
From Bangladesh, BAU was the only participating university with two teams—’Agro Feme Septate’ and ‘AquaFour’—advancing to the finals. The teams were represented by Rubaiya Binte Rezwanur Purna (MS, Fisheries Management) and Shabnam Ferdous (MS, Food Safety), who traveled to the Netherlands with full financial support from the organizers. Both were guided by Professor Dr. Mohammad Matiur Rahman of the Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics.
In a proud achievement, Agro Feme Septate secured a position among the top three winning teams, receiving the Grand Prize of €3,500 and a coveted entry to the Youth Food Lab incubation programme, jointly run by WUR, the World Food Forum/FAO, and IAAS. Meanwhile, AquaFour received the Audience Award with a cash prize of €500, voted by the international participants and guests.
BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan personally congratulated the students and their mentor in the Netherlands, terming their success a milestone for the university and the country.
Organizers of the competition remarked: “This challenge is not just about winning prizes, but about building a global community that fosters youth creativity, international collaboration, and sustainable food systems.”
This remarkable success not only highlights the talent and innovation of Bangladeshi students but also underscores Bangladesh’s growing contribution to the global discourse on sustainable food systems.
