What to expect from studying agribusiness in Italy and France

The global food industry is facing increasing challenges, from climate change and resource scarcity to food security and waste management. To address these issues, agribusiness professionals must have a comprehensive understanding of sustainability in the food chain—covering every stage ‘from farm to fork’.  

There is a high demand for qualified professionals who can integrate sustainability into food production and supply chains.  

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore’s Double Degree aims to ensure students gain the expertise needed to:  

• Identify and control factors that impact sustainability in food production  
• Use advanced technologies to enhance sustainable practices 
• Evaluate and solve complex sustainability-related issues within food companies 
• Manage international teams in cross-cultural and multidisciplinary environments  

Beyond developing these broad skills, students can also specialise in a specific field of interest. In the final year of the programme, while based at ISARA, students implement the knowledge gained from their semesters at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore within problem-based project work.  

Italy is renowned for its rich agricultural heritage and strong focus on high-quality food production. It is home to some of the world's leading agribusiness companies, making it an excellent location for students pursuing careers in sustainable food systems.  

Similarly, France is another global leader in agribusiness, known for its innovative approaches to food production and sustainability. With a strong emphasis on research and development, ISARA offers a unique learning environment for international students.   

A recent student on the programme, Divya Dhurve, described the experience of studying in both countries: “I come from the central region of India, and my time in Europe has been an enlightening experience. My first year on this degree was spent in Italy, where I’ve appreciated the close interaction with teachers, a concept I found valuable.  

“Additionally, the food in Italy was a real delight, with dishes like pasta al pesto, pizza and mozzarella di bufala being truly scrumptious. Italy’s strong family-oriented way of life also resonated with my Indian background. 

“The French education system emphasises practical work, often involving group projects and fostering extensive interaction among students. These projects often involve diverse groups, including both French and international students, which has been an enriching cultural exchange experience.” 

Both Italy and France boast impressive industry connections within agribusiness and an international study environment such as the one Divya describes is the perfect preparation for working in such a global industry. 

Applicants to the MSc Sustainable Food Systems should ideally hold a bachelor’s degree in food, agricultural or nutritional sciences. Full entry requirements can be found on the university website.  

The programme is ideal for anyone who is inspired to work in the areas of sustainability and agribusiness. Victoria Calvar is an ideal example, having discovered a passion for these topics while working on her undergraduate thesis: 

“I did a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in the Netherlands. While writing my thesis, about a novel and more sustainable methodology to produce extra virgin olive oil, I discovered that the area between sustainability and food was what truly interested me. 

“This led me to the desire to do a master’s degree related to both topics but also allowed me to explore different countries, cultures and languages since this is something that I value greatly, as I moved around a lot growing up.  

“With this master’s at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, I can add two more countries to the list and two more languages!”  

This joint MSc programme aims to increase the number of professionals in the agricultural sector and food sector by educating future academics and managers for food companies and organisations to manage food processing and other food production related activities in a sustainable way. 

Graduates of the MSc Sustainable Food Systems degree gain an international profile and a strong foundation in sustainable food production. This opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities globally.  

Possible job roles for graduates include working in supply chain management, food safety and compliance and sustainable development. Graduates may also use their acquired knowledge to work on developing cutting-edge technologies to plan, perform and control sustainable food production.