San Antonio de Oriente, Honduras, October 16, 2026. — Zamorano University officially launched its Ph.D. Program in Sustainable Agrifood Systems, an academic program designed to prepare professionals to generate knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and lead transformative processes addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing agrifood systems in Latin America.
The launch brought together a delegation from The Nippon Foundation, including Takeju Ogata, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Tatsuki Nakajima, Senior Director; and Hiroki Nishiyama, Program Officer. Representatives from Zamorano University also participated, including Jeffery P. Cohen, President; Ana Maier, Vice President and Academic Dean; and Arie Sanders, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The event also welcomed representatives from strategic partner organizations supporting the initiative, including Jelle Van Loon, Associate Director at CIMMYT, Mexico; Jenny Wiegel, Central America Subregional Manager for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Colombia; and Trent Blare, representing the International Potato Center (CIP), Ecuador.
The participation of representatives from The Nippon Foundation marked a significant milestone for Zamorano University as it expands its academic offerings to the doctoral level and strengthens its commitment to knowledge generation and applied research aimed at advancing sustainable development throughout the region.
The Ph.D. Program in Sustainable Agrifood Systems was designed with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates applied research, innovation, sustainability, and systems thinking. The program will address areas such as the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems, innovation and productive transformation, territorial development and rural systems, public policy, science and technology, as well as other fields related to food security and sustainable development.
Its emphasis on applied research will enable doctoral projects to emerge from real-world challenges and generate solutions that can be translated into practices, strategies, and informed decision-making with meaningful impact on businesses, institutions, communities, and territories.
“With this doctoral program, Zamorano University is taking a significant step forward in its academic evolution. We are not only continuing to educate leaders for Latin America, but also strengthening our capacity to generate knowledge and solutions to address the major challenges facing our region’s agrifood systems,” said Jeffery P. Cohen, President of Zamorano University.
As part of the launch event, participants attended a presentation titled “What Are Sustainable Agrifood Systems?”, which provided an opportunity to explore the importance of understanding food production from a comprehensive and interconnected perspective. The presentation examined the relationships among the different actors and processes that make up agrifood systems—from production, processing, and distribution to consumption—as well as the economic, social, and environmental factors that influence their sustainability.
It also highlighted some of the key challenges facing agrifood systems today, including climate change, food security, the sustainable use of natural resources, technological innovation, value-chain resilience, and the need to develop solutions that balance productivity, competitiveness, and social well-being. Within this context, the presentation emphasized the role of research and doctoral education in generating knowledge that can help address the current and future needs of Latin America.
The Ph.D. Program in Sustainable Agrifood Systems will begin in 2027 and is intended for professionals seeking to strengthen their research, leadership, and decision-making capabilities while contributing to the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems.
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