Qatar's first university course on sustainable food systems launched

The MIE–SPPU Institute of Higher Education, the offshore campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University in Doha, has announced the launch of Qatar’s first accredited university programme on Sustainable Food Systems.It is supported by Qatar Sustainability Week (an Earthna initiative), the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Sustainability led by Dr Cory Flynn, and Enbat Group, a statement said.The programme is led by Ghanim al-Sulaiti, a Qatari entrepreneur, sustainability advocate, and founder of Enbat Group."This journey began with building businesses focused on healthy, sustainable food. But I realised that true change starts with education. This programme is about preparing students to be part of the solution — combining science, culture, and identity to design a more sustainable future,” al-Sulaiti said.The accredited curriculum covers: the scientific foundations of sustainable diets and their impact on chronic disease and public health; the environmental footprint of food production (water, land, emissions); the role of heritage, religion, and Gulf traditions as sources of sustainable wisdom; hands-on training in composting and zero-waste menus; and case studies with local and global relevance.The course goes beyond theory, giving students practical skills such as: creating recipes using local ingredients, reducing food waste in kitchens, designing solutions to cut the food sector’s carbon footprint, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.Dr Flynn, who teaches a sustainable food systems course at the University of Pittsburgh, lauded the Qatari initiative to launch a similar course 'on the other side of the world'.Earthna's head of partnerships and outreach Shireen Obeidat said the programme represents a powerful step forward. "By aligning with Qatar Sustainability Week and national goals, it ensures that students are not only learning about sustainable food systems, but actively shaping them for a better tomorrow."MIE-SPPU Doha president Yasir Nainar said the programme is the first step in inspiring students to shape a sustainable and innovative future.MIE-SPPU Doha's Department of Management Studies head Dr Sabiha Fazalbhoy, added: "This collaboration has given our students a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world insights."