The University of Copenhagen, established in 1479, is a globally recognized institution with 5,000 researchers and 37,500 students, consistently ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide. Comprising six faculties and four campuses in Copenhagen, the university operates 36 departments and 122 research centers.

One participating department, the Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO), is a small but impactful department within the Faculty of Science. With around 140 employees, an annual budget of €15 million, and over 500 students, IFRO originated from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, maintaining strong ties to Danish agriculture, forestry, and food production traditions.

IFRO specializes in four key areas: Consumption, Bioethics, and Governance; Environment and Natural Resources; Global Development; and Production, Markets, and Policy. Despite its size, IFRO has a long history of research and development related to community collaboration, empowerment, and partnerships with academia, civil society organizations, and communities.

The department’s study programs, some dating back over 150 years, reflect its rich history, and its longstanding tradition of providing research-based consultancy to governments and society further emphasizes its close interaction with the surrounding community.