On January 10, 2025, APCCO PhD Fellows held a mandatory Startup Seminar at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), hosted at the Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO). The seminar marked a significant academic milestone in the students' doctoral journey, providing a platform to formally present their research proposals and receive expert feedback.

The session was attended by supervisors and academic staff from IFRO, who offered critical guidance, corrections, and suggestions to help refine each student's proposed research. The goal was to ensure that all projects are methodologically sound, relevant, and well-structured as the students prepare to embark on fieldwork and data collection.

Each APCCO student presented their proposed topic, which spans a diverse range of themes related to agroforestry, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and rural livelihoods—key focus areas under the APCCO program. The seminar also allowed students to engage with peers, share ideas, and learn from each other’s approaches.

While it was not a public or industry-facing event, the seminar played a vital role in strengthening the academic foundations of the students’ work. The feedback received will guide the next steps in developing robust, impactful PhD research projects that aim to contribute meaningfully to food systems transformation and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.