This past summer, MA Food Studies student Anaïs De Sousa Webber took her studies beyond Rome, choosing to undertake her thesis fieldwork and an internship at Campo Culture, a regenerative farm in Meco, Portugal.
“I chose to do an internship instead of an elective and it was the best decision I could have made for my personal path and development. While working on a regenerative farm in central Portugal, I also conducted my thesis field work and research. I spent two months working on the fields and in the farm shop. After two semesters of studying food and farming from a theoretical social-scientific perspective, I found it to be incredibly meaningful to finally connect the theory with practice and to get my hands dirty. Understanding the Portuguese and EU policy context for small scale farming and witnessing first-hand what farming entails, the complexity behind growing food sustainably was tiring, inspiring and above all extremely rewarding.
I was immersed in a regenerative system, which gave me a deeper appreciation for fresh food and deepened my understanding of the relationship between soil, plants, farmers and consumers. More than anything, this internship reminded me why I chose this field: to better understand where food comes from and how we can nourish both people and the planet in a sustainable way. I will never forget this transformational experience.”
– Anaïs De Sousa Webber
Anaïs’ experience illustrates the essence of AUR’s Food Studies program: blending critical inquiry with experiential learning to prepare graduates for impactful careers in sustainability, policy, food systems, and beyond.
From here, students connect global theory with local practice – and shape the future of food.