Hoang Thi Thu is a Wageningen University and Research alumna. She gained more interest in the topic when the largest dairy poisoning - melamine - caused serious concerns among many parents in the region and there were rising concerns of chemical contaminants in agricultural products due to incorrect use of agrochemicals. It made Thu wonder how these harmful products went through the quality control system that easily and it inspired her to come back to university to study food safety. “We need food to survive but also need to learn how to feed the hungry planet with minimal impact to our natural environment. It is an art,” she said.

Thu’s education journey equipped her with solid knowledge and international experience and networks that opened numerous career opportunities. After her graduation, she involved in various projects focusing on creating safe and quality food for people across the region. She currently works for IKEA Vietnam with the role of Business Developer leading the company’s sustainable and affordable food supply chain development in Australia and Southeast Asia. Additionally, Thu started her own kefir business in 2019.

Thu’s advice for future students who are still in doubt why to choose a degree in food systems or agriculture is clear: “choose a job not because you (or your parent think) that it can bring you high salary or can surely secure you a job after graduation. The world is changing so fast that nothing is certain. And if you find your passion in food, in plants, in fishery, in forestry… go for it. After years working in these fields, I realize sometimes youngsters don’t choose Food or Agriculture because they think these jobs are not fashion/interesting enough. But trust us, working in Food and Agriculture can be so cool. You can work in food, agriculture and travel the world as the same time.  The opportunities are endless.”